Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve 5th Anniversary
Join us for a party under the stars
At
Elk Island National Park
Sunday, Sep 4, 2011
4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Astotin Lake Area
Thank you for supporting your local national park by purchasing an entry pass at the park gates and campground kiosk. The event is free for all visitors with a valid park pass.
On the Labour Day weekend join us for our annual celebration of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve (BHDSP) hosted by:
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Edmonton Centre
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation
Parks Canada Agency - Elk Island National Park
Strathcona Wilderness Centre
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
Sherwood Park Fish and Game Ketchamoot Creek Recreation and Conservation Area
Sunday, September 4th marks the fifth anniversary of the creation of the Beaver
Hills Dark Sky Preserve.
Outdoor activities include public stargazing with astronomers using a variety of
telescopes, and children's activities.
Indoor activities include a photography workshop, astronomical presentations, interpretative programs and red light flashlight assembly. Please join us as we welcome our new partner, Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, into the BHDSP.
4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village presents
storytelling and children-s games at the Blue Events tent, near the playground.
5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Royal Astronomical Society of Canada welcomes visitors to experience the skies through special solar telescopes. Astotin beach area and theatre deck.
6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Elk Island National Park presents red light flashing making workshop, at the red tent, near the entrance to the Astotin Theatre. Please bring a flashlight to modify.
7:30 P.M. - 10:30 P.M. Royal Astronomical Society of Canada volunteers present night-time telescope viewing, on the lawn, throughout the Astotin Lake Area; Pavilion Cook Shelter overlooking the beach. Later observing dependent on sky and astronomer conditions!
INDOOR EVENT PROGRAM
Astotin Theatre
5:00 P.M. Yuichi Takasaka presents a workshop entitled Landscape Astrophotography in the Canadian Climate featuring the special challenges northern photographers face: Mosquitoes, clothing and gear, and how to protect your equipment in minus 40 Celsius degrees!
6:00 P.M. Elk Island National Park presents Space Canoe 2.0 - Conserve the
Cosmos. Join park interpreter and Space Cadet Matt as he continues his mission of cosmic discovery and once again searches the solar system to answer the age old question -Can life exist beyond our little blue planet--
7:00 P.M. Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve Partnership presents Welcome Ceremony - Miquelon Lake Provincial
Park. Strathcona Wilderness Centre welcomes Miquelon Lake into the Dark Sky Preserve on behalf of the partnership.
7:15 P.M. Miquelon Lake Provincial Park presents DSI: Dark Sky Investigator - A little girl-s outdoor quest takes a turn when she encounters a grumpy owl which sends her on a nocturnal adventure in search of darker skies. A lively, interactive family theatre show.
8:30 P.M. Yuichi Takasaka presents A Dark Sky Journey through beautiful Canadian landscapes. Yuichi-s spectacular professional photography includes images and video from his recent trip to the Yukon
9:30 - 10:30 P.M. Royal Astronomical Society of Canada-s Bruce McCurdy presents Follow the Water: The Search for Life in the Universe. Bruce is a fountain of astronomical knowledge! You will be inspired and captivated by this presentation and questions are welcome.
10:45 P.M. Theatre closes.
Making Your Visit More Enjoyable
Washrooms Facilities
Accessible washrooms are located at the Astotin
Theatre, near the Dark Sky Panels and at the boat launch parking lot. Washrooms
in the Astotin Theatre are open 24 hours a day - accessed via the exterior of
the building. Portable washroom facilities available on
site.
Astotin Theatre
The Astotin Theatre will be closed at 10:45 p.m.
Please no pets or food in the Astotin Theatre.
Seating is limited.
Telescopes
Telescopes will be set up courtesy of volunteers and
amateur astronomers. They are more than happy to have you take a look through
their lens. Don't be shy to ask!
Star Party Survival Kit
Please dress for the weather and night time temperatures. Insect repellent is recommended.
Many activities will proceed 'rain or star-shine', telescope viewing requires a clear sky.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.