Stargazing with the Astronomers

What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing? You can find out! The Park is now planning sky viewing (weather permitting) every night through Labor Day outside Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise. We will start just after dark and continue for at least two hours. We will update our hotline recording at 360-569-6230 to provide information on what we will be viewing and to announce cancellations. Please join us in observing the wonders in the preserved wilderness night sky above the park.

Our stellar cast of volunteer astronomers includes:

Pat Beatie (Friday through Tuesday nights): Bellevue College Astronomy Professor and retired FBI agent.

Don West-Wilke (Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday nights): Recent Astronomer of the Year with Tacoma Astronomical Society. Also known as the Singing Astronomer.

Tom and Gracie Pauly (Thursday nights): Retired teachers and owner/operators of the non-profit Starryhill Planetarium and Observatory in Eatonville.

Matt Dieterich (Thursday through Monday nights): Geo-Corps astronomy intern recently graduated with a MS from the University of Pittsburg.

Additionally, our astronomers will also set up a solar scope outside the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise during some afternoons.

Star-Gazing at JVC 2014

Join our stellar cast of volunteer astronomers outside the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center Thursday through Monday nights this summer. There will be telescopes available and knowledgeable guides to help you enjoy the wilderness of the night sky. Star-gazing will take place just after dark through at least midnight (weather permitting, subject to cancellation).

Our Astronomers this summer:

Tom and Gracie Pauly of the Starryhill planetarium (starryhill.org): Yes, they have their own planetarium and observatory!  These retired teachers are top notch at helping people connect to the wonder of the night sky (Thursdays only).

Don West-Wilke: Our returning Tacoma Astronomical Society Astronomer of the Year. He annually records more visitor contacts than anyone in the park. One of the most knowledgeable and colorful astronomers in Washington. Sometimes called "the Singing Astronomer" (Saturdays only).

Pat Beatie: This Bellevue college astronomy teacher will be helping people connect to the night sky five nights a week (Thursdays through Mondays). He often also sets up a solar viewing scope during the day next to the JVC .

Kudos to Astronomy and Fair Volunteers!

I've received two good reports in my office over the last 24 hours. The first is from Jim Ross, who coordinated our volunteer presence at the Mount Rainier National Park booth at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup:

Just got back from the fairgrounds and the final cleanup of the building. The big-leaf maple challenge puzzle was completed 311 times. We estimate the fisher puzzle was completed 2400 times since it was completed 5-10 times for every time the challenge puzzle was completed. Although total numbers were down some this year, I feel it was one of our best years at the fair.

The second report is from Curt Jacquot, who supervises the volunteer astronomy program at Paradise:

Our "Star" volunteer Don West-Wilke set records for contacts and hours this season. He worked Thursdays through Mondays every week from June 14 through September 15.

Total Contacts: 10,192
Total Hours: 595.5

These two reports represent tens of thousands of people who learned about Mount Rainier and its stellar resources who would have otherwise been left in the dark. Great work, everyone!

Sky Viewing

Our stellar volunteer astronomer Don West-Wilke is back for another summer season! Don will be setting up his telescope outside Jackson Visitor Center Thursday evenings through Monday afternoons with additional telescopes and astronomical binoculars available for nighttime viewing. Daytime sessions will offer observers a chance to use a solar telescope. Any visitor, employee, partner or volunteer is invited to attend. 

If you would like to volunteer to help with night sky viewing, please reply via email to Curt_Jacquot@nps.gov. Don will provide the necessary training to assist visitors with one of our many new devices.

Summer Sky Viewing at Mount Rainier National Park

Learn about sky viewing and enjoy a truly unique wilderness experience. 

Join Park Volunteer Don West-Wilke to learn about the National Park Service's

Natural Lightscapes Program as you view the night or day sky.

Schedule through September 15
All viewing takes place in front of Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise

Day Sky viewing via a solar telescope
Friday through Monday: 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
(weather permitting) 

Night Sky viewing via telescopes and astronomy binoculars
Thursday through Sunday
Just after dark until at least midnight 
(weather permitting)