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Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
This national park in Canada is a stargazer's dream, with pristine dark skies and a chance to see northern lights
Only in Canada is a new travel series that acts as a love letter to the bucket-list destinations and experiences in our beautiful country. Look for the Only in Canada series every week. The sun casts a pink glow, melting into the prairie panorama of rolling green hills and endless plains. It's quiet here — oh so quiet, except for the rustling sagebrush bending to the wind's whim, and the coyotes yipping in the distance. Soon, a few twinkling stars emerge in the darkness, then thousands of them and eventually millions. They're so bright, they illuminate the seemingly infinite night sky. Peering up in awe, you can't help but feel both trivial yet inextricably, peacefully connected to the universe. This is Grasslands National Park , in southwest Saskatchewan near the Montana border. A remote, wide-open landscape spanning 730 square kilometres, this was designated a Dark-Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2009. And it's considered 'the darkest Dark-Sky Preserve in Canada,' according to the Canadian Space Agency. There's nearly zero light pollution. In technical terms, it measures 1 (the lowest possible score) on the Bortle scale of night brightness. Visitors to Grasslands National Park may see constellations, meteor showers, the aurora borealis and more. Grasslands keeps its skies so dark by restricting light use, and ensuring any necessary lights cast reddish hues in a downward direction — all efforts to avoid disrupting the nocturnal wildlife here, including owls, bats and swift foxes. 'The feeling of vastness and connection to the sky — it's comforting, like being wrapped in a blanket of sky, with the wind at your ankles,' describes stargazing enthusiast Nicholas Ypelaar, an interpretation co-ordinator at the national park. He's a recent Ontario transplant drawn by Grasslands' night skies and birds. 'You never know what you might see, but you always see something exciting.' Within Canada, Grasslands is the largest intact swath of endangered mixed-grass ecosystem — the country's most threatened and least protected ecosystem. The park's rich biodiversity includes more than 30 at-risk species of flora and fauna, all of which depend on this rare environment. Grasslands National Park's diverse wildlife includes approximately 400 to 500 bison, a keystone species here. Bison graze the blue grama grasses. Prairie rattlesnakes and northern scorpions, greater short-horned lizards and swift foxes call this place home. More likely, though, you'll spot bounding pronghorn antelopes or scurrying badgers, or be entertained by the greater sage grouse's elaborate courting rituals. This is also the only place in Canada where black-tailed prairie dogs, that charismatic, chatty species, exist. Beyond the pristine skies and rare wildlife, history also sets this park apart: 'The darkness is important,' says Ypelaar, 'but only here do you have a full, unobstructed, 360-degree view where you can follow in the footsteps of humans who have been here for millennia, once guided by the night sky.' Grasslands has remained largely unchanged since its first inhabitants, the A'aninin, followed migrating bison to the park more than 10,000 years ago. Later, other Indigenous communities, including the Nakoda, Nehiyawak, Niisitapi, Lakota and Dakota, would follow, making this their seasonal ancestral home. The park's rich Indigenous history is still evident today, through thousands of undisturbed pre-contact sites, artifacts and over 20,000 tipi rings. By day, travellers can explore the park's dramatically different landscapes, including the prairie grasslands of the West Block, and the rugged hoodoos and badlands of the East Block. By evening, elevated areas like 70-Mile Butte or the Eastend trail offer especially beautiful views as sunset turns to nightfall. A view from the Valley of 1000 Devils Trail. Grasslands National Park is vast and varied in its landscapes. 'On a clear night, the Milky Way stretches from one horizon to the other, becoming part of the landscape,' says Ypelaar. Gaze longer and you may see constellations, meteor showers, the aurora borealis. You might even glimpse colourful airglow — static bands of streaking light — which is rare to observe with the naked eye. Spring and fall are peak times for swirling aurora at the Two Trees and Belza day use areas, with summertime ideal to spot the Milky Way's central arch. Bring binoculars or a modest telescope to look for further celestial marvels, such as star clusters, nebulae and galaxies, including Andromeda. What really excites amateur and professional astronomers is the chance to observe deep-sky objects listed in the Messier Catalogue, a sort of bible for stargazers. 'Stargazing is a beginner-friendly hobby. You don't have to be an astronomer to enjoy these sights,' declares Ypelaar, who suggests picking up a star map at the park's visitor centre as a starting point. 'It's an iconic experience in the province.' Jenn Smith Nelson is a Saskatchewan-based travel writer who considers Grasslands National Park her favourite place in the province.
Toronto Star
05-06-2025
- Toronto Star
This national park in Canada is a stargazer's dream, with pristine dark skies and a chance to see northern lights
Canadian Travel Only in Canada is a new travel series that acts as a love letter to the bucket-list destinations and experiences in our beautiful country. Look for the Only in Canada series every week. The sun casts a pink glow, melting into the prairie panorama of rolling green hills and endless plains. It's quiet here — oh so quiet, except for the rustling sagebrush bending to the wind's whim, and the coyotes yipping in the distance. Soon, a few twinkling stars emerge in the darkness, then thousands of them and eventually millions. They're so bright, they illuminate the seemingly infinite night sky. Peering up in awe, you can't help but feel both trivial yet inextricably, peacefully connected to the universe. This is Grasslands National Park, in southwest Saskatchewan near the Montana border. A remote, wide-open landscape spanning 730 square kilometres, this was designated a Dark-Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2009. And it's considered 'the darkest Dark-Sky Preserve in Canada,' according to the Canadian Space Agency. There's nearly zero light pollution. In technical terms, it measures 1 (the lowest possible score) on the Bortle scale of night brightness. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Visitors to Grasslands National Park may see constellations, meteor showers, the aurora borealis and more. Nicholas Ypelaar Grasslands keeps its skies so dark by restricting light use, and ensuring any necessary lights cast reddish hues in a downward direction — all efforts to avoid disrupting the nocturnal wildlife here, including owls, bats and swift foxes. 'The feeling of vastness and connection to the sky — it's comforting, like being wrapped in a blanket of sky, with the wind at your ankles,' describes stargazing enthusiast Nicholas Ypelaar, an interpretation co-ordinator at the national park. He's a recent Ontario transplant drawn by Grasslands' night skies and birds. 'You never know what you might see, but you always see something exciting.' Within Canada, Grasslands is the largest intact swath of endangered mixed-grass ecosystem — the country's most threatened and least protected ecosystem. The park's rich biodiversity includes more than 30 at-risk species of flora and fauna, all of which depend on this rare environment. Grasslands National Park's diverse wildlife includes approximately 400 to 500 bison, a keystone species here. Jenn Smith Nelson Bison graze the blue grama grasses. Prairie rattlesnakes and northern scorpions, greater short-horned lizards and swift foxes call this place home. More likely, though, you'll spot bounding pronghorn antelopes or scurrying badgers, or be entertained by the greater sage grouse's elaborate courting rituals. This is also the only place in Canada where black-tailed prairie dogs, that charismatic, chatty species, exist. Beyond the pristine skies and rare wildlife, history also sets this park apart: 'The darkness is important,' says Ypelaar, 'but only here do you have a full, unobstructed, 360-degree view where you can follow in the footsteps of humans who have been here for millennia, once guided by the night sky.' Grasslands has remained largely unchanged since its first inhabitants, the A'aninin, followed migrating bison to the park more than 10,000 years ago. Later, other Indigenous communities, including the Nakoda, Nehiyawak, Niisitapi, Lakota and Dakota, would follow, making this their seasonal ancestral home. The park's rich Indigenous history is still evident today, through thousands of undisturbed pre-contact sites, artifacts and over 20,000 tipi rings. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW By day, travellers can explore the park's dramatically different landscapes, including the prairie grasslands of the West Block, and the rugged hoodoos and badlands of the East Block. By evening, elevated areas like 70-Mile Butte or the Eastend trail offer especially beautiful views as sunset turns to nightfall. A view from the Valley of 1000 Devils Trail. Grasslands National Park is vast and varied in its landscapes. Tourism Saskatchewan 'On a clear night, the Milky Way stretches from one horizon to the other, becoming part of the landscape,' says Ypelaar. Gaze longer and you may see constellations, meteor showers, the aurora borealis. You might even glimpse colourful airglow — static bands of streaking light — which is rare to observe with the naked eye. Spring and fall are peak times for swirling aurora at the Two Trees and Belza day use areas, with summertime ideal to spot the Milky Way's central arch. Bring binoculars or a modest telescope to look for further celestial marvels, such as star clusters, nebulae and galaxies, including Andromeda. What really excites amateur and professional astronomers is the chance to observe deep-sky objects listed in the Messier Catalogue, a sort of bible for stargazers. 'Stargazing is a beginner-friendly hobby. You don't have to be an astronomer to enjoy these sights,' declares Ypelaar, who suggests picking up a star map at the park's visitor centre as a starting point. 'It's an iconic experience in the province.' Jenn Smith Nelson is a Saskatchewan-based travel writer who considers Grasslands National Park her favourite place in the province.
Calgary Herald
11-05-2025
- General
- Calgary Herald
Weaselhead preservation group seeks nocturnal sanctuary status for Calgary's only 'delta'
An environmental preservation group wants to keep the park dark to support the birds and the bees. Article content Article content The Weaselhead Glenmore Park Preservation Society is working with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) to obtain nocturnal sanctuary status for the Weaselhead Flats, according to a local naturalist. Article content Such a designation would recognize the importance of maintaining dark skies for the variety of wildlife within in the flats, said Sara Jordan-McLachlan, a representative of the Weaselhead preservation society. Article content Article content At an event to recognize World Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, she told Postmedia the preservation society will first have to submit an application to the RASC, before the two organizations collaborate on a joint application to the city. Article content Article content 'We'll need city approval so it's about working with the city as well to make sure they're on board, because ultimately, it's their park to manage,' she said. Article content 'They would give us the approval to designate that as a nocturnal sanctuary and then we'd be in charge of managing it.' The flats are technically Calgary's only 'delta' — a geographical landform created where a river slows as it spills into a standing body of water. In the case of the Weaselhead, when the river reaches the flats, it deposits sand and gravel to create a network of bars, channels and marshes. Article content While the flats have a special protected-area status that prohibits development, the Weaselhead doesn't currently have a nocturnal sanctuary designation as part of its habitat management plan, according to Jordan-McLachlan. Article content Article content She noted there have been some rumblings about adding lighting fixtures to the cycling and walking path that cuts through the flats, which she warns would be harmful for birds and other wildlife. Article content 'That's our biggest challenge — keeping that dark,' she said. 'But otherwise, no development can happen in that area.' Article content A park in the Calgary region that currently has nocturnal sanctuary status is the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area, located just south of city limits in Foothills County. The sprawling area received nocturnal preserve designation in 2015, according to the RASC's website. Article content There are numerous ecological benefits to keeping a natural area devoid of artificial light, said Jordan-McLachlan, who is also a representative of Bird Friendly Calgary. Article content Through her involvement with the local avian advocacy group, Jordan-McLachlan has advocated for stronger protection for birds during the spring and fall migratory seasons, such as educating residents of high-rises to turn off their lights at night to help prevent window strikes.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks May 6. Here's what to expect from the 'crumbs' of Halley's Comet
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Among the top 10 meteor showers appearing annually, one of the best will be reaching its peak on Tuesday morning (May 6). The Eta Aquarid shower ranks among the top four in terms of overall activity. Because the meteors appear to emanate from a spot on the sky (called the "radiant") in the Water Jar of the Aquarius constellation — hence the name "Aquarids" — their visibility favors prospective skywatchers south of the equator. Indeed, for those living in the Southern Hemisphere (Santiago, Johannesburg Melbourne, Auckland), the Eta Aquarid radiant climbs well up in the predawn eastern sky and it is from there that these meteors appear plentiful. In fact, many southern observers consider this shower to be the best meteor shower of the year. According to the Observer's Handbook of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the Eta Aquarids are capable of producing as many as 60 meteors per hour, while the Meteor Calendar of the International Meteor Organization (IMO) indicates rates of around 50 per hour. But from more northerly latitudes, the viewing circumstances are not so favorable. Because these meteors appear to radiate from a position low on the eastern horizon for mid-northern latitudes, even under the most favorable conditions, at best, 10 to "maybe" 20 meteors per hour might be seen. In addition, this year you'll also have to take into account a bright moon, just two days past first quarter (a waxing gibbous, 64% illuminated), and it will not set until just after 3:00 a.m. local daylight time, leaving only about an hour of reasonably dark sky for early morning observations of this shower before the increasingly bright dawn twilight becomes too restrictive. "So," you might ask, "What's the point of getting up before dawn to watch?" The answer is that you might still see something spectacular. More on that in a moment. The Eta Aquarids have a most interesting lineage. Unlike some of the other annual meteor showers whose history can be traced back for many centuries, the Eta Aquarids were not "officially" discovered until the late 19th century. In 1870, while sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, Lt. Col. G.L. Tupman sighted 15 meteors on the morning of April 30, and another 13 a few mornings later. All the meteors Tupman sighted appeared to emanate from the Aquarius constellation, the Water Carrier. Then in 1876, professor Alexander Stewart Herschel pointed out that the orbit of Halley's Comet seemed to nearly coincide with the orbit of Earth around May 4, and that if we encountered any comet debris around that time capable of producing meteors, those streaks of light would appear to dart from the vicinity of Aquarius. Herschel immediately noted that Tupman's observations were very close to his prediction. In the years that followed, increasing numbers of other astronomers and observers also noted similarities between the orbits of Comet Halley and the "shooting stars" in early May radiating from Aquarius. About every three-quarters of a century as it sweeps closest to the sun, Halley leaves a "river of rubble" in its wake along its orbit. As you read these words, the comet is 3.28 billion miles (5.29 billion km) from both the Earth and the sun. The last time Halley swept through the inner solar system was in 1986 (it's due back in the summer of 2061), but it has traveled around the sun countless numbers of times over the centuries, each time leaving behind a trail of dust and grit similar in consistency and texture to cigar ash or copier toner — debris that astronomers believe dates back nearly five billion years to the birth of the solar system; primordial material that happens to intersect the orbit of Earth about this time in early May every year. Those pieces that have flaked off its potato-shaped nucleus during previous visits to the sun flare about 62 miles (100 km) above our heads in early May producing the Eta Aquarid meteors. When our planet interacts with that rubble river, those comet bits race through Earth's atmosphere at high speeds: 41 miles (66 km) per second, to produce the shooting star effect. The material that the comet releases into space actually intersects our orbit at two places. On its inbound approach to the sun, it produces the Orionid meteor shower in late October, while the material that is released after the comet has rounded the sun and is heading back to the outer limits of the solar system produces the Eta Aquarids. The brightest Eta Aquarid meteors leave long-lasting trains. But since they are on the outbound leg of their orbits, these meteors arrive mainly in daylight; thus, the nighttime observation interval is short and occurs just before dawn. Earlier, we suggested that even though viewing circumstances for the Eta Aquarids are not the best for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, you should still make in effort to go out and look during that short "window of opportunity" between 3 and 4 a.m. on May 6. Here's why: For most, perhaps the best hope for seeing the Eta Aquarids is if you happen to catch a glimpse of a member of this meteor swarm as it grazed our atmosphere horizontally — much the same way as a flat rock can be made to skim across the top of a lake or pond. Assiduous meteor observers refer to such meteors as "Earthgrazers," and they have a propensity to produce rather colorful and long-lasting trails. Such meteors also appear to travel across the sky on unusually long paths. RELATED STORIES: — Eta Aquarid meteor shower 2025: Where, when and how to see it — Meteor showers 2025: When, where and how to see the best 'shooting stars' of the year — Night sky for tonight: Visible planets, stars and more in this evening's sky Unfortunately, they also tend to be few and far between. But if you happen to catch sight of just one, it will make your efforts worthwhile. If skies are cloudy on Tuesday morning, be aware that the shower is active for a few days before and after the peak, though meteor rates tend to be only one-half to one-quarter of what you would see at the peak. Try lying on a long lawn chair pointing due south. Keep your eyes moving around and don't stare at any one place ... keep looking all over. If you do spot a long-trailed meteor, keep in mind that you likely will have seen an incandescent streak of light produced by material that originated from the nucleus of Halley's comet; the comet itself is still decades away but no matter. A view of an Eta Aquarid meteor will be your personal encounter with the traces of a famous visitor from the depths of space, and quite possibly the dawn of creation. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky and Telescope and other publications.
CBC
12-03-2025
- Science
- CBC
North America will have a blood worm moon this week. Here's how you can see it
This week, robed in twilight, a "blood worm" will pierce the night sky. As ominous as that sounds, don't think leeches — think lunar. Late Thursday night or Friday early morning, North Americans with clear skies can look up to see a full moon with a beautiful reddish hue. And while it has that eerie nickname, it's not the only one, depending on different cultures. …Blood? This event is actually two occurrences coming together: a total eclipse of the moon by the Earth at the same time as it goes through a full moon phase for March. It's not too rare for this to happen. The last March total lunar eclipse was in 1978, according to NASA — though much of North America couldn't see it. The "blood" part is from the eclipse. When the Earth passes in front of the moon, it obscures the sun's light from hitting it — but some still sneaks through. To understand why the moon turns that colour, amateur astronomer Dave Chapman says you have to imagine you're an astronaut on the moon during the eclipse. "The sun is shining on the Earth from behind. It's being backlit," explains Chapman, a fellow at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. "The Earth's face will be dark, but along the edge — where the atmosphere is — there is sunlight filtering through." But that light comes from all the parts of the world that are experiencing sunrises or sunsets. As light during those times are more red and orange, this is the hue that hits the moon and reflects back to us. However, it's not always blood red. Its variations, from totally invisible to copper, are measured in the Danjon scale. We won't know where this particular eclipse rates on that scale until after it happens. Chapman says there's another unique quality from this "side-lighting" effect from Earth: It will also change how we perceive the shape of the moon. "Normally when you look at the full moon ... it doesn't look like a sphere, it just looks like a disc," Chapman told CBC News from Dartmouth, N.S. But the eclipse lighting turns it from a flat, bright, silvery disc into more of "a sphere hanging in the sky." ...Worm? The timing of this eclipse also aligns with how different cultures around the world refer to the moon during this particular month. Experts attribute the "worm" moniker to Indigenous tribes in the southern U.S. who would see more insects and earthworms emerge during this time of year, and it stuck through its usage in the Old Farmer's Almanac as March's full moon. But other cultures didn't see those worms, instead calling it by different names. For example, "more northern tribes of the northeastern United States knew this as the crow moon, with the cawing of crows signalling the end of winter," writes NASA's Gordon Johnston. To Mi'kmaq, whose traditional territories include Eastern and Atlantic Canada, the moon around March is known as Si'ko'ku's (pronounced see-uke-ay-we-goos), or the maple or maple sugar moon, owing to this time of year when sap starts running down trees. "A lot of the time, the moons are reflective of the season and the time of year," says Hilding Neilson, an astronomer and professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. He says this contextual naming of lunar cycles is common. "For many cultures around the world, the moon is something you watch and you see things change [around you]. And so you get various names reflecting community, telling stories and how you operate," Neilson told CBC News from St. John's. That's why a "blood worm" to some could be a "scarlet crow" or even a "red maple" moon to others. So when can I see it? Seeing it in Canada will mean staying up late or waking up very early. The good news is that you won't need any special equipment to view it and light pollution won't affect visibility. The eclipse's totality will last for just over an hour, with its strongest phase in the middle. Newfoundland time: Starting at 3:56 a.m. to 5:01 a.m. on Friday, March 14 Eastern time: Starting at 2:26 a.m. to 3:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14. Central time: Starting at 1:26 a.m. to 2:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14. Mountain time: Starting at 12:26 a.m. to 1:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14. Pacific time: Starting at 11:26 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, to 12:31 a.m. on Friday, March 14.
