Could this be the world’s first cross-border dark sky park?

waterton_lakes_dark_sky_preserve_cranford_campground_stargazingIt all started when a group of astronomy club members from Montana couldn’t make a planned guided stargazing weekend for visitors to Waterton Lakes National Park in Southern Alberta: “OK we’ll hire you…the free guys can’t make it” was basically the opening email from Parks Canada.

After sorting out the details and doing some last-minute promo, I was off to the Rockies to wrangle some crowds of skygazers in cattle country. The hook: We’re under some of the darkest skies in the Canadian Rockies (the southern end of Jasper’s Icefields Parkway being the darkest) among one of the most beautiful Continue reading “Could this be the world’s first cross-border dark sky park?” »

Web links for Sky News magazine column on Point Pelee

point-pelee-bird_sun_venus_transit_sunset_lake_erie_reflectionOn-assignment for Sky News magazine, I was lucky enough to be invited to view the Transit of Venus (next one’s in 2117 in case you missed this one) at Point Pelee National Park – one of North America’s premiere birdwatching locales and – as of 2006 – an RASC-designated dark sky preserve.

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Because of our location in this migratory bird-watching haven, we ended up with the added treat of seeing thousands of swallows, warblers, and other species flit occasionally in front of our telescope views. Continue reading “Web links for Sky News magazine column on Point Pelee” »