Utah Master Naturalist| Dark Sky Observations

This Dark Sky Observations field course is a partnership with Stokes Nature Center. The field course begins on Friday, September 11th, and runs through Sunday, September 13th; from 11:00 am to 11:30 pm on Friday, 1:00 pm to 11:30 pm on Saturday, and 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday. Each day has scheduled breaks for meals and rest.

This field course is based at Stokes Nature Center near Logan, Utah. Spanish language translation, large print materials, and other accommodations are available upon request. You will have access to the Dark Sky Observations online class 8 weeks before the start of the field course.

Completion of the 16-hour online class is REQUIRED before attending the field course.

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How many constellations can you find in the night sky?

How do you identify objects in the night sky that aren't stars?

Does light pollution affect mental health?

Answer these questions and more with Stokes Nature Center and Utah Master Naturalist in our Dark Sky Observations course.

• In this course, you will explore the solar system: planets, stars, constellations, nebulae, black holes, and more.
• You'll learn how to operate a telescope and experiment with other tools for interpreting the night sky.

Utah has some of the best dark skies in the country, yet darkness is often overlooked as an important component in all of Utah's ecosystems.

If you only know Utah by daylight, you're missing half the story.

• In this course, you will get acquainted with some of the organisms that depend on high-quality darkness.
• You'll learn how to support Utah's dark skies with simple adaptations to the lights you use at night.
• You will explore cultural connections to the nighttime sky and how we humans, both past and present, benefit from consorting with the stars.

Dark Sky Observations was created to meet the growing demand for trained staff and volunteers to provide dark sky programming for astrotourism. The course is the result of years of work by several cooperating agencies, including Cedar Breaks National Monument (which developed the Master Astronomer Program), Utah State Parks, and Utah Master Naturalist.