Wilderness astronomy - Dark sky preserves and other astronomy parks

Fundy SkyNews dark sky column – web extras

dark_sky_fundy_hopewell_rocks_people_milky_way

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

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

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” »

Kawartha Highlands column in Sky News magazine: web extras

kawartha_highlands_wilderness_astronomer_aurora

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” »

Staff training at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

jasper_park_lodge_canoe_dock_horizontal_oct_9_2012_mcmahon

Thanks to Stefanie Hamilton and the rest of the Jasper Park Lodge staff for putting me up for two weeks during year two of Dark Skies month here.

Over the last two years, Continue reading “Staff training at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge” »

Stargazing at Old Fort Point

For those who were on my dark sky tour last night in the Canadian Rockies (and those who are wondering where this is) a stellar time seemed to be had by all on a very crisp and clear October 6.

Thanks to Michael and Paul from Sundog Tours in Jasper for bringing me in, Kevin, who shepherded me through my first bus tour, the Sundog tour staff, and everyone who came out to take a look through the scopes.
Cleak skies, guys!

Peter

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

It 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

On-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” »

Transit of Venus from Canada’s bird-watching paradise

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 a recently-minted dark sky preserve.

After hours of white knuckle weather forecasts, the skies cleared and we got to see the beautiful sight of the second Continue reading “Transit of Venus from Canada’s bird-watching paradise” »