Fundy SkyNews dark sky column – web extras

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Back in May of this year, I had the chance to tour the dark sky preserves of Canada’s Maritime provinces (five in-all.)

One of my favourites – day or night – was New Brunswick’s Fundy National Park and The Hopewell Rocks, about 35 minutes south of Moncton.

You can read all about these areas in the Jan/Feb 2014 issue of SkyNews: The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing (available at Walmart, select Shoppers Drug Marts, many large news stands and via print or digital subscription.)

Here below are the ‘Wilderness Astronomer’ web extras mentioned in the  Continue reading “Fundy SkyNews dark sky column – web extras” »

Kejimkujik SkyNews dark sky column – web extras

Kejimkujik National Park dark sky preserve McMahon laser

Back in May of this year, I had the chance to tour the dark sky preserves of Canada’s Maritime provinces (all five of them!)

First-up was Nova Scotia’s Kejimkujik National Park, a few hours south of Halifax, not far inland from the South Shore*.

You can read all about the park in the Nov/Dec 2013 issue of SkyNews: The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing (available at Walmart, select Shoppers Drug Marts, and many large news stands.)

Here below are the web extras mentioned in the Continue reading “Kejimkujik SkyNews dark sky column – web extras” »

Photos from upcoming article on Wood Buffalo national park

This September, I spent a week in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories and Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada’s latest dark sky preserve.

At 44,000 square km, “Wood Buff'” is now the Continue reading “Photos from upcoming article on Wood Buffalo national park” »

Kouchibouguac SkyNews dark sky column – web extras

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In the September/October 2013 issue of SkyNews magazine, I took the first look at the dark sky preserves of Eastern Canada. Over the next year, I’ll have reports from a dark sky preserve in Nova Scotia, Quebec, and five in New Brunswick, including the one spotlighted here, Kouchibouguac National Park.

As promised, here some additional photos and information on observing sites, accommodations, and Continue reading “Kouchibouguac SkyNews dark sky column – web extras” »

Wild astro gear column in SkyNews magazine: web extras

In the July/August 2013 issue of SkyNews magazine, I took a break from specific stargazing locales in my Wilderness Astronomer column to recommend the top 5 “killer apps” – figuratively and literally – for stargazing in the great outdoors.

As promised, here below – some additional information on how to find and use these game-changing pieces of Continue reading “Wild astro gear column in SkyNews magazine: web extras” »

Kawartha Highlands column in Sky News magazine: web extras

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In the May/June 2013 issue of Sky News magazine, I write in my Wilderness Astronomer column about a dark sky preserve that never-was.

At times, Ontario Parks calls it a “Provincial Park“…at other times, it’s a “Signature Site“.  Continue reading “Kawartha Highlands column in Sky News magazine: web extras” »

Web extras for Sky News column on the Bluewater Dark Sky Preserve

Auroral-fingers---photo---John-HlynialukDespite being home to Canada’s first dark sky preserve in 1999 (Torrance Barrens in the Muskokas) Ontario spent the decade that followed that achievement lagging behind provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan in both quantity and quality of dark sky preserves.

More:

But that all changed when Gordon’s Park on Manitoulin Island and Bruce Peninsula National Park were granted Continue reading “Web extras for Sky News column on the Bluewater Dark Sky Preserve” »

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.

*** SKIP TO RESOURCES BELOW ***

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” »

Web links for Sky News magazine column on Gordon’s Park

Nestled among 100 acres of cedar-bordered meadows on the world’s largest freshwater isle, Gordon’s Park on Ontario’s Manitoulin Island is possibly the darkest reasonably-accessible place in the province. Continue reading “Web links for Sky News magazine column on Gordon’s Park” »

Web links for Sky News magazine column on Jasper

athabasca_falls_jasper_dark_skyIn the May/June 2012 issue of Sky News: The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing, I look at Jasper National Park and Dark Sky Preserve (the world’s largest dark sky preserve, by a factor of 10!) in the Canadian Rockies.

If you haven’t read the column (Wilderness Astronomer) about this incredible “Disney World of dark sky preserves”, you can grab it on news stands (including those at WalMart) subscribe, or buy an online edition here.

If you have read the column and are here to check out the as-promised web-links, here you go!:

Recommended stargazing sites:

Here are the sites I’ve researched and recommend in the magazine:

ALSO: Jasper is such a large dark sky preserve and is so full of amazing observing sites, it actually has its own jasper observing site resource guide wilderness astronomer sky news magazine column peter mcmahon