Special Eclipse Programs Offered this Weekend

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Date: August 17, 2017
Contact: Denise Germann, 307-739-3393

MOOSE, WY—Grand Teton National Park will be providing special programs during the weekend prior to the eclipse. These programs are free to the public, but parking might be limited.
 
On Friday, August 18, Bob Hoyle, former professor of astronomy and current park ranger, will present “Watchers of the Sky” at 9:00 p.m. at the Colter Bay Amphitheater. This program will present on the cultural history of astronomy and how early sky-watching evolved into the sciences of astronomy and astrophysics. The program is one hour, followed by sky viewing. Telescopes will be set up until midnight for participants to view stars, galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial objects.
 
Also on Friday, August 18, filmmaker Ian Cheney will present “The City Dark” at the Gros Ventre Campground at 9:30 p.m. and lasting 1.5 hours. In his program, Cheney asks the question, “Do we need the stars?” Blending a humorous tone with cutting-edge science and poetic footage of the night sky, Cheney unravels the myriad implications of a globe glittering with lights, including cancer rates, disrupted ecosystems, and generations of kids without a glimpse of the universe above.
 
A program and book signing with Frank Lee Ruggles will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 18-20, at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 11 a.m. Ruggles’ book, Chasing Light: An Exploration of the American Landscape, is a testament to the beauty and wonder of our national parks, as he traveled to all 50 states and hiked over 15,000 miles to capture award-winning photographs of these special places.
 
On Saturday, August 19, a sunrise walk with a Ranger will be conducted, starting at 5:00 a.m. at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center flagpole. This two-hour program includes a one mile easy walk to watch the sunrise and learn about how darkness impacts our lives and the lives of wildlife.
 
On Saturday, August 19, journalist, author, and broadcaster David Baron will present “American Eclipse” at the Colter Bay amphitheater, starting at 9:00 p.m., and lasting one hour. He will be speaking about his book, American Eclipse, which tells the story of Wyoming’s previous great eclipse in 1878. After the program, he will be available for questions and book signing. In addition, telescopes will be set up until midnight for participants to view stars, galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial objects.
 
Also on Saturday, August 19, Dark Ranger Kevin Poe will present Women’s Work: Mathy Maidens Solving Spaces’ Perplexing Problems at 9:30 p.m. at the Gros Ventre Campground Amphitheater. This program explores the history of the women who did the mathematical heavy lifting that mapped the universe and put man on the moon. After the program, telescopes will be set up until midnight for participants to view stars, galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial objects.
 
On Sunday, August 20, Dark Ranger Kevin Poe will host a program at 9:30 p.m. at the Gros Ventre Campground Amphitheater. His program, Syzygy: The Science, History, and Mythology of 3 Collinear Points explores the “how” and “why” of eclipses, and how these infrequent events have profoundly shaped humanity. After the program, telescopes will be set up until midnight for participants to view stars, galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial objects.
 
Also on Sunday, August 20, there will be another ranger program at 10 a.m. at the Gros Ventre Campground store, at the entrance to the campground. This one hour program will be a walk around the solar system.
 
Solar observation with a solar telescope will be available Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Colter Bay Visitor Center. Additional solar telescopes will be set up from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center terrace on these days. 
 
Grand Teton National Park invites visitors to join them for these programs, and learn more about astronomy and the skies above. For more information on special eclipse programs, please visit https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/guidemaps.htm.



Last updated: August 17, 2017

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Moose, WY 83012

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