Night Sky Tourist

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a pristine International Dark Sky Sanctuary at the top of Minnesota. I chat with Ann Schwaller, the Program Manager for this wilderness area, about the night sky in this area and all the amazing ways people can recreate there.

Visit NightSkyTourist.com/69 more information about this episode.

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior 

Portage: A Family, A Canoe, and the Search for the Good Life by Sue Leaf: https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/portage 

Starry Skies North: https://starryskiesnorth.org 

University of Minnesota, Duluth Observatory: https://scse.d.umn.edu/about/departments-and-programs/physics-astronomy-department/observatory 

4 Sources of Campground Light Pollution: https://nightskytourist.com/campground-light-pollution/ 

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How much bright sunlight enters your eyes each day? How dark is your nighttime? In this episode, we dive into the cascade of hormones released in our bodies from early morning until late at night and how our lifestyle hijacks it. We talk about how to measure the light around us and what we can do to improve our bright days and dark nights for better physical and mental health.

Visit NightSkyTourist.com/68 for more information about this episode.

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

International Dark Sky Discovery Center: https://darkskycenter.org 

The 4 Season Solution: The Groundbreaking New Plan for Feeling Better, Living Well, and Powering Down Our Always-On Lives by Dallas Hartwig: https://www.amazon.com/Season-Solution-Groundbreaking-Powering-Always/dp/1982115157/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

Chasing the Sun: How the Science of Sunlight Shapes Our Bodies and Minds by Linda Geddes: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Sun-Science-Sunlight-Shapes/dp/1643132172 

Lux meters for iOS: 

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Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, deserves a place at the top of your bucket list for night sky experiences. In this episode, Lowell’s executive director Dr. Jeffrey Hall shares about some exciting new additions to the visitor experience and gives us an amazing historical journey into Lowell’s past. Flagstaff also has several other noteworthy experiences for lovers of the night sky and cultural astronomy that I share in this episode.

Visit NightSkyTourist.com/67 for more information about this episode.

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

Lowell Observatory: https://lowell.edu 

Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner: https://www.dacherkeltner.com 

Venus: The Planet with Two Names: https://nightskytourist.com/venus/ 

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We want to hear your questions. They could even become part of a future Q&A. Record your question in a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us at [email protected].

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Cherry Springs State Park is the world’s second International Dark Sky Park. Located in North Central Pennsylvania, the park boasts beautiful dark sky, stargazing programs, and amenities for astrophotographers and campers. In this episode, I chat with Susan Schenck, the park’s Environments Education Specialist.

Visit https://nightskytourist.com/66/ for more information about this episode.

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

Cherry Springs State Park: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/CherrySpringsStatePark/Pages/default.aspx 

Cherry Springs stargazing info: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/CherrySpringsStatePark/Pages/Stargazing.aspx 

Things to See in the Night Sky in 2023: A Month-by-Month Guide by Vicky Derksen: https://nightskytourist.com 

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Visit NightSkyTourist.com to read our great blog articles, check out our resource page, and sign up for our newsletters. Our monthly newsletter has content that is exclusive for subscribers.

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We want to hear your questions. They could even become part of a future Q&A. Record your question in a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us at [email protected].

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Samyukta Manikumar was born and raised in Kenya, and now she lives in Slovenia. She chats with us about her career as an astrotourism designer, an astronomy enthusiast, and her advocacy for naturally dark skies. 

Samyukta has a background in science communication, outreach, astrotourism, and experience design, which she brings together in her approach to dark sky conservation. She has a deep interest in preserving the nocturnal environment, paying homage to our historical cultural relationship with the night sky, and using these to inspire personal reflection and sustainable growth.

Visit NightSkyTourist.com/65 for more information about this episode.

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

Samyukta Manikumar: https://samyuktamanikumar.com 

Samyukta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samyuktamanikumar/ 

"Why Earth Wobbles with a Drunken Stagger": https://nightskytourist.com/wobble/

SkyView Lite for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/skyview-lite/id413936865 

SkyView Lite from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t11.skyviewfree&hl=en_US&gl=US 

Orbitrack for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/orbitrack/id1092984911 

Orbitrack from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.southernstars.orbitrack&hl=en_US&gl=US 

ISS Spotter for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/iss-spotter/id523486350 

ISS Detector from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.runar.issdetector&hl=en_US&gl=US 

Night Sky Tourist: Chasing Meteorites with Geoff Notkin part 1: https://nightskytourist.com/19-2/ 

Night Sky Tourist: Treasures from Space with Geoff Notkin part 2: https://nightskytourist.com/20-2/ 

Space.com 

Sky & Telescope: https://skyandtelescope.org 

NASA: https://www.nasa.gov 

Things to See in the Night Sky in 2023: A Month-by-Month Guide by Vicky Derksen: https://nightskytourist.com 

FOLLOW NIGHT SKY TOURIST ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightSkyTourist 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightskytourist/ 

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Help us reach more people by subscribing to the podcast, leaving a review, and sharing it with others.

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Visit NightSkyTourist.com to read our great blog articles, check out our resource page, and sign up for our newsletters. Our monthly newsletter has content that is exclusive for subscribers.

SHARE YOUR QUESTION

We want to hear your questions. They could even become part of a future Q&A. Record your question in a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us at [email protected].

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS

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Kenneth Zoll has conducted extensive fieldwork in the ancient astronomy of the Southwest, particularly at a site known as V Bar V Ranch in Central Arizona. In this episode, we chat about the people who made the rock art, the astronomical associations discovered in the petroglyphs, and the importance of skywatching for these cultures.

Visit NightSkyTourist.com/64 for more information about this episode.

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

Verde Valley Archaeological Center: https://www.verdevalleyarchaeology.org 

Sinagua Sunwatchers: An Archaeoastronomy Survey of the V Bar V Heritage Site and the Sacred Mountain Basin by Kenneth Zoll: https://www.amazon.com/Sinagua-Sunwatchers-Kenneth-J-Zoll/dp/0982037805/ref=sr_1_2?crid=D9YKOIUWC7UK&keywords=kenneth+zoll&qid=1682472749&sprefix=kenneth+zoll%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-2 

The Crane Petroglyph Heritage Site and V-V Historic Ranch by Kenneth Zoll:

https://www.amazon.com/Crane-Petroglyph-Heritage-Historic-Ranch/dp/0982037872/ref=sr_1_1?crid=D9YKOIUWC7UK&keywords=kenneth+zoll&qid=1682472844&sprefix=kenneth+zoll%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-1 

Understanding the Rock Art of Sedona and the Verde Valley by Kenneth Zoll:

https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Rock-Sedona-Kenneth-Zoll/dp/0982037848/ref=sr_1_4?crid=D9YKOIUWC7UK&keywords=kenneth+zoll&qid=1682472844&sprefix=kenneth+zoll%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-4 

Heart of the Sky: Ancient Skywatchers in Central Arizona by Kenneth Zoll:

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Sky-Ancient-Skywatchers-Central/dp/098203783X/ref=sr_1_6?crid=D9YKOIUWC7UK&keywords=kenneth+zoll&qid=1682472844&sprefix=kenneth+zoll%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-6 

Things to See in the Night Sky in 2023: A Month-by-Month Guide by Vicky Derksen:

https://nightskytourist.com 

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We want to hear your questions. They could even become part of a future Q&A. Record your question in a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us at [email protected].

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New Zealand is working toward becoming the world’s first certified International Dark Sky Nation. And as you’ll hear from tonight’s guests, there’s a good reason for this. With some of the most pristine dark skies in the world and a rich night sky culture, you’ll want to put New Zealand at the top of your astrotourism travels. In this episode, I chat with Adrien Vilquin-Barrajon and Tutepourangi Manihera-Thomson from Dark Sky Project.

Visit NightSkyTourist.com/63 for more information about this episode.

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

Dark Sky Project: https://www.darkskyproject.co.nz 

Dark Sky Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarkSkyProjectNZ/ 

Dark Sky Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darkskyprojectnz/ 

International Dark Sky Week: https://idsw.darksky.org 

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Visit NightSkyTourist.com to read our great blog articles, check out our resource page, and sign up for our newsletters. Our monthly newsletter has content that is exclusive for subscribers.

SHARE YOUR QUESTION

We want to hear your questions. They could even become part of a future Q&A. Record your question in a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us at [email protected].

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS

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Stéphane Picard launched Cliff Valley Astronomy during the COVID pandemic by offering small star parties. It didn’t take long for it to grow into a full-fledge astrotourism business based in New Brunswick, Canada, with plans for a grand event for the April 2024 total solar eclipse. Stéphane is an astronomer, astrophotographer, and an astropreneur. He’s also a member of the Saint John Astronomy Club and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s New Brunswick Centre.

The Grand Canyon has such pristine dark skies that the Milky Way casts shadows on a moonless night. Since more than 80% of people on earth can no longer see the Milky Way, this is extraordinary! In this episode, I chat with Ranger Rader Lane about Grand Canyon National Park’s designation as an International Dark Sky Park, their annual 8-day star party, indigenous night sky culture, and more. I also chat with Tony Barnini, the general manager of nearby Clear Sky Resort, a truly special and unique place to stay with a bed under the stars near Grand Canyon.

Visit NightSkyTourist.com/61 for more information about this episode.

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

Grand Canyon National Park: https://www.nps.gov/grca/

All about Grand Canyon’s dark skies: https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/night-skies.htm

Night Requiem (video discussed in episode:

Grand Canyon In-Depth: Night Sky (video): https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=73B6DDCB-155D-451F-6722B07EB16C7F83

Clear Sky Resorts: https://clearskyresorts.com

Light, Darkness & the Human Eye: How Far Can We See?: https://nightskytourist.com/how-far-can-we-see/

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Visit NightSkyTourist.com to read our great blog articles, check out our resource page, and sign up for our newsletters. Our monthly newsletter has content that is exclusive for subscribers.

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We want to hear your questions. They could even become part of a future Q&A. Record your question in a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us at [email protected].

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS

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Fremont Indian State Park in Utah has thousands of petroglyphs left by the ancient culture that once inhabited the area. Among them, several have been understood to have astronomical purposes. In this episode, I chat with John Lundwall who made this discovery about the petroglyphs, and Elizabeth Nagengast-Stevens, curator and archaeologist at the park.

Visit NightSkyTourist.com/60 for more information about this episode.

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS:

John Lundwall: https://www.johnklundwall.com

Fremont Indian State Park: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/fremont-indian/

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GET TO KNOW US MORE

Visit NightSkyTourist.com to read our great blog articles, check out our resource page, and sign up for our newsletters. Our monthly newsletter has content that is exclusive for subscribers.

SHARE YOUR QUESTION

We want to hear your questions. They could even become part of a future Q&A. Record your question in a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us at [email protected].

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS

Email us at [email protected].