Celestial Phenomena and a Total Solar Eclipse Still Thrill Earthlings
More favorable sites for seeing stars are located a short drive from town. The open glades and ridgetops in the Mark Twain National Forest are good places to enjoy a dark sky adventure.
Clear, dry air, high elevation and lack of light pollution make Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah one of the darkest locations in North America. At times the Milky Way resembles a giant silvery rainbow across the horizon, and thousands of stars are visible with the naked eye.
Outstanding stargazing also awaits visitors to Glacier National Park in Montana. Its pristine wilderness, distance from major cities and two high-elevation sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains combine to offer ideal conditions. Adding to the appeal of this designated Dark Sky Park is the St. Mary Observatory, which houses powerful telescopes that provide high-resolution views of planets, galaxies and other heavenly bodies.
In 1977, scenes for the movie "Star Wars" were filmed at locations in Death Valley, California, which doubled as "a galaxy far, far away." Most of the 3.4-million-acre national park there is a dark-sky wilderness area, which has earned the highest (Gold Tier) rating by the International Dark-Sky Association. Some celestial objects that can be viewed there are not visible from anywhere else in the world.
While astronomers have debunked the ancient Egyptian belief that the universe is a box, many people continue to be awed by its beauty. Places to enjoy that splendor are located around the country, and they will be augmented in April by a total eclipse of the sun.
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WHEN YOU GO
www.dcnr.pa.gov/stateparks
www.mtnlakelodge.com
www.explorebranson.com
www.nps.gov/brca
www.nps.gov/glac
www.nps/gov/deva.
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Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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