Wire Reports

St. George Spectrum & Daily News

Southern Utah residents are encouraged to turn their eyes to the heavens this weekend as the 2nd Annual Southwest Astronomy Festival reveals the wonders of the night sky Sept. 7-9.

The festival offers a weekend filled with events set to teach participants the basics of dark sky preservation and astronomy.

Star and Sun parties, educational activities and lectures are on the schedule, according to the festival website. Locations in Washington and Iron Counties will be used. Pipe Spring, Arizona will also play host to events.

The festival is hosted by the Cedar Breaks National Monument and Canyon-Parashant National Monument.

The family-friendly event welcomes stargazers of all experience levels. All the Southern Utah events are free. Admission to Pipe Spring National Monument in Arizona is $7. While all events are open to the public, some require pre-registration. See the festival schedule for details.

Schedule

Friday Sept. 7

Iron County

Noon

APEX Space Debates — join the discussion in the Hunter Conference Center at SUU where a Mars expedition, connecting with alien civilizations and cleaning up space junk will be the topics.

Sun Party at SUMA – the Ashcroft Observatory team will offer a special viewing of the Sun and more.

3 p.m.

Dark Sky Discussion – light pollution and how to prevent it will be discussed at the Cedar City Library.

6 p.m.

Astronomy Extravaganza – Kid-friendly activities include building your own constellations, climbing into the SUU Planetarium and telescope viewing of the night sky at North Elementary.

Washington County

10 a.m.

Southern Utah Bat Chat – a presentation on these fascinating creatures of the night at the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. Trail maps and information on animals in the area will be available.

11:30 a.m.

Beyond the Light – Learn what it’s like to be an artist-in-residence in the Parashant International Night Sky Province at the St. George Public Lands Office.

1 p.m.

Parashant Ranger Talk – Finding habitable real estate and meeting your extraterrestrial neighbors are the subject of this educational and fun ranger talk at the St. George Public Lands Office.

2 p.m.

Southern Utah Bat Chat – A second offering of this popular topic at the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.

5 p.m.

Junior Ranger Night – Aspiring rangers shouldn’t miss this event. An indoor planetarium and a Sun Party are just some of the fun set for Tonaquint Park.

9 p.m.

Tonaquint Star Party – A telescope viewing party led by rangers and the DSU astronomy team at Tonaquint Park.

Pipe Spring National Monument

1 p.m.

Solar Telescope Viewing of Ta-vaw (the Sun) – A solar telescope at the visitor’s center will offer a safe view of our star and teach Paiute perspectives on its significance.

Saturday Sept. 8

Iron County

Noon to 6 p.m.

Library in the Stars – Cedar City’s Library in the Park becomes astronomy central all day offering a full slate of events.

Reach for the Stars art and astronomy exhibit features a genuine meteorite from outer space and the SUU Planetarium will be onsite offering shows every 20 minutes. Solar Astronomy by Kids for Kids, Space Travel and the Human Body and a Night-Sky Photography Presentation are also on tap. Other activities also are planned. See the schedule for details.

7:30 p.m.

Night Sky Photography Workshop – Learn how to photograph the night sky from a professional photographer at Cedar Breaks National Monument.

8 p.m.

Star Party at the Breaks – Join the dark sky team at Cedar Breaks for breathtaking views of the night sky.

Star Party at the Observatory – The historic Ashcroft Observatory welcomes enthusiasts for viewing and information about all things heavenly.

Washington County

10 a.m.

Go Batty! – Learn about bats in our area, watch a video and do a bat-themed craft at Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.

11 a.m.

Sun Party – The St. George Astronomy Group hosts a solar viewing party at St. George Children’s Museum.

7 p.m.

Astrophotography Workshop – Discover the secrets of photographing the night sky from a professional photographer at the St. George Public Lands Office.

Paint Night – Painting the stars will be the focus of this workshop set for the Tonaquint Nature Center.

8 p.m.

Desert Discoveries after Dark – Discover the desert as it comes alive at dusk during this quiet hike led by a BLM park ranger at Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

Star Party in the Park – Planets, stars, moons and galaxies will be the subjects of this star party hosted by the St. George Astronomy Group in Ivins Unity Park.

Pipe Spring National Monument

7:30 p.m.

Night Sky Heritage with Kaibab Band of Paiutes – Local tribal members will share traditional views of the stars. After dark , rangers will guide guests in telescope viewing of the night sky.

Sunday Sept. 8

8 p.m.

Star Party Finale at Cedar Breaks – The biggest star party in Iron County features telescopes from Cedar Breaks, the Southern Utah Space Foundation, SUU and the University of Utah’s 26-inch lens. Not to be missed.

Star Party Finale at Gunlock State Park – Gunlock State Park Rangers and the St. George Astronomy Club will lead stargazers to a party in one of the darkest places near St. George.

For information visit Southwest Astronomy Festival or call 435-586-9451 x4429.