News Release

Celebrate International Dark Sky Week at Cape Lookout National Seashore Discover the Night on April 22 and 23 at the Harkers Island Visitor Center

NPS photo/Alex Gu (Crystal Coast Stargazers)

News Release Date: April 1, 2022

Contact: BG Horvat, 252-838-8906

North Carolina’s newest International Dark Sky Park, Cape Lookout National Seashore, in collaboration with the Crystal Coast Stargazers and Island Express Ferry Service, invite you to celebrate International Dark Sky Week and Discover the Night on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23, 2022.

The two evenings of stargazing will take place at the Harkers Island Visitor Center, beginning at 8:00 P.M. (EDT) with the Crystal Coast Stargazer’s telescopes available to the public for their viewing pleasure. Visitors are also welcome to bring their own telescopes. All stargazers should set-up by 7:30 P.M. (EDT), and while there is no camping on the visitor center grounds, astronomers may stay with their telescopes throughout the night.

Island Express Ferry Service (the park’s authorized passenger ferry service concessionaire) will offer visitors the chance to experience a starlight cruise, accompanied by NASA Solar System Ambassador, Brandon Porter, who will provide a laser-pointed presentation of the night sky from the Cape Lookout Lighthouse area. Each night, the ferry departs the Harkers Island Visitor Center at 7:30 P.M. (EDT), and returns from the lighthouse dock at 9:00 P.M. (EDT) for an arrival back to Harkers Island by 9:30 P.M. (EDT). For reservations, and ticket prices call Island Express Ferry Service at 252-728-7433.

Make plans to spend an evening celebrating exceptional-quality night skies at the first Atlantic coastal Dark Sky Park. For more information, go to: https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/discoverthenight.htm. For more information on Cape Lookout National Seashore as a certified International Dark Sky Park, go to: https://www.nps.gov/calo/learn/management/international-dark-sky-park.htm