National Parks are often best-known for their stunning scenery or historical landmarks, but in recent years, the park service has also been focusing on preserving soundscapes and nighttime vistas. Seeing the Milky Way or a particular constellation can be inspirational for park visitors.
Another important feature of national parks is natural sounds. In 1998, the Estes Valley League of Women Voters organized a successful campaign to ban commercial overflights in Rocky Mountain National Park.
This month, Rocky Mountain National Park will join in a global celebration of World Listening Day to help people gain appreciation for natural sounds. The family oriented celebration is July 18, with crafts, interactive games, and a natural sound scavenger hunt.
The park is also featuring a first-time Night Sky Festival on July 16, 17, and 18. Here's the schedule of events:
Night Sky Festival July 16, 17 and 18 –Family Night Sky Activities
Moraine Park Discovery Center—11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Activities will include solar observing, special booths and activities and earning a Night Sky Junior Ranger book and patch!
Thursday, July 16
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center—7:30 p.m.
Protecting Night Sky Resources in National Parks and Beyond Jeremy White has been collecting night sky measurements in national parks across the country. Join him as he discusses the ongoing research of the National Park Service Natural Sounds and Night Sky Division.
Upper Beaver Meadows—9 p.m.
Wonders of the Night Sky — Observe the night sky and visible constellations with the help of a park ranger and expert volunteer astronomers. Bring warm clothes, binoculars, and a flashlight.
Moraine Park Campground—9 p.m.
Night Sky Photography —Stan Honda, a photographer and former Artist in Residence in Rocky Mountain National Park will share his continuing project involving night sky landscapes.
Glacier Basin Campground—9 p.m.
James Webb Space Telescope—Learn how astronomers will get a whole new view of the cosmos with NASA's next flagship mission, The James Webb Telescope.
Friday, July 17
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center—7:30 p.m.
New Horizons—Come see the first clear images of Pluto, courtesy of Ball Aerospaces's Ralph camera.
Upper Beaver Meadows—8:15 p.m.
Astronomy in the Park—Observe the night sky with the help of a park ranger and expert volunteer astronomers. Bring warm clothes, binoculars, and a flashlight.
Harbison Meadow Parking Area—9 p.m.
Celestial Wilderness—Use a telescope and join a ranger to explore the astronomy of Rocky's night sky.
Moraine Park Campground—9 p.m.
The Moon: A New Perspective—Join us for a brief history of the Moon and its formation, with images of the lunar surface from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Spacecraft currently orbiting the moon.
Glacier Basin Campground—9 p.m.
Night Sky Photography Workshop—Stan Honda, a night sky photographer will give a hands-on workshop on how to take great pictures of night skies with an ordinary camera.
Saturday, July 18
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center—7:30 p.m.
James Webb Space Telescope—Dr. Joel Green of the Space Telescope Institute will discuss the formation of protoplanets and their transformation into exoplanets as well as the upcoming mission of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Upper Beaver Meadows—8:15 p.m.
Astronomy in the Park—Observe the night sky with the help of a park ranger and expert volunteer astronomers. Bring warm clothes, binoculars, and a flashlight.
Moraine Park Campground—9 p.m.
The Aurora: More Than Pretty Lights in the Sky—Dr. Frank Eparvier of the University of Colorado at Boulder Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics will discuss the impact that space weather has on our lives.
Glacier Basin Campground—9 p.m.
The Moon:A New Perspective—Join us for a brief history of the Moon and its formation, with images of the lunar surface from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Spacecraft currently orbiting the moon.
Saturday, July 18 – Celebrate World Listening Day
The Sounds Of Silence - A Celebration Of The Ban On Commercial Air Tours Over Rocky Mountain National Park.
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Plaza and Auditorium –10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Programs are free and open to the public. Entrance fees apply except for programs held at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. You do not need to be staying in the park campground to attend the evening campground programs. For more information, please call the park's Information Office at 970-586-1206 or visit www.nps.gov/romo
Filed in Colorado News |