Star Party July 18th at Paradise

Star Party at Paradise: Saturday July 18, 9:45 PM to at least 11:45 PM (Weather Permitting)

Families and individuals of all ages are invited to the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park for a special “star viewing party” on Saturday July 18.  The event starts at 9:45 PM at the plaza in front of the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise. If the sky remains clear, the event will last until at least 11:45 PM.  The outdoor star gazing will be led by the 2015 Mount Rainier Astro-Volunteer team. These volunteers donate the use of their personal telescopes for the public and educate about the night skies.

Weather permitting, nightly star viewing with at least one of the Mount Rainier astronomers will take place outside the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center through Labor Day this season.  This Saturday, all six of the Mount Rainier Astro-Volunteer team will be present with telescopes for this special event. If weather makes star gazing difficult, the star party will be cancelled.  Call the Mount Rainier Astronomy hotline at 360-569-6230 for updates on sky viewing and cancellations.

The National Park Service has come to embrace night skies as one of the many scenic vistas the agency is a steward of. It is essential to keeping a park whole and touches on almost every aspect that is important to us - from sustainability to stargazers, and animals to ancient ruins.

This event is free and open to all.  The entry fee to the park is $20 per private vehicle.

Information about the National Park Service Natural Lightscapes program is available at http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/lightscapes/

General park information is available at www.nps.gov/mora or by calling 360-569-2211.

The Many Aspects of Volunteering

We often receive inquiries which say simply, "I want to volunteer at Mount Rainier National Park," and while it's wonderful to hear from people who want to participate, volunteer opportunities are as diverse as the people who apply. It is helpful if potential volunteers categorize their areas of interest. Here are just a few ways our volunteers serve the Park, selected from field projects done in 2014. (Uncredited NPS photos: Kevin Bacher)

NPS photo: Curt Jacquot

NPS photo: Lou Whiteaker

Photo: Ed Hunds

NPS photo: Crow Vecchio

Photo: Kathleen Bogaards

Of course these aren't the only ways you can volunteer. When you contact us, be sure to list your specialties and interests so we can find the right place for you!

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 .