SkyNews web extras: More photos from Lake Superior Provincial Park, ON

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In the May/June issue of SkyNews Magazine, I wrote an open letter to Ontario Parks, petitioning them to Continue reading “SkyNews web extras: More photos from Lake Superior Provincial Park, ON” »

SkyNews web extras: First nations constellations

first_nations_star_chart_canada_mcmahonAs-promised, here’s the star chart of a whole sky filled with a selection of until-recently-lost constellations mentioned in my latest column in the July/Aug 2015 edition of SkyNews: These are the constellations of the Ojibway, Cree, Blackfoot, and other First Nations of what is now known as Canada.

The chart you see here is the first-known all-sky view of many of the characters from this land as seen as patterns in the sky thousands of Continue reading “SkyNews web extras: First nations constellations” »

SkyNews web-extras for ‘Best-of’ 20th anniversary article

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In the special 20th anniversary issue of the May/June 2015 issue of SkyNews: The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing, I rounded-up the top events, experiences, and amenities in Canada’s dark sky preserves.

As mentioned at the end of the article, here’s some more info and photos from such preserves as Wood Buffalo, Jasper, Mont Mégantic, and Continue reading “SkyNews web-extras for ‘Best-of’ 20th anniversary article” »

SkyNews Irving Nature Park column + East Coast tour wrap-up – web extras

maritime_dark_sky_preserves_2014This column marks the conclusion of a two-year odyssey through the six dark sky preserves of Eastern Canada and Quebec on assignment for SkyNews: The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing.

Most of the actual trip took place in one Continue reading “SkyNews Irving Nature Park column + East Coast tour wrap-up – web extras” »

SkyNews Grasslands East Block column – web extras

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On the way back from the Canadian Science Writers’ Association conference just over a month ago, we stopped by the town of Val Marie, SK (pop. 136) on the edge of Grasslands National Park. Continue reading “SkyNews Grasslands East Block column – web extras” »

SkyNews Wood Buffalo column – web extras

This issue (Sept/Oct 2014) of SkyNews Magazine, I did an extended (4 pages, instead of the normal 1-2) on Wood Buffalo National Park, in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories/Alberta border (world’s largest dark sky preserve, larger than Switzerland or the moon Mimas – with aurora-viewing is superior to that near cities such as Yellowknife.)

Continue reading “SkyNews Wood Buffalo column – web extras” »

Mont-Mégantic SkyNews dark sky column – web extras

mont_megantic_mcmahonBack in August of this past year, I had the chance to tour the Canadian dark sky preserve that is perhaps most shrouded in mystery for most Canadians (and that’s a shame) Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.

You can read all about the area in the May/June 2014 issue of SkyNews: The Continue reading “Mont-Mégantic SkyNews dark sky column – web extras” »

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” »