Shenandoah National Park's Star Party conducts some events at Big Meadows/NPS file

There are going to be some "star parties" held across the National Park System in the coming weeks.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park will celebrate its annual Night Sky Festival, August 11-13. Featured speakers, including amateur astronomers, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Solar System Ambassadors, and a veteran NASA astronaut, will present on topics ranging from asteroid defense to the largest known impact crater in the United States. Ranger-led programs will focus on animals that rely on dark skies, each planet’s role in the solar system, and stories told by the constellations. There will be opportunities for stargazing, constellation tours, Junior Ranger activities, and more.

Park Rangers and guest speakers will encourage visitors to gain appreciation for dark skies through a variety of special programs and activities. Programs and presentations will take place at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (mile 4.6 on Skyline Drive), Mathews Arm Campground Amphitheater (mile 22.1), Skyland Amphitheater (mile 42.5), Byrd Visitor Center and Big Meadows (mile 51), and Loft Mountain Amphitheater (mile 79.5).

Veteran astronaut and space scientist Tom Jones returns this year with three presentations in Byrd Visitor Center Auditorium. Jones will present “When Rocks Attack: Defending Earth from Asteroids” and “Beyond Earth: Humanity’s Future in Space” Saturday, August 12, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, “Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Journey” Sunday, August 13, at 11 a.m., and “The Future of U.S. Human Spaceflight” Sunday, August 13, at 9 p.m. in Big Meadows Lodge Massanutten Room.

Also making a return this year is NASA Solar System Ambassador Greg Redfern. Attend Redfern’s presentations in Byrd Visitor Center Auditorium for “The Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater” Friday, August 11, and Sunday, August 13, at 5 p.m. and “Shenandoah Skies and the Perseids” all three nights, August 11-13, at 6 p.m.  

Join amateur astronomers for a “Telescope Party” Saturday, August 12, at 10:30 p.m. to view stars and the Perseid meteor shower in two locations: Dickey Ridge Visitor Center with Northern Virginia Astronomy Club, or Big Meadows with Rappahannock Astronomy Club, Richmond Astronomical Society, and the University of Virginia Department of Astronomy.

Artist-in-Residence Paul Atkinson will share his approach to night sky landscape photography during his program “Making Art in the Dark” Friday, August 11, at 3:30 p.m. in Byrd Visitor Center Auditorium. The Artist-in-Residence program is financially supported by Shenandoah National Park Trust, the official philanthropic partner of the park.

For a full list of Night Sky Festival activities, visit this site.

Green laser pointers are used to point out constellations at Voyageurs National Park's star party/NPS file

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

The National Park Service and Voyageurs Conservancy are celebrating the natural wonder and cultural heritage of Voyageurs National Park's night skies with the third annual summer Star Party August 10-12. This three-day Star Party celebration at Voyageurs National Park will support the continued protection and enjoyment of the park’s incredible night skies. Although light pollution threatens dark skies across the globe, Voyageurs National Park hosts some of the darkest skies in the region. Join the park staff for special speakers, telescope viewing sessions, guided constellation tours, ranger programs, and more.

Voyageurs Conservancy and park ranger-led activities will be held in the early evening at both Rainy Lake Visitor Center and Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center. Special speakers and Astro “Bob” will inspire you with the galaxies, planets, and stars overhead. Once the park goes dark, attendees will enjoy guided telescope sessions and constellation tours.

Program schedule highlights include:

Thursday, August 10
International Falls & Ranier Area

Stars and Space Storytime
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
International Falls Library

This family-friendly event kicks off the Voyageurs Star Party. A selection of star and space-themed children’s books will be read from 2 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Author Polly Carlson-Voiles and illustrator Consie Powell will show up for a very special storytime about their new book, Star Party. A two-time winner of the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award, Polly Carlson-Voiles has been inspired by years of canoe trips, cabin time, and teaching. Both Polly and Consie are based in Ely, Minnesota, and are inspired by stargazing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. During the event you can purchase Star Party and also pick up a free National Park Service Junior Ranger Night Explorer book and a Bell Museum scavenger hunt to begin your own dark sky adventures.

Light Pollution Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Opportunities of Astro-tourism
5 p.m.- 6 p.m.
Ranier Community Hall

Join Dark Sky Delegate and Starry Skies North chapter president Todd Burlet as he explores light pollution and the economic opportunities it creates for still-dark locales. Learn about the sources of light pollution, the impact it has on human health and wellness, as well as the health of our plants, animals, and waters. Park staff will share simple things you can do as individuals, families, and communities to reduce light pollution while still enjoying quality outdoor lighting. Learn more about the economic opportunities of Astro-Tourism and how to tap into this growing market, including how to attract visitors during ‘shoulder’ seasons.

Friday, August 11- Rainy Lake Visitor Center
Saturday, August 12 - Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center

The following schedule is the same for both Friday and Saturday, with different locations. On Friday, August 11 all activities and programs will be located at Voyageurs National Park’s Rainy Lake Visitor Center. On Saturday, August 12, all activities will be located at the park’s Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center.

11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
View solar scopes and ask your burning astronomy questions as you explore the sky by day with “Astro” Bob King and Voyageurs Conservancy’s Dark Sky Expert Educator Jesse Gates. Starry Skies North will be on hand with resources to help you learn how to protect darkness in your own backyard.

11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Inside the visitor centers, enjoy two showings of the film Northern Nights, Starry Skies at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Co-produced with Hamline University Center for Global Environmental Education, this is a film experience that will transform your appreciation of the North Country’s spectacular starry skies — a visually stunning celebration of our spectacular starry skies above the world’s largest designated Dark Sky sanctuary. Ojibwe, Dakota cultural astronomers, and other experts share the wonders of the heavens.

7 p.m. - Midnight
Wear layers, bring water and a camp chair or blanket, pack bug spray, and keep in mind parking is limited. There will be no food vendors on site nor seating provided. Eat dinner before you arrive or pack a picnic (and plan to pack your trash out with you).

During 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. there will be various half-hour special National Park Service Ranger-led programs, including talks about the Solar System and Aurora Borealis, as well as story time around the campfire with s’mores and opportunities to get on the water via canoe. Special thanks to Voyageurs Conservancy and North Mallow for providing free s’mores.

7 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Canoemobile with Wilderness Inquiry in partnership with Voyageurs Conservancy and the National Park Service, Wilderness Inquiry is thrilled to bring Canoemobile to the Voyageurs Star Party. Enjoy an evening paddle in a 10-person canoe. No prior paddling experience is required. PFDs will be provided for all ages. Weather permitting, groups will go out on a rotating basis, first-come, first-served.

9 p.m.
Discover the Night with “Astro” Bob King

Join astronomer and planetarium educator "Astro" Bob King for an awe-inspiring presentation under the night sky. Learn about August's celestial events and what makes Voyageurs National Park's dark skies so spectacular. Bob King served as a photographer and photo editor at the Duluth News Tribune for 39 years and also taught at the UMD planetarium for many years. He has written several books on astronomy including The Urban Legends of Space, which examines science vs. pseudoscience in Astronomy.

10 p.m. - Midnight
Night Sky Tour: Telescope Sessions + Constellation Tours

Once nighttime falls, enjoy telescope sessions and constellation tours under Voyageurs’ star-studded skies. Join Astro Bob, Park Rangers, Voyageurs Conservancy, and Starry Skies North to put your new night-watching skills to the test. View Jupiter and Saturn through a telescope, enjoy constellation tours over the park, learn about astro-photography, and take in the wilderness above our heads until midnight. You’ll even get the chance to view other galaxies through the park's new high-powered 18” Obsession Telescope. Attendees should remember that cell phone lights and any white flashlights/lighting are discouraged so we can enjoy the stars in complete darkness.

A detailed schedule of activities, weather-related updates, and things to know before you attend are available at this site. 

All are welcome to attend this event at Voyageurs National Park. There are no reservations required to attend the Star Party. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own supplies to this event. Seating is not provided so bring a camp chair or blanket. Wear layers, bring water, pack bug spray, and keep in mind parking is limited. Eat dinner before you arrive or pack a picnic (and plan to pack your trash out with you). Be prepared to wait in line to park or walk a short distance from overflow parking.

In December 2020, Voyageurs National Park became officially certified as an International Dark Sky Park. This certification from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) recognizes Voyageurs for the exceptional quality of its dark skies and its ongoing commitment to preserving darkness and educating the public about the night sky. Voyageurs Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner of Voyageurs National Park, was proud to help secure this certification by funding key light fixture changes and hosting night sky educational programs.