Tour Guide - Greg Snowman has presented Night Sky Tour programs for thousands of people through his work as an Environmental Education Specialist at Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania’s first and only Dark Sky Park. Even after leaving that position, he has continued to share his passion of the night sky with visitors to the area. Cost - $40/12 and older. $20/children Fee is payable the night of the tour. Location –Located in the heart of the “PA Wilds” in central Potter County Pennsylvania. A dark sky site located on private property 6 miles from the town of Coudersport and 7 miles from Cherry Springs State Park. At an elevation of 2200 feet, this site offers amazing 360 degree views of the night sky with no interference from artificial light. Night Sky Tour - The first half of the Night Sky Tour consists of a laser-guided tour of the constellations. Beginning in the northern area of the sky and continuing on in a complete circle, we will explore the most common constellations. Depending on viewing conditions at the site, some of the lesser-known constellations will also be pointed out. Under clear skies we should easily be able to view and identify 15-20 constellations during the evening. The descriptions and stories surrounding these patterns in the night sky are presented in a manner that is suitable for participants of all ages. This section of the program is approximately 45-60 minutes in length. The second half of the program consists of viewing Deep Space Objects (DSO’s) such as planets, galaxies, nebulae, open and globular clusters through the telescope. This section of the program is approximately 45-60 minutes long. Program material can be adjusted to meet the group’s interest. This telescope along with a wide assortment of eyepieces is used in viewing the planets and the Moon. Viewing Deep Space Objects the telescope is used in combination with a video camera specifically designed for astronomical use. This allows the live image to be viewed on monitors in realtime and in color. This benefits all visitors to view the object at the same time and is especially beneficial for those that may have difficulty viewing through an eyepiece. What is the best time of the year to stargaze? -
This depends on what a group is interested in. Spring is a good time to catch the last views of the winter constellations, the Orion Nebula and to view distant galaxies. The month of June is a little difficult given the longest days of the year and the late program start times. Starting the middle of July the distinct bands of the Milky Way galaxy begin to appear. The constellations in the southern sky Sagittarius and Scorpius lead us to the galactic center. Autumn gives us the finest views of our closest neighbor in space, the Andromeda Galaxy. But anytime you have clear skies, it’s a good time to be outside enjoying the wonder of the heavens above. Remember - The best time for stargazing is one week prior and one week after the New Moon. Start time – Usually one hour after sunset. It’s important to meet and arrive early for equipment setup and an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunset in a quiet, peaceful setting. Do you need to bring anything? -
At this elevation it can be quite cool in the evenings even during the warmest months of summer. Please plan for cool weather. A folding chair or blanket to lay on is also suggested.
