Come Check Out Astronomy Night

By on May 10, 2014 Categories: Astronomy

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Astronomy night at Spring Creek Ranch is a chance to learn about the breathtakingly beautiful night sky of Jackson Hole. A simple glace up at the sky as you come in from a dinner out can fill you with awe but there is so much more to learn about the stars. The best way to get educated is to learn from Spring Creek Ranch’s own expert, Dr. Singer, during Astronomy Night.

Jackson Hole’s night sky seems unreal to most of us who are used to light pollution. I grew up thinking there were about 15 stars in the sky. When I came to Jackson for the first time as a seven-year-old, I was used to the night sky of Chicago. Seeing the sky in Jackson, I thought I had entered a magical dreamland. The sky was a filled with stars. I could see the Milky Way, something that up until that point I had thought of as a candy bar. I saw my first shooting star on that trip. Actually, I saw around a dozen shooting stars on that trip. That is what happens when you spend your nights gazing at the sky in Jackson Hole.

I’m all grown up now but I still find the night sky of Jackson Hole to be magical. There is so much mystery. The sky is so clear and free from light pollution that the wonders of space are visible to the naked eye. I wish that Spring Creek Ranch’s Astronomy Night was available 23 years ago when I first came to Jackson.

Dr. Singer is available to answer all of your questions when you come to Astronomy Night. He can educate you about everything from constellations, star formations, galaxy collisions, the origin of our universe and more. You’ll see galaxies, star clusters, planets, and the arms of our own Milky Way Galaxy. You may also see shooting stars, sun spires and the northern lights. Dr. Singer is an expert who will be able to point out aspects of the night sky that have been there all along, but that you never noticed.

Another fun activity for the whole family is learning about the latest astronomy software for your smartphone. That way you can continue to explore the night sky long after Astronomy Night.

Spring Creek Ranch, situated on a butte almost 1,000 feet about the town of Jackson,is ideal for viewing the night sky and learning about astronomy. The distance dulls the small amount of light that the town produces. This is the optimum location for convenient stargazing.

Astronomy Night is available from May 1st, 2014 until October 31st, 2014. Every Monday and Thursday at 9:30pm is your opportunity to join Spring Creek Ranch to learn more about the wonders of the night sky.

The cost is $20 per person, five and under are free. To make a reservation, please contact the concierge desk at (307) 732-8103.