A number of U.S. National Parks are hosting stargazing events this summer, taking advantage of their isolation from the light pollution that surrounds large cities. Several of the parks include designated “dark-sky sites’ because of exceptionally high-quality night conditions.
The dark-sky designation comes from the Tucson-based International Dark-Sky Association which certifies areas around the world for optimal viewing conditions. Stargazing events in the parks usually include park rangers with information and some include photography workshops.
Most of the National Park events are free, although some parks have admission charges. Among the parks with events this year are Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Badlands, Shenandoah, Great Basin and Joshua Tree. A listing of these events with more detail and schedule appeared recently in the New York Times.
