This event has been cancelled.
About
In celebration of International DarkSky Week, experience the beauty and importance of natural darkness under April’s new moon skies. With no moonlight to dim the view, distant galaxies, star clusters, and the first meteors of the Lyrid shower come into focus. This special evening explores how protecting dark skies connects us to the cosmos, supports wildlife, and helps preserve this shared resource for future generations.
Join OSMP staff and partners from the Longmont Astronomical Society, DarkSky Colorado, and the Fiske Planetarium for a guided night sky experience. We’ll focus on the constellation Lyra, home to the bright star Vega, and the radiant point of the Lyrid meteor shower.
Together, we’ll discover:
- How artificial light affects wildlife, ecosystems, and our ability to see the stars plus what we can do to help protect natural darkness
- The early activity of the Lyrid meteor shower and how to watch for these brief streaks of light
- How to locate the constellation Lyra and its brightest star, Vega
- Distant galaxies and star clusters visible through telescopes under new moon skies
- Telescopes are provided. Friends and Family event! All ages and experience levels are welcome.
What to bring:
- Red flashlight or headlamp: Helps preserve night vision (avoid white light)
- Warm layers: Temperatures drop quickly after sunset
- Blanket or camp chair: Makes sky-watching more comfortable
- Water and snacks: Stargazing is better when you’re hydrated and happy
- Binoculars: Many planets and bright objects look great with small optics
- Please leave dogs at home
Age Limit
All Ages
Parking Details
Parking is limited at the Beech Shelter. If the lot is full, additional parking is available at the Left Hand Trailhead, about a ¾-mile walk from the shelter.
Sustainable Development Goals
Wall
Melanie Gonglach wrote on March 27th, 2026
Hi Cara,
Thank you for your note. Yes, I will send an email a few days before the program with directions and helpful information for the event. The location is the Beech Shelter off of Neva Rd. Here is the information that I will send on directions and what to bring :)
clear map to the Beech Shelter located on Hwy 36 the Neva Access Road: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Beech+Shelter/@40.1035543,-105.2837188,1347m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m5!3m4!2s85GP4P39%2BCCH!8m2!3d40.1035625!4d-105.2813906!3m5!1s0x876be5878629c333:0xa2c7fafda0044243!8m2!3d40.1018336!4d-105.2758006!16s%2Fg%2F11g8_3g7_m!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Telescopes are provided. All ages and experience levels are welcome. T
What to bring:
Red flashlight or headlamp – Helps preserve night vision (avoid white light)
Warm layers – Nights cool off quickly
Blanket or camp chair
Water and snacks – Stargazing is better when you’re hydrated and happy!
Binoculars – Some deep space objects are better viewed with simple binoculars instead of large telescopes!
Please leave all pets at home
Cara McMillan wrote on March 27th, 2026
Please email directions and a map to the "Altona" site where the "Dark skies and Lyrid meteor shower" Program will be meeting. Google claims it's inside the Greenbriar restaurant, which is a couple of miles from the old Altona townsite to the west, miles to the Altona Grange to the East of Hwy 36, and miles North of Neva Road. None of these places seem likely to to allow me to find the Dark Skies and Deep Space event location in the dark on April 18th. I am registered. Where do I go? I do not have access to GPS, so the posted coordinates are useless to me. Not everyone carries a cell phone. Also, please send me a way to contact the leaders of the event. Direct phone numbers, names, emails, etc. I want to know now, exactly where I will be driving to on 4/18. Thank you.
