Whether there’s good clouds for sunset or not, my favorite part of the evening at Grand Canyon National Park is the light on the temples and shadows on the far canyon walls.
The National Park Service will host the 24th annual Grand Canyon Star Party starting tonight June 21st through the 28th, 2014.
Volunteer astronomers from the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix set up telescopes on the veranda of the Grand Lodge North Rim. 8pm evening programs will prepare star gazers for some of the starry sights.
Amateur astronomer Steve Dodder
Activities on the South Rim include volunteers from the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association offering a nightly slide show at 8pm in the Grand Canyon Visitor Center theater followed by telescope viewing behind the building.
June star map from 365 Starry Nights by Chet Raymo
Viewing the night sky is best after 9pm and continues well into the night. Dress warm for the cool high elevation temperatures. Bring a flashlight but not white light that will reduce night vision. Make it a red light with cellophane, nail polish or permanent marker. Give your eyes time to adapt to the dark by counting to 10 with eyes closed, and of course not walking at the same time.
Join the party and look to the sky!
All events are free and made possible by funding from Grand Canyon Association.
It’s been a mostly cloudy day plus there’s smoke from the Galahad fire. It was a little hazy at Point Imperial.
But even a haze can’t diminish the grandeur of Grand Canyon.
Point Imperial is the highest elevation overlook at 8803 feet (2683 meters) on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Views stretch from northeast to south, of the canyon and beyond.