Southwest Stargazing Campout with DarkSky Colorado
Fri, Aug 30
|Deerhill Expeditions
You don’t have to be an astronomer to learn about the night sky and experience the benefits of dark sky preservation. Women of Colorado and DarkSky Colorado are teaming up to provide a women-centric outdoor adventure event to provide access to overnight camping and dark sky observation.
Time & Location
Aug 30, 2024, 3:00 PM – Aug 31, 2024, 10:30 AM
Deerhill Expeditions, 7850 Rd 41, Mancos, CO 81328, USA
About the event
Protect the night, turn down your light. In the dark you can see from afar, celestial bodies and distant stars. You don’t have to be an astronomer to learn about the night sky and experience the benefits of dark sky preservation. Women of Colorado and DarkSky Colorado are teaming up to provide a women-centric outdoor adventure event to provide access to camping and dark sky observation.
The event will be led by Sarah Tober, the first executive director of DarkSky Colorado a statewide 501(c)3 dedicated to preserving the night sky. As an avid dark sky advocate Tober will talk about how the community including Visit Durango is working together to get the City of Durango International Dark Sky Place (IDSP) certified.
The day will include outdoor enjoyment, camping and looking at the night sky with telescopes and constellation guides.
Each stargazer will receive a red flashlight and get to learn about the beauty and magnificence of our shared night sky. A dinner and breakfast will be provided. You will need to BYO tent, water, and any other camping equipment you would like. Well-behaved children are welcomed for an additional cost.
What you will learn at this Stargazing Campout
-Who is DarkSky Colorado and what does it stand for
-What is an International Dark Sky Place and why is this important for the region
-How to use a Sky Quality Meter and the significance of measuring our dark skies
-Constellations - what is in the sky this time of year, take a look at constellations through a Celestron Telescope, top apps to use yourself on your smartphone, the Night Sky Planisphere, and a few stories behind our favorite constellations
-Finish the night of stargazing with a reading from Keepers of the Night - The Grizzly Bear that Climbed the Mountain
Please note: While we would love to control the weather to ensure perfect skies, we cannot gurantee weather. Please note this event will not be cancelled due to weather. We are hopeful all will be well, but we cannot refund guests due to cancellations for weather.