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Grand Canyon Star Party Kicks Off This Weekend

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Grand Canyon at night
Stars rise above a moonlit Grand Canyon. (Image credit: Grand Canyon image via Shutterstock)

Want to see stars? Then get your earthbound eyeballs to the Grand Canyon — from June 16-23, the national park is hosting the Grand Canyon Star Party, a free event where amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their expertise and offer free nightly astronomy programs and telescope viewing.

The event will be take place on the South and North Rims of the canyon.

On the South Rim, events will include a slide show nightly at 8 p.m. PT, followed by a telescope viewing behind the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. More information can be found at the website for the event.  

On the North Rim, telescopes will be set up on the porch of the lodge every evening, with some possibility of daytime scopes available as well. Bulletin boards at the Visitor Center will list additional events such as star talks and special slide show programs in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium.

Red flashlights are advised because they prevent the breakdown of a chemical called rhodopsin that allows the eyes to see better at night. This chemical takes 20-40 minutes for the body to generate in the presence of darkness; a bright white light can cause rhodopsin to disintegrate, depleting night vision for the next half hour or so.

The event is free (other than paying the park entrance fee of $25.00 per vehicle, good for seven days of coming and going to either rim.)

Editor's note: If you attend the event and take photos of the night sky or the event that you'd like to share with us, please send them to OurAmazingPlanet Managing Editor Andrea Thompson at athompson@techmedianetwork.com.

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Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.