Methow residents can celebrate the valley’s spectacular nights at a number of events during Dark Sky Week.
By Zoe Chapman
When you look up at the sky on a clear night in the Methow Valley, you are met with the sight of thousands of stars twinkling back at you. From showers of shooting stars to the Milky Way, the things you can see at night are rivaled only by the sweeping landscapes that open up during the day.
Having views like these is a rare blessing; the Methow Valley has some of the darkest skies in the United States. The upcoming Dark Sky Week organized by the Methow Dark Sky Coalition is a great time to give a little extra appreciation to and learn more about our beautiful night skies.
The Methow Dark Sky Coalition is a local group of volunteers working under the umbrella of the Methow Valley Citizen’s Council to protect and enhance the dark skies in the Methow Valley. Dark Sky Week will kick off on Tuesday, April 2, with a night sky photography class taught by astrophotographer Jack Mcleod at Pearrygin Lake State Park.
You don’t need anything but a cell phone or a camera to participate, and anyone is welcome. The group will meet at 8 p.m. at the boat landing ramp.
On Friday, April 5, The Methow Conservancy will host a night hike at the Meadowlark Natural Area with astrophysicist Tuck Stebbins. The event will run from 7:45-9:45 p.m.; RSVPs are required — find the link at methowconservancy.org.
There will also be virtual and “self-serve” activities you can participate in such as a week-long scavenger hunt, a live stream of the solar eclipse on the April 8, and a home lighting checklist. Trail’s End Bookstore has put together a reading list with books about stargazing and astronomy. You can also download a stargazing app like Night Sky to explore the stars on your own or tune in to International Dark Sky’s weeklong lecture series.
Information and updates about the week’s events as well as additional activities you can participate in from home will be on the Dark Sky Coalition website, www.methowdarksky.org, and their social media platforms (@methowdarksky on Instagram and Facebook). Remember to use #MethowDarkSkyWeek when posting about it on social media!
Zoe Chapman is an intern with the Methow Valley Citizens Council.
Dark Sky Week events
• Tuesday, April 2: Dark Sky Coalition scavenger hunt. Find as many items on the list as you can during the week. Download the scavenger hunt at www.methowdarksky.org.
• Tuesday, April 2: Night photography at Pearrygin Lake State Park, 8-10 p.m., with retired NASA astrophysicist Tuck Stebbins and local photographer Jack McLeod. Bring your phone or camera. Meet at the boat ramp.
• Wednesday, April 3: Dark Sky Book Discovery at Trail’s End Bookstore in Winthrop.
• Friday, April 5, night hike at Meadowlark Natural Area, Winthrop, 7:45-9:30 p.m., with Methow Conservancy and retired NASA astrophysicist Tuck Stebbins. Sign up at methowconservancy.org.
• Monday, April 8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., join NASA and watch live as a total eclipse moves across Mexico, the United States, and Canada: https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/2024-total-solar-eclipse-through-the-eyes-of-nasa/.
• Tuesday, April 9, inventory your home lighting. Visit www.methowdarksky.org to learn more.
