Night Sky Tour in the National Seashore
Friday, October 21st

Autumn has arrived with clear crisp air for your night sky tour in the National Seashore.

The bright stars and constellations of summer are descending in the west as darkness falls, and the fainter, more subtle stars and constellations of autumn rise in the east to take their place. The chill we feel in the evening air and the darkness that earlier sunsets bring are mirrored in the night sky offering opportunities for a celestial safari.

At this event perched by the ocean below with planetarium above, you will learn how to recognize and locate the most significant visible constellations and stars of the October sky. We will use a simple map of the constellations to orient ourselves to the night sky, learn how to find the North Star, and we will cover some very basic astronomy. In addition, the cultural history and significance of the constellations and star names will be discussed to place them in the context of several thousand years of human history.

We will see the Milky Way overhead, stretching from horizon to horizon and near its peak brightness. We will observe and identify the still visible summer constellations of Lyra, Aquila, and Cygnus, along with the bright summer stars Vega and Altair, among others.

In the east and south-east, we will identify the autumn constellations of Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, and Pisces and several others.

We will identify the planet Saturn, visible in the south at sunset and the planet Jupiter in the south-east. Finally, we will learn to locate the Andromeda Galaxy, whose light takes two and half million years to reach us.

Be sure to dress warmly and bring binoculars and a flashlight if you have them. We’ll provide a sky map and red cellophane with elastics to cover your flashlight (helps preserve night vision).

This event is $10.00 per person and is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Space is limited to 25 so advance reservation is required.

Driving directions will be included in your confirmation email.

This is a popular event and space is limited, so if it fills up, stay tuned to your HCT eNews for future Night Sky Tours.

Images courtesy of Michael Payne and public domain