The Dark Sky Caravan lands in Grand Marais for an evening of celebrating night skies; two more up the Gunflint this weekend
Aug 11, 2023 11:04AM ● By Content Editor
Constellations beginning to peek through the clouds as dusk falls upon the harbor. All photos by Tryg Solberg
By Tryg Solberg - Boreal Community Media - August 11, 2023
The 2023 Dark Sky Caravan landed in Grand Marais on Thursday evening at North House Folk School's blue building and courtyard. The Caravan is based out of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium. Jessica Rogers, Planetarium Director, gave a presentation on the various constellations and planets that would be coming into view from the harbor. Rogers said that the Dark Sky events typically have crowds of 40-100 people attend. This summer, the Caravan has been traveling up the North Shore since August 7th.
In addition to last night’s event, the Dark Sky Caravan will host events on August 11 at Seagull Lake Community Center, and the 12th at Chik Wauk Museum and Nature Center on Saturday night, both from 8-11pm. In case of inclement weather, events will take place indoors.
The Dark Sky Caravan’s visit is significant to Cook County because the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was named an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2020. At over 1.1 million acres, the BWCAW’s Dark Sky Sanctuary is the largest in the world. DarkSky’s mission is to protect areas that are free of light pollution and advocate for ways to reduce light pollution in urban and rural areas across the world. Learn more here.
For more information on the Dark Sky Caravan, visit: https://scse.d.umn.edu/marshall-w-alworth-planetarium/public-showsevents/events
Jessica Rogers, the Planetarium Director and Astronomy Instructor, giving a presentation on the constellations, planets and meteor showers that could become visible when darkness fell
Maps of the constellations and scavenger hunt activities were provided to event attendees
Jessica Rogers, the Planetarium Director and Astronomy Instructor, giving a presentation on the constellations, planets and meteor showers that could become visible when darkness fell
The button-making station setup for visitors of all ages to make buttons of all astronomy themes
UMD student and Dark Sky intern Brayden Slattery setting up the Skyquest Dobsonion telescope in front of the Hjordis at North House
Constellations beginning to peek through the clouds as dusk falls upon the harbor
