Exploring Space from Death Valley

Dr. Rosalba Bonaccorsi is on a quest to find life on other planets, and she believes rocks in Death Valley can help.

Some microbes actually live in rocks! Understanding these Earth microbes can provide clues for finding microbes on other planets.

According to Dr. Bonaccorsi: “Rocks are everywhere on Earth, the solar system, and in the universe; therefore, there is a good chance life could be everywhere there is a piece of rock or a grain of dust.”

So, step out of your car and join Dr. Bonaccorsi as she shows you how to see and think like an astrobiologist.

This is a hands-on, exploration-based field trip with several stops and activities.

Dr. Rosalba Bonaccorsi is a research scientist working at NASA Ames Research Center and the SETI Institute in California's Silicon Valley. One of her special interests is how to detect life on distant planets. She has been studying Death Valley's Ubehebe Crater since 2009 to help answer that question.

This program is provided by the Death Valley Institute (DVI), the educational division of the Death Valley Natural History Association (DVNHA).

DVNHA members save 15%. Become a member today.

T WO TYPES OF TICKET - DVNHA Members Save 15% on Each Type

CARLOAD (car/truck/SUV/minivan) - Good for as many people as vehicle legally holds!

• Carload (General): $235 (+ $17.61 Eventbrite fee)
• Carload (DVNHA Member): $200 (+ $15.24 Eventbrite fee)

INDIVIDUAL* (covers 1 person driving own vehicle)

• Individual (General): $147 (+ $11.70 Eventbrite fee)
• Individual (DVNHA Member): $125 (+ $10.22 Eventbrite fee)

*Number of INDIVIDUAL tickets are limited.

Participants may wish to SECURE LODGING BEFORE registering for this program. Lodging is limited in Death Valley – and it's a holiday weekend. Area hotel info provided near bottom of page.

Each participant is required to sign a Participant Agreement . Please fill in program title and date

PROGRAM DETAILS

Agenda

Meet: at 8:45 at the flagpole in front of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Please bring signed participant agreements.

Group leaders and participants caravan in their own vehicles to each stop of the program.

• May walk up to ¼ mile at each stop.

• Be prepared for walking on uneven, unstable surfaces.

Final stop is Ubehebe Craters* (56 miles from Visitor Center).

• At Ubehebe there will be a 1 1/2-mile hike around crater rim.

• Program ends after the rim hike, around 4:00 pm.

Details

• Bring at least 2 liters of water per person.

• Be prepared for all types of weather, especially wind, rain, and cold - if the wind is blowing, it will be blowing harder at the crater rim.

• Participants provide their own lunches and snacks.

• Bathrooms: Vault toilets will be available at some stops, but not all. When no toilets are available, we will practice Leave No Trace Principles: packing out all trash, toilet paper, etc. Learn more.

• Do not expect cell phone service during most of the program. Cell phone service is rarely available in Death Valley.

NOTES

By registering for this event, you agree to DVNHA's terms and conditions, and safety protocols.

DVNHA reserves the right to deny tour access if participant does not have proper equipment and supplies.

At least 2 liters of water per person strongly recommended.

**Please note that participants are still responsible for paying the park entrance fee upon arrival.

Price of this event does not include any meals or lodging accommodations.

General FAQs

Find more DVI Programs.

Area Hotels/Towns (with times from Furnace Creek Visitor Center*)

• The Ranch & The Inn at Death Valley (aka The Oasis) are at Furnace Creek – 3 minutes or less to Visitor Center
• Stovepipe Wells Hotel (in Death Valley National Park) – 30 min
• Amargosa Hotel & Opera House – 30 min
• The Longstreet – 40 min
• Beatty, NV – 50 min
• Panamint Springs Resort (in Death Valley National Park) – 60 min
• Shoshone, CA – 60 min
• Pahrump, NV – 65 min
• Tecopa, CA – 70 min

* Travel times taken from Google Maps

Proceeds support DVNHA’s mission of preserving and interpreting the natural and cultural resources of the Death Valley region in cooperation with our government partners: Death Valley National Park and Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

If you have any questions, please contact the DVI team at events@dvnha.org.