Southwest Astronomy Festival celebrates dark skies
By Lee Ricci
Utah has 15 International Dark Sky places, more than any other region in the world. Sept. 27–29 is the time to celebrate with the Southwest Astronomy Festival, a regional celebration of astronomy and our glittering dark skies.
The Southwest Astronomy Festival is a combination of astronomy-themed events held all across southwest Utah and northern Arizona. Have fun while learning how a naturally dark night sky is more than a scenic canvas; it is part of a complex ecosystem that supports both natural and cultural resources. In the United States, 99 percent of the population can no longer see the Milky Way at night. Those lucky enough to live in or visit southern Utah are part of the lucky 1 percent that can still experience this natural phenomenon. Get ready to see the Milky Way and participate in many other astronomy-themed activities.
The Southwest Astronomy Festival highlights include star parties, sun parties, a night hike, constellation tours, an indoor planetarium, family art projects, astronomy-themed paint nights, night-sky photography workshops, writing workshops, and an astronomy art and night sky exhibit.
For a detailed schedule, download the Southwest Astronomy Festival schedule and brochure. These events are free and all are welcome. But some workshops have a seating limit, and registration may be required.
