Special Events

Dark Sky Caravan: Aug 10th - 15th

Dark Sky caravan schedule at a glance

 

The Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium is gearing up to hit the road again for our annual Dark Sky Caravan on August 10th - 15th!

Minnesota is home to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) which is the second largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world. To celebrate our dark skies, Planetarium staff will be traveling along the North Shore stopping at different locations each night for a star party. You can enjoy fun activities and presentations or planetarium shows. Once it gets dark, you can gaze through telescopes and get a live sky tour of the stars and constellations visible. We will also be on the lookout for meteors from the Perseid meteor shower which peaks Aug 12th-13th. If it’s cloudy, don’t worry! We will still have fun activities and digital sky tours so you can learn what to look for when it clears up.

You can find our list of stops below:

Date

Time

Location

What to Expect

August 10th 

7p - 10p

Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium

Duluth, MN

  • Trivia game with fun prizes at 7p
  • Telescope viewing (weather permitting) once it gets dark
  • If it’s cloudy, there will be activities and planetarium shows

August 11th 

8p - 10p

Split Rock Lighthouse

Two Harbors, MN

  • Presentation at 8p
  • Activities
  • Telescope viewing (weather permitting) once it gets dark
  • If it’s cloudy, there will be activities and a digital night sky tour

August 12th

8p - 11p

Tettegouche State Park

Silver Bay, MN

  • Shows in the portable planetarium
  • Activities
  • Telescope viewing (weather permitting) once it gets dark
  • If it’s cloudy, there will be activities and more planetarium shows

August 13th

8p - 11p

North House Folk School

Grand Marais, MN

  • Presentation at 8p
  • Activities
  • Telescope viewing (weather permitting) once it gets dark
  • If it’s cloudy, there will be activities and a digital night sky tour
August 14th

7p - 11p

Schaap Community Center

Grand Marais, MN

  • Shows in the portable planetarium
  • Activities
  • Telescope viewing (weather permitting) once it gets dark
  • If it’s cloudy, there will be activities and more planetarium shows

August 15th

6:30p - 10:30p

Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center

Grand Marais, MN

  • Telescope viewing (weather permitting) once it gets dark
  • If it’s cloudy, there will be activities and other presentations

Grab your bug spray and come join us for some fun under the stars!

The Planetarium is very thankful to the Gunflint Trail Historical Society, Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, and Visit Cook County for their help in planning, coordinating, and running the Dark Sky Caravan!

partners