The annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival in the Canadian Rockies is back for its thirteenth consecutive year.
The event will take place within the world's largest accessible dark sky preserve from 13-22OCT. Attendees can expect a number of experiences, including cosmic concerts, talks by experts and stargazing sessions.
Guest speakers, including retired astronaut Marc Garneau, award-winning spaceflight history writer Emily Carney, and NASA scientist Dr. Kartik Sheth, will share their expertise on various topics, ranging from space funerals to cosmic weather trackers. These sessions provide attendees the opportunity to interact with the speakers and engage in small group discussions.
The festival will also feature a Drone Light Show, which will see two hundred choreographed drones light up the night sky, as well as two new events in the Science for Breakfast series: Talk Nerdy to Me and the Science of Brewing.
A number of concerts will take place throughout the week, including Symphony Under the Stars at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, an Indigenous sunset ceremony at Annette Lake, and a performance by Jay Ingram and the Dark Sky Band.
Guides from the Jasper Planetarium will also be on hand, providing guests the opportunity to observe distant galaxies through the biggest telescopes in the Rockies. Night Sky Photography workshops conducted by local experts will also take place.
More information about the festival can be found on the official Jasper Dark Sky Festival website.
