Muskoka Family Star Party
September 26 – 27, 2014
At Gravenhurst KOA & Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve
Don’t miss one of the most unique events of the fall season in Explorers’ Edge. The 2nd Annual Muskoka Family Star Party takes place in Gravenhurst, Muskoka on Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27.
Beginning Friday, September 26th, families can come out to enjoy the sparkling, rural skies from vantage points at the Gravenhurst KOA or the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve, just west of Gravenhurst (the very first dark sky park of its kind in Canada!).
Saturday, September 27 at 2pm, Francois van Heerden, Director of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, will be at the Opera House Theatre in Gravenhurst setting up a solar viewing for the public to participate in. At 7pm, Francois will give an entertaining and informed Astro Talk called “The Lure of the Night Sky: Why I love Astronomy,” and will present two short videos as well.
Special rates for the Muskoka Star Party are available at both the Gravenhurst KOA and the Residence Inn Marriott Hotel on Lake Muskoka. To view additional accommodations in the region, click here. For additional details on this event, email: [email protected].
Come explore the skies with a little help from folks who know what to look for at the Muskoka Star Party in Gravenhurst – fun and awe for the entire family!
Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve:
The Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve is a conservation reserve recognized for its absence of light pollution at night. In 1997, the site in Muskoka was the first place in Canada to receive the designation of a Dark Sky Preserve.
Designated because of its hard granite surface that is immune to vibrations, this crown land preserve is a natural setting to gaze up at the stars that shape our galaxy.
The main stargazing site is located just off of Southwood Road, and allows for a 360 degree panorama of the night sky: perfect for capturing the beauty of the stars through binoculars. To learn more about the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve, click here.
