A month-long celebration of the night sky, astronomy, science, and celestial bodies in Everglades National Park.
Presentations and Events In The Park
Presentation and Event DescriptionsBy District Of The Park March 30, 7:00 PM: "Unhealthy Light". Join Dr. Mario Motta for a presentation at the Ernest Coe Visitor Center auditorium. Dr. Motta has a lifelong interest in astronomy, and has band built a number of telescopes and observatories through the years to do astronomical research, including his entirely homemade 32 inch F6 relay telescope. He has worked on light pollution issues publishing several white papers on light pollution as a member of the AMA council of science and public health. 1 hour. Accessible. More information about Dr. Mario Motta in his bio below.
April 3, 8:30 PM: "Night Hike - Royal Palm", Half the park is after dark! Take a walk with a park ranger on the Anhinga Trail under the stars to see what wildlife is most active at night. Meet at the Royal Palm benches. Wheelchair accessible. 0.7 miles, 50 minutes. April 6, 8:30 PM: "Exploring Stars", For thousands of years humans have looked at the stars, tellings stories of myths and legends. Join Ranger David to learn about stars and some of the legends that have surround the constellations visible at the night sky. Meet at the Long Pine Key Campground amphitheater. 1 hour. Telescope. Family oriented and accessible program. April 8, 6:00 PM: "consider rebirth", Join us for an extraordinary collaborative event, consider rebirth: A somatic healing centered writing workshop, curated by transdisciplinary artist and community organizer Agua Dulce & powered by Everglades National Park, O'Miami, & AIRIE Inc. Presentation will begin at the Long Pine Key Campground Amphitheater. Bring bug spray and something to sit on the lawn with. 2 hours. Accessible program. April 11, 8:30 PM: "Exploring Stars", For thousands of years humans have looked at the stars, tellings stories of myths and legends. Join Ranger David to learn about stars and some of the legends that have surround the constellations visible at the night sky. Meet at the Long Pine Key Campground amphitheater. 1 hour. Telescope. Family oriented and accessible program. April 12, 8:30 PM: "Glowing Wings and Chirping Things: Nighttime Insect Discovery", Join our entomologist, Ranger David, as he discusses fireflies and bugs of Southern Florida. Presentation will be at the Long Pine Key Campground Amphitheater. After a short presentation at the amphitheater, you'll join Ranger David for a short walk to light traps to see, learn, and identify the insects of the evening. 1 hour. Family oriented program. April 14, 8:30 PM: "Night Hike - Royal Palm", Half the park is after dark! Take a walk with a park ranger on the Anhinga Trail under the stars to see what wildlife is most active at night. Meet at the Royal Palm benches. Wheelchair accessible. 0.7 miles, 50 minutes. April 17, 8:30 PM: "Lyrid Meteor Shower Celebration", The Thatcher comet last past by the sun in 1861 before starting it's long period orbit of 415.5 years and is not expected to return in less than 200 years. Learn about the Thatcher comet and the meteors it left in it's wake we call the Lyrid Meteors. Meet a ranger at the Mahogany Hammock parking lot. 1 hour. Family oriented program. April 19, 8:30 PM: "Glowing Wings and Chirping Things: Nighttime Insect Discovery", Join our entomologist, Ranger David, as he discusses fireflies and bugs of Southern Florida. Presentation will be at the Long Pine Key Campground Amphitheater. After a short presentation at the amphitheater, you'll join Ranger David for a short walk to light traps to see, learn, and identify the insects of the evening. 1 hour. Family oriented program. April 20, 8:30 PM: "Night Hike - Royal Palm", Half the park is after dark! Take a walk with a park ranger on the Anhinga Trail under the stars to see what wildlife is most active at night. Meet at the Royal Palm benches. Wheelchair accessible. 0.7 miles, 50 minutes. April 23, 7:30 PM: "Pink Supermoon Celebration", Join us for a celebration of understanding the moon, everything that it has given us and everything it continues to provide our planet. Presentation will be at the back deck of the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. 1 hour. Family oriented program. April 25, 8:30 PM: "Night Hike - Royal Palm", Half the park is after dark! Take a walk with a park ranger on the Anhinga Trail under the stars to see what wildlife is most active at night. Meet at the Royal Palm benches. Wheelchair accessible. 0.7 miles, 50 minutes. April 26, 8:30 PM: "Glowing Wings and Chirping Things: Nighttime Insect Discovery", Join our entomologist, Ranger David, as he discusses fireflies and bugs of Southern Florida. Presentation will be at the Long Pine Key Campground Amphitheater. After a short presentation at the amphitheater, you'll join Ranger David for a short walk to light traps to see, learn, and identify the insects of the evening. 1 hour. Family oriented program. April 27, 7:00 PM: "Capturing Stars with Anthony Sleiman", Join us for an evening with Anthony Sleiman, a conservation photographer from Venezuela, renowned for his passion for the night sky and the Everglades. Presentation will be at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center theater. 1 hour. More information about Anthony below in his bio. April 28, 8:30 PM: "Night Hike - Royal Palm", Half the park is after dark! Take a walk with a park ranger on the Anhinga Trail under the stars to see what wildlife is most active at night. Meet at the Royal Palm benches. Wheelchair accessible. 0.7 miles, 50 minutes. Beginning April 2: "Nocturnal Everglades" Photography Exhibit: Stop by the Guy Bradley Visitor Center to see Anthony Sleiman's gallery of astrolandscape photography. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April 5, 9:00 PM: "Starlight Stories," Join Ranger Kensie to explore the folklore, science and beauty of the night sky through music. Meet at the Flamingo amphitheater. Bring a flashlight. 1 hour. Family oriented and accessible program. April 6, 11:00 AM: "Star Patterns," Join Ranger Karen at the Guy Bradley Visitor Center to learn about the stars and how they move across the sky. Children will be able to create their own stary constellations keychain to take home. 45 min. Ages 5+ Family oriented and accessible program. April 6, 1:30 PM: "Astronomy," Join Ranger Roxanne at the Guy Bradley Visitor Center to learn about the history of astronomy and how stars affect tides and weather. 45 minutes. Family oriented and accessible program. April 6, 2:30 PM: "Art In The Park," Join Ranger Laurie to create your own post card of your favorite constellation. Bring your own supplies or borrow some of ours. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Meet under the Guy Bradley Visitor Center at the benches. 1 hour. Family oriented and accessible program. April 6, 9:00 PM: "Starlight Stories," Join Ranger Kensie to explore the folklore, science and beauty of the night sky through music. Meet at the Flamingo amphitheater. Bring a flashlight. 1 hour. Family oriented and accessible program. April 7, 8:00 PM: "Fantastical Fireflies," Join Ranger Kensie at the Flamingo Amphitheater to walk through a mangrove forest to enjoy and find Florida's amazing fireflies. Bring a flashlight and bug spray. 1 hour. Family oriented and accessible program. April 8, 2:45 PM: "Experience the Solar Eclipse," Join Ranger Kensie to experience the partial solar eclipse and learn about why they happen. Glasses will be provided. Meet outside the Guy Bradley Visitor Center (exact location will be determined the day of, based on the sun's position). Family oriented and accessible program. April 8, 8:00 PM: "Fantastical Fireflies," Join Ranger Kensie at the Flamingo Amphitheater to walk through a mangrove forest to enjoy and find Florida's amazing fireflies. Bring a flashlight and bug spray. 1 hour. Family oriented and accessible program. April 12, 9:00 PM: "Starlight Stories," Join Ranger Kensie to explore the folklore, science and beauty of the night sky through music. Meet at the Flamingo amphitheater. Bring a flashlight. 1 hour. Family oriented and accessible program. April 19, 9:00 PM: "Starlight Stories," Join Ranger Kensie to explore the folklore, science and beauty of the night sky through music. Meet at the Flamingo amphitheater. Bring a flashlight. 1 hour. Family oriented and accessible program. April 3, 7:00 PM: "Nighttime Bike Ride" Watch an amazing sunset over the sawgrass prairie. Listen to the Everglades
“night symphony” as the stars dance in the night sky. Climb the observation tower to enjoy the mystery and to feel the magic of the Everglade at night. Join a park ranger for an evening 15-mile bike ride through the iconic “River of Grass”. 5 hours. Personal bicycles are required. Reservations will be taken 1-week prior to the scheduled ride. Call the Shark Valley Visitor Center at (305) 221-8776. April 6, 8:00 PM: "Stars Above, Glades Below Night Program" Join rangers and volunteers for a walk or talk to experience the night sky over the sawgrass prairie and learn about the wonders of space. This galactic journey can feature stars, planets, meteors, constellations, and nocturnal wildlife. Every program is different, depending on sights in the sky and sounds from the marsh. 2 hours. Reservations will be taken 1-week prior to the scheduled event. Call the Shark Valley Visitor Center at (305) 221-8776. April 13, 6:30 PM: "Everglades National Park Starparty" Join rangers, volunteers, FIU staff, and astronomers from Southern Cross Astronomical Society for this wonderfully collaborative event. Spend time with your family learning about and seeing celestial bodies millions and billions of lightyears away. Learn about our galaxy and neighboring galaxies from astronomers. Join rangers for family friendly activities related to the night sky. This will be a wonderful evening for families to drop in between 6:30 pm and 10:00 pm. 
Dark Sky Guest Presenter Series at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
March 30, 7:00 PM at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor CenterDr. Mario Motta presents "Unhealthy Light""LED lighting is an important energy saving choice, but it is important to take into consideration human and environmental health concerns when choosing LED's. Some LED lighting fixtures produce excess blue emission, which have adverse health effects. Excess blue light at night causes disruption on circadian rhythmicity through suppression of melatonin production by the pineal gland. Melatonin has been shown to be an important adjuvant to the human immunce system, and thus when suppressed has detrimental human health effects." - Dr. Mario Motta, MD, FACC.Dr Motta also has a lifelong interest in astronomy, and has hand built a number of telescopes and observatories through the years to do astronomical research, including his entirely homemade 32 inch F6 relay telescope located in Gloucester, MA. He has been awarded several national awards in astronomy, including the Las Cumbras award from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 2003, and also the Walter Scott Houston award from the northeast section of the Astronomical League, and in 2017 the Henry Olcott Award from the American Association of Variable star Observers (AAVSO). He has served as a president of the ATM’s of Boston, and has served as a council member of the AAVSO, and is a past president as well. He has also served on the Board of the IDA. He has worked on light pollution issues, and published several white papers on LP as a member of the AMA council of science and public health. He served on a UN committee (COPUOS) representing the AMA on light pollution for a worldwide effort to control LP and satellite proliferation. Finally, several years ago the International Astronomical Union awarded Dr Motta an asteroid in part for his work on light pollution as well as amateur research, asteroid 133537MarioMotta. 
Beginning April 2: "Nocturnal Everglades" Photography Exhibition at Guy Bradley Visitor Center (Flamingo)
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Last updated: April 2, 2024