SPOTLIGHT: ‘No Better Place’ Than The Night Sky
August 02, 2018
Spectators Spot Stars At Shenandoah National Park
By SHELBY MERTENS
Daily News-Record LURAY 8/2/18
- Untouched by city lights, Shenandoah National Park offers dazzling views for stargazers at night.
The park is inviting individuals and families to come gaze upon the planets and the stars during the third annual Night Sky Festival Aug. 10 to 12, which coincides with the peak of the Perseids meteor shower.
“One of the things we want to get across is that our night skies are very dark,” said Sally Hurlbert, a spokeswoman for Shenandoah National Park. “It’s a resource that many of us take for granted, but it’s a resource that needs to be protected.”
The festival was started in 2016 and has attracted hundreds to the park. There will be about 20 programs and activities happening throughout the festival weekend.
“It is just fantastic,” she said. “There’s no better place than looking at the night sky with shooting stars.”
The programs, led by park rangers, are spread out across the park at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center at mile 4.6 on Skyline Drive, Skyland Amphitheater at mile 42.5, Byrd Visitor Center at mile 51, Big Meadows Amphitheater at mile 51 and Loft Mountain Amphitheater at mile 79.5.
“There’s something for everybody, from a talk to a Junior Ranger program to the Night Skies [program],” Hurlbert said.
At 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, amatuer astronomers will set up telescopes in the Rapidan Fire Road parking lot across from the Byrd Visitor Center.
“They’ll find things in space and let people look at them with their telescope,” she said.
At 8:30 p.m., the public is invited to a program about owls, nocturnal hunters that live in the park, at Loft Mountain Amphitheater. Also at 8:30 p.m. is a program at Skyland Amphitheater called “The Last Frontier,” which highlights recent space discoveries.
On Aug. 11, folks can learn about how various nocturnal One of the things we want to get across is that our night skies are very dark.
-Sally Hurbert, SNP spokes woman animals rely on the dark for survival. The talk will take place at the Byrd Visitor Center starting at 11:30 a.m.
Visitors can view the sun safely through a special solar scope at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center between noon and 2 p.m. A solar viewing will be held at the Byrd Visitor Center between 1 and 2:30 p.m. with a NASA solar system ambassador.
Other activities on Aug. 11 include the Junior Ranger program and a presentation on space weather by a NASA solar system ambassador. The owl and “Last Frontier” programs will also be offered again.
Veteran NASA astronaut Tom Jones will be at the Byrd Visitor Center at 4:30 p.m. to give his presentation, “Beyond Earth: Humanity’s Future in Space.” He’ll give another talk at 7 p.m. called “Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Journey.” Jones has traveled to space four times.
A presentation about the 2018 Perseids meteor shower will be available at 8 and 9 p.m. at the Byrd Visitor Center, followed by stargazing and constellation tours lead by rangers starting at 9 p.m. outside the visitor center. On the last day of the festival, Aug. 12, guests can learn about bird migrations at 3 p.m. at the Byrd Visitor Center after a Ranger’s Choice Talk at 11 a.m. (also offered on Aug. 10 and 11). Learn more about meteor showers at Big Meadows Amphitheater at 8:30 p.m. from a NASA solar system ambassador followed by more stargazing and constellation tours at 9 p.m. at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center.
Hurlbert advises guests to check the weather before entering the park. The outdoor programs will be canceled in the event of rain or lightning.
The programs are all free with park entry. The park charges $30 per car.
A complete schedule can be found at www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/night-sky-festival.htm.
Revelers stargaze during the 2017 Night Sky Festival at Big Meadows.
By SHELBY MERTENS
Daily News-Record LURAY 8/2/18
- Untouched by city lights, Shenandoah National Park offers dazzling views for stargazers at night.
The park is inviting individuals and families to come gaze upon the planets and the stars during the third annual Night Sky Festival Aug. 10 to 12, which coincides with the peak of the Perseids meteor shower.
“One of the things we want to get across is that our night skies are very dark,” said Sally Hurlbert, a spokeswoman for Shenandoah National Park. “It’s a resource that many of us take for granted, but it’s a resource that needs to be protected.”
The festival was started in 2016 and has attracted hundreds to the park. There will be about 20 programs and activities happening throughout the festival weekend.
“It is just fantastic,” she said. “There’s no better place than looking at the night sky with shooting stars.”
The programs, led by park rangers, are spread out across the park at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center at mile 4.6 on Skyline Drive, Skyland Amphitheater at mile 42.5, Byrd Visitor Center at mile 51, Big Meadows Amphitheater at mile 51 and Loft Mountain Amphitheater at mile 79.5.
“There’s something for everybody, from a talk to a Junior Ranger program to the Night Skies [program],” Hurlbert said.
At 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, amatuer astronomers will set up telescopes in the Rapidan Fire Road parking lot across from the Byrd Visitor Center.
“They’ll find things in space and let people look at them with their telescope,” she said.
At 8:30 p.m., the public is invited to a program about owls, nocturnal hunters that live in the park, at Loft Mountain Amphitheater. Also at 8:30 p.m. is a program at Skyland Amphitheater called “The Last Frontier,” which highlights recent space discoveries.
On Aug. 11, folks can learn about how various nocturnal One of the things we want to get across is that our night skies are very dark.
-Sally Hurbert, SNP spokes woman animals rely on the dark for survival. The talk will take place at the Byrd Visitor Center starting at 11:30 a.m.
Visitors can view the sun safely through a special solar scope at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center between noon and 2 p.m. A solar viewing will be held at the Byrd Visitor Center between 1 and 2:30 p.m. with a NASA solar system ambassador.
Other activities on Aug. 11 include the Junior Ranger program and a presentation on space weather by a NASA solar system ambassador. The owl and “Last Frontier” programs will also be offered again.
Veteran NASA astronaut Tom Jones will be at the Byrd Visitor Center at 4:30 p.m. to give his presentation, “Beyond Earth: Humanity’s Future in Space.” He’ll give another talk at 7 p.m. called “Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Journey.” Jones has traveled to space four times.
A presentation about the 2018 Perseids meteor shower will be available at 8 and 9 p.m. at the Byrd Visitor Center, followed by stargazing and constellation tours lead by rangers starting at 9 p.m. outside the visitor center. On the last day of the festival, Aug. 12, guests can learn about bird migrations at 3 p.m. at the Byrd Visitor Center after a Ranger’s Choice Talk at 11 a.m. (also offered on Aug. 10 and 11). Learn more about meteor showers at Big Meadows Amphitheater at 8:30 p.m. from a NASA solar system ambassador followed by more stargazing and constellation tours at 9 p.m. at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center.
Hurlbert advises guests to check the weather before entering the park. The outdoor programs will be canceled in the event of rain or lightning.
The programs are all free with park entry. The park charges $30 per car.
A complete schedule can be found at www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/night-sky-festival.htm.
Revelers stargaze during the 2017 Night Sky Festival at Big Meadows.
