Sky gazing tips for your next visit to Grasslands National Park

By Nicholas Ypelaar
Image credit: Nicholas Ypelaar

This is a two-part blog article about one of the best and darkest places in Canada to view and photograph stars and other astronomical phenomena. Its 5-minute read mission: to introduce you to the wonders of the dark sky in Grasslands National Park.

Stargazing is one of the easiest and oldest hobbies in the world. Written records from the Babylon Empire date back to some 3000 years ago and describe star locations and astronomical descriptions. Indigenous Nations of the Great Plains of North America have a vast knowledge of the night sky and the cosmos.

The vast open plains of native mixed-grass prairie and pristine dark skies of Grasslands National Park are an oasis for nocturnal wildlife and an ideal place to experience world-class astronomy! Here are three tips for viewing some of the incredible celestial phenomena in one of the darkest places in Canada.

1. Planning & Dressing

A major characteristic of the mixed-grass prairies of Grasslands National Park is the semi-arid climate. Here we have extreme temperatures during the day and night (both hot and cold). When heading out for a night of stargazing, make sure to check the hourly weather and temperature forecasts, and dress in layers for the most comfortable astronomy experience. If you’re planning on taking photos or spending an extended period out stargazing, gloves can be very helpful. Another part of planning for astronomy is the cloud forecast. Even on the expansive prairie plains, stars and other celestial objects can be blocked from view by cloudy skies. Find an online sky chart and a weather app to help you plan for optimal dark sky viewing.

2. Things You May See:

Moon – The Earth’s only natural satellite, our Moon, is a planetary-mass object that orbits our planet at an average distance of 384,000 kilometres. The gravitational forces exerted from both the Earth and the Moon on each other results in the same side of the Moon facing Earth each night. This Earth-facing side of the Moon does not generate its own light and instead reflects sunlight back towards our planet. Depending on the lunar cycle, you may view one or more of the Moon’s many phases. Sometimes these phases, especially the full moon, can inhibit optimal star viewing until the moon sets later in the night.

Milky Way – The large spiral galaxy that includes our solar system can usually be viewed rising from the southern horizon. It looks like a great big band of stars and clusters stretching up across the sky. The Milky Way Galaxy consists of billions of stars, gas clouds, planets, and other celestial objects. In Grasslands, the Milky Way can usually be seen rising from the southern horizon on most clear nights.

Constellations – These patterns or groupings of stars are technically nothing more than perceived patterns. However, they hold significance for a variety of cultures and have also been used for navigation by sailors, explorers, and early humans since the dawn of time. Given the right perspective, constellations can reveal wonderful shapes, stories, and a look into deep space. Some of the easiest constellations to spot in the summer in Grasslands National Park are the Big and Little Dipper, Cassiopeia, Draco, and Hercules. Using a star gazing app or book can help you learn and distinguish the different constellations in the night sky.

Airglow – Airglow is the natural glowing of particles in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Grasslands National Park is a great place to see this phenomenon that is often mistaken with Aurora Borealis despite having no relation with sunspot activity. Airglow looks like shifting bands of light along the horizon that sometimes appears green, pink, or orange. Unlike Aurora Borealis, which is usually seen in the northern horizon, airglow can be visible from all directions.

Aurora Borealis – also known as the Northern Lights. Huge solar storms produced by the sun send charged particles toward the Earth which pass through our planet’s atmosphere and cascade down upon the poles. Aurora forecast apps and the Space Weather Canada website can help to notify you of when larger, more visible solar storms might be reaching Earth’s atmosphere. The best seasons for spotting aurora borealis in Grasslands National Park are around seasonal equinoxes, especially spring and autumn.

Meteor Showers – The most well-known and reliable meteor shower regularly visible from Grasslands National Park is the Perseid Meteor Shower. This annual shower takes place from mid-July to late-August, usually peaking around mid-August. It occurs as Earth passes through the debris of comet Swift-Tuttle. On most nights, you might see a few meteors per hour, but during the peak, you could see 100 or more. The meteors appear to come from the constellation Perseus (hence the name) but can appear in any part of the sky.

Planets – Planet visibility is variable depending on the time of year and time of night, but you can sometimes see some of the planets in our solar system with the naked eye or with a telescope.

Star Clusters – Grasslands National Park is so dark at nighttime that you can see star clusters – groups of stars held together by gravity, with the naked eye. Viewing experience of these star clusters are enhanced with the use of binoculars and telescopes. The Hercules Star Cluster, also known as M13 is more easily found in the constellation of Hercules. M13 is a globular cluster of hundreds of thousands of stars held together by gravity as it orbits around our galaxy.

3. Join a guided program with the experts

One of the most eye-opening astronomical experiences is star gazing with an expert! Join us at Grasslands National Park for Beyond the Big Dipper. During this event you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced astronomers who will lead you through an amazing night of learning about and viewing the dark sky.

If you’re interested in astrophotography, make sure to check out part two of this post: Astrophotography tips for your next visit to Grasslands National Park coming soon!