This weekend…Sneak away and come experience the stars and celebrate the Great Sand Dunes Dark Sky!

You can literally see the Milky Way and all its glory. The Universe is at our fingertips and 70% of the people on this planet will never have this experience since the invention of the lightbulb 140 years ago.

On your road trip, make sure you stop by and visit the Great Sand Dunes Dark Sky Celebration This year Great Sand Dunes NPP has been certified as an official International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association. Celebrate this important international recognition and experience the beauty of the night with park staff and amateur astronomers!

7:00 PM – 7:30 PM Unveiling of Black Granite Plaque for Great Sand Dunes’ certification as an International Dark Sky Park, refreshments.

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Kids’ Table/Activities

8:15 PM – 9:00 PM ‘The Disappearing Darkness’ – Program by Astronomy Volunteer Bob Bohley

9:00 PM – 10:30 PM Telescope Viewing and Laser-Guided Constellation Tours

How do you evaluate your current or proposed lighting at your home or business? Asking the following questions while inspecting your outdoor lighting is a great place to start. (For a good overview on lighting, see the Lighting Basics web page)

Does the area really need to be lit?
If so, for what purpose?
At what brightness?
Do any of the fixtures emit light above 90 degrees?
Is light trespass (light falling where it is not intended, wanted, or needed) an issue?
Is glare (excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort or difficulty seeing) an issue?

Depending on your answers, the following recommendations may apply:

Don’t light an area if it’s not needed.
Turn off the lights when not in use.
To save energy, don’t use excessive amounts of illumination.
Use timers, dimmers and motions sensors whenever possible.
Use only “full cut-off” or “fully shielded” lighting fixtures. That means no light above the 90-degree angle. Fully shielded lighting can be purchased or retrofitted. See below.
Use energy-efficient lighting sources and fixtures.
Only use lighting sources with correlated color temperature (CCT) no higher than of 3000K. Most lighting products provide this information on their package labeling.”

When : Saturday, August 24, 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Where : Great Sand Dunes
Website : More Information Here
Price : Free