Look up – Skies above Crater Lake are clear, too
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, OR
September 25, 2003
For more than 100 years Crater Lake’s blue waters have been regarded as a world wonder.
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| Owen Hoffman sets up a telescope for sidewalk astronomy along Crater Lake’s rim near the Crater Lake Lodge. |
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Now Crater Lake is ranked by the National Park Service as one of the system’s top 10 spots for star-gazing.
The park service’s “dark sky team” said the absence of light pollution from cities and suburbs provides excellent conditions for amateur astronomers.
Owen Hoffman, a former Crater Lake park ranger and member of the Crater Lake Institute, said Crater Lake and other national parks are “also major destinations for tourists in general, many of whom have little knowledge of the night sky. Thus, a perfect opportunity is created in national parks for the public and the amateur astronomer to meet.”
Hoffman said that when amateur astronomers share their time, knowledge and equipment with a public curious enough to stay out after dark, the activity is often referred to as “sidewalk astronomy.”
Sidewalk astronomy was a focus last month of the Crater Lake Institute, a non-profit public service organization formed in 1995 by former park ranger-naturalists. Hoffman said the event was especially popular with guests of the Crater Lake Lodge, including many first-time star watchers.
Hoffman said the Crater Lake Institute encourages amateur astronomers to “serve in our outstanding natural areas as volunteer sidewalk astronomers and promote public enjoyment of dark skies above our sacred lands.”
– Lee Juillerat
On the Net: www.parktrust.org/parklandnews/articles/DarkNightSkies.htm.
Other pages in this section
- Obituary: Marion C. ‘Rib’ Ribble – December 29, 2003
- Crater Lake historic home to be restored – December 10, 2003
- Park officials seek public comments about plan to rehabilitate superintendent’s house – December 01, 2003
- Crater Lake vendor gets serious about recycling – November 12, 2003
- Rim Drive closes at Crater Lake – November 07, 2003
- East Rim at Crater closes for the winter – November 04, 2003
- New composite tour boats airlifted into Crater Lake – October 2003
- Governor appoints former KF woman to state travel council – October 19, 2003
- County claims Crater Lake – October 16, 2003
- Friends of Crater to meet Saturday – September 29, 2003
- Norton cancels Crater Lake visit – September 17, 2003
- Researchers delve into lake’s clarity – September 15, 2003
- Sinnott Memorial Overlook: new exhibit provides answers to lake’s geologic history – September 02, 2003
- Participants call Rim Run volunteers the ‘best anywhere’ – September 02, 2003
- Crater Lake boats refloated: builder modifies engines; allows tours to resume – August 25, 2003
- Roadwork proposed near entrance of Crater Lake – August 20, 2003
- Geologist honored for Crater Lake work – August 19, 2003
- Project aims to keep Crater Lake black bears wild – August 18, 2003
- Lindgren wins 2nd straight women’s 6.7-mile run; Gregg wins men’s – August 11, 2003
- Klamath Falls native wins marathon – August 11, 2003
- Winners have no trouble with hills at end of race – August 11, 2003
- Boats land in Crater Lake: new boats to start service on Sunday – July 23, 2003
- Geologist receives research award – July 22, 2003
- At Crater Lake even ordinary years are pretty sensational – July 07, 2003
- New fleet for Crater Lake – July 07, 2003
- Rim Drive is open – July 07, 2003
- North entrance ready for travel: road to Crater Lake near Fort Klamath open to travelers – June 07, 2003
- Hartzogs honored – May 29, 2003
- Crater Lake ski patrol earns national honors – May 29, 2003
- Comments sought for Rim Village project – May 25, 2003
- Look at the local top 10 attractions first – May 12, 2003
- Crater Lake back to normal, spectacular self – May 12, 2003
- National Award for Crater Lake Ski Patrol – April 29, 2003
- Fee collection starts Saturday: unpredictable weather opens Crater Lake’s busy season – April 24, 2003
- Volcanic Scenic Byway gets large grant – April 21, 2003
- Local pair to help promote the Volcanic, All American Scenic road – February 03, 2003
- County repaid for Crater Lake license loan – January 07, 2003
