Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve 8th Annual Star Party

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Panorama courtesy Warren Finlay

Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve
8th Annual Star Party

Sharing Our Story and the Starry Sky

Astotin Lake, Elk Island National Park

Sunday, Sep 1, 2013

On Sunday, September 1, Elk Island Park hosted the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve 8th annual event featuring special astronomy presentations, public solar observing, and public stargazing with Royal Astronomical Society of Canada volunteers.

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Programs and Activities

ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS

2013 Program Brochure

2013 Program Brochure

11:00am – 12:00pm   Wetland Wonders
Elk Island Interpretive program, meets at the Living Waters Boardwalk

2:00 pm   The Bison Transfer Experience
Elk Island Interpretive program, meets at the Visitor’s Centre

FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Astotin Recreation Area near the playground

2:00 – 6:00pm           Inflatable Space Maze, Face Painting & cotton candy
4:00 – 5:00pm           Solar System Races & Treasure Hunt with Edmonton Science Outreach Network
3:00pm & 5:00pm    LIVE MUSIC featuring THE LINDSEY WALKER BAND

TELESCOPE VIEWING
Hosted by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Edmonton Centre and Camrose Astronomy Club
Sandy Beach in the Astotin Lake Recreation Area

2:00 – 6:00pm   Afternoon Solar Viewing with astronomers through special sun-safe telescopes
9:30 – 11:00pm  Astronomy by the Beach: View coloured stars, sparkling star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. There’s no moon up, so the darkness will reveal deep sky objects, weather permitting

ASTOTIN THEATRE INDOOR PRESENTATIONS

Wilfred Buck

Wilfred Buck

4:00 – 4:45pm   First Nations Astronomy presentation
Meet our special guest Wilfred Buck. Wilfred is known across Canada as one of Canada’s most fascinating, ‘down to earth’ astronomy educators. You will leave this presentation with a new vision of the night sky and its significance.

5:30pm               Science at the Top of the World – Parks Canada Video

6:30pm               Sharing our Story and the Starry Night – Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve partners & supporters present short stories, performances and demos for all ages!

“Sky-Trails, Sky-Tales” Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
“Losing the Dark” short film from International Dark Sky Association
“On the Lighter Side” light demo and interactive chat by Nelson Epp Edmonton Science Outreach Network
“Going Batty With Parks” Cecilia Neath with Alberta Parks
“Get Owl-eyed” Meet a live Gordon Court’s Owl with naturalist Ray Cromie from Strathcona Wilderness Centre Indoor session moves outdoors for more social networking with a live owl

8:00pm  First Nations Astronomy – Parks Canada meet our fascinating special guest Wilfred Buck and expand your starry horizons

8:55pm  Prize Draw for telescope and field microscope: winners announced in theatre and names posted outside theatre entrance afterward. Theatre attendance is not mandatory to claim prize.

Frank Florian

Frank Florian

9:00pm  Canadian Space Milestones presented by Frank Florian (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada) The spectacular Chris Hadfield International Space Station mission captured the minds and hearts of the world! Where is Canada going next? Let Frank sweep you into orbit and show you where dreams meet reality.

‘EYES-ON’ NIGHT SKY ACTIVITIES – near entrance of Astotin Theatre
9:15pm  Captured by the Light!Scientist Jeffrey Newton leads you from the dark into the ‘danger zone’ as you ‘become’ a moth … he’ll be hiding in the woods near the theatre, can you spot him?

9:30pm  First Nations Constellation Laser Sky Tour – guided by this year’s special guest Wilfred Buck. Meet at the entrance to Astotin Theatre