Gather your family and celebrate our National Parks during the Sidewalk Astronomers' It's a Family Affair
weekend. August 12-13 is the peak for the Persied's meteor shower and it's the perfect time to visit a National Park. On August
25th, the US National Park Service will celebrate 100 years of service, so you can start the celebration a little early! As
the park service says " We want people everywhere to embrace the opportunities to explore, learn, be inspired or simply
have fun" in any of the 407 National Parks in the US. For those outside the US, visit your own National Park.
If you have a scope, take it with you. The Sidewalk Astronomers have a long history with National Parks because
as John pointed out "it's where dark skies and the public collide".
A perfect park weekend would include an afternoon picnic, daytime solar observing near a visitor center or popular
attraction, evening cookout, night time observing and meteor watching. It's also a great time to teach your children the constellations
and the mythology behind them. Find out what your local indigenous people thought of the night sky and share those stories.
If you don't live near a national park, you can still enjoy family and nature at a local park - even in the city center.
download John Dobson History in the National Parks
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US National Park Service
US National Park Service Facebook Page
Nasa Paper Models of Orbiters
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Stolby
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