Stargazing on the Headlands International Dark Sky Park

MACKINAW CITY — There’s nothing as particular as trying up on the stars on a darkish summer time evening in Northern Michigan, and there is not any higher place to do it than the Headlands International Dark Sky Park.

I’ll admit it: I hadn’t been to the Headlands within the three years I’ve lived within the Tip of the Mitt, nevertheless it’d be flawed to say I do not anticipate to return.

The drive to the Headlands takes you close to Wilderness State Park, with pitch darkish woods throughout, after which to a winding street that leads you to the Waterfront Event Center.

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Along the street, there are indicators introducing you to the planets within the photo voltaic system, from Pluto (You’re nonetheless a planet to me!) to Mercury.

Manager Jamie Westfall stated the Headlands was first acknowledged by DarkSky International in 2011, making it one of many first 10 International Dark Sky Parks on this planet.

Each 12 months, the park has to file a report highlighting varied areas of its work, together with schooling and advocacy initiatives to advertise actions you are able to do in a protected darkish sky place.

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Throughout the summer time months, the park hosts varied audio system to return go to and provides displays on totally different matters. When I made my first journey out to the park, I used to be fortunate sufficient to listen to from Norbert Vance, director of the Sherzer Observatory at Eastern Michigan University.

Vance gave an inventory of observatories and planetariums to go to, and talked concerning the thought of planning a trip round stargazing.

Vance additionally sweetened the deal a bit, with folks getting the prospect to win some prizes by way of a raffle. Two folks took house new telescopes, whereas others gained books about astronomy or pictures of the northern lights taken by David Black from St. Ignace (I gained a type of!).

The talks are normally held within the Waterfront Events Center, however if you cross the corridor, you may enter into the present store and data heart. There they’ve northern lights predictions posted, directions for learn how to activate the purple gentle filter in your cellphone and small items of purple tape to place over your cellphone’s flashlight. You may get stuffed animals, mugs, puzzles, stargazing books and extra.

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As the solar units, folks make their option to the amphitheater for stargazing alternatives. Even on a latest hazy and smoky evening when the area was enveloped in wildfire smoke from Canada, dozens of individuals made their option to the amphitheater to attempt to catch a glimpse on the shimmering stars and constellations.

On clear nights, the park’s astronomers arrange telescopes for folks to look by way of. On a clearer evening, I returned to the park and acquired my probability to look by way of a telescope for the primary time. Veronica Klawender, one of many park’s astronomers and a pupil on the University of Arizona, identified the Albireo double star system, the M13 Hercules Globular Cluster and the double star system seen from Earth inside the Big Dipper’s deal with.

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While mendacity within the grass trying up, there have been small gasps as folks noticed taking pictures stars above, and the thunderous sound of the observatory (which isn’t open to the general public) shifting from behind.

The park is open 24/7 12 months a 12 months, although the occasion heart’s hours change. People will not be in a position to camp on the park however can keep by way of the evening for dark-sky viewing.

New this 12 months, Westfall stated, is an expanded parking zone. The parking zone used to fill rapidly, which meant folks needed to park within the overflow lot proper close to the park’s entrance — a mile away from the viewing space. She stated having ADA accessible choices and extra parking spots has been a sport changer for folks inquisitive about visiting the park.

The park is situated at 15675 Headlands Road in Mackinaw City. For extra details about the Headlands and its totally different packages, go to emmetcounty.org/experiences/headlands/index.php.

— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on X, previously often called Twitter, at @KarlyGrahamJrn.