The Independent
Serious stargazers and casual night sky observers alike are gearing up the 15th Annual Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival, taking place June 17-20. With activities at various locations in and near Bryce Canyon National Park, this special event is sponsored by the National Park Service, Bryce Canyon Natural History Association, Bryce Canyon City, Ruby’s Inn, Garfield Travel Council, Salt Lake Astronomical Society, the National Park Foundation, and the Seminole State College.
Events for the Astronomy Festival include solar viewing, beginning astronomy classes, rocket building and launching workshops, a star lab, star stories, planet walks, planetarium shows and planisphere practice, stargazing, telescope viewing, and more. Guest speakers for the festival include Derek Demeter, the director of the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium at Seminole State College of Florida; Rob Owen, a professor of physics at Oberlin College; and Amy Sayle of the Morehead Planetarium at the University of North Carolina.
At the stargazing site, Bryce Canyon’s Park Rangers will offer 20-minute constellation tours, sharing about the mythology and lore of the night sky. No flashlights, flash photography, or laser pointers are allowed on the stargazing site.
Attendees are encouraged to dress warmly. At 8,000 feet, daytime temperatures typically reach into the 80s, but nighttime temperatures can fall below 40 degrees. In the event of cloudy or stormy weather, stargazing will be cancelled as determined only at the conclusion of the multimedia shows.
Attending the multimedia shows prior to stargazing with telescopes is key in getting the most out of the experience. At the shows, attendees will not only be told how to best look through a telescope but also how to better appreciate the surrounding stars and planets. Volunteers from the Salt Lake Astronomical Society will be present to assist stargazers with telescope use.
Most events are free, although some have limited seating and will require attendees to pick up free tickets from the Bryce Canyon National Park visitor center. Daytime programs and activities will be on a first come, first served basis, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early for all events. For more information, please visit http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/astrofest.htm.
