As we round out the year of constellations, we will focus on some of the fainter ones seen at this time of the year. As they are faint, one must travel to pristine dark skies — such as those in provincial parks — to see them well.
This article was written (and illustrated!) by Courtney Lafleur, Senior Park Clerk at Murphys Point Provincial Park. Time spent in nature can have a profound and lasting positive effect on our physical and mental health, and journaling has long been heralded for its own health benefits. Put them together and you’ve got nature journaling; an … Continue reading Nature journaling — just try not to be inspired
Welcome to the Ontario Parks “Eyes on the Skies” series. This “space” will cover a wide range of astronomy topics with a focus on what can be seen from the pristine skies found in our provincial parks. The cold, crisp days of the New Year often reward us with fantastically beautiful nights, rich with bright … Continue reading Eyes on the skies – January
Most of us live by our calendars to keep our schedules straight. But did you know the calendar has astronomical origins? While the constellations were, largely, created to help people remember significant star patterns, they have plenty of other uses. One of these is for the formation of the calendar.
Stars over Killarney is an annual festival celebrated at Killarney Provincial Park. The event’s 2023 theme — Colours in the Cosmos — was inspired by the parallels between the beauty and the colour in provincial parks and the beauty and colour of the skies above. And beautiful colour was found everywhere at this year’s event! The program took … Continue reading Stars over Killarney 2023 recap: a marriage of culture, beauty, and science
Welcome to the Ontario Parks “Eyes on the Skies” series. This will cover a wide range of astronomy topics with a focus on what can be seen from the pristine skies found in our provincial parks. November usually brings our first snows and the opportunity for some great outdoor adventures. The early sunset and later … Continue reading Eyes on the skies — November
Today’s post comes from Charlotte Westcott, a Discovery Program staff member at Lake Superior Provincial Park. As the sun sets, the stars begin to appear. Like old friends, their familiar glow brings us home no matter how far away our house may be. Our friendly acquaintances, the constellations, trace their way across the sky. The … Continue reading The long road to Lake Superior Provincial Park’s Dark Sky Preserve
Welcome to the Ontario Parks “Eyes on the skies” series. This series covers a wide range of astronomy topics with a focus on what can be seen from the pristine skies found in our provincial parks. Many people consider September to be the finest month of the year to enjoy Ontario’s outdoors. The bugs have … Continue reading Eyes on the skies — September
Wakami Lake Provincial Park lies in the heart of northeastern Ontario’s Boreal Forest. Four hours from Sault Ste Marie and 5 hours from Sudbury, this park is the epitome of nature. Wakami Lake is quiet and far from busy highways and city lights. The night skies are filled with stars and off-grid camping allows you to … Continue reading 5 reasons to visit Wakami Lake Provincial Park
Welcome to the Ontario Parks “Eyes on the Skies” series. This space (<– see what we did there?) will cover a wide range of astronomy topics with a focus on what can be seen from the pristine skies found in our provincial parks. August is here at last with its fine weather, fewer mosquitos, and … Continue reading Eyes on the skies — August
