NPS to offer astronomy program Saturday

The National Park Service will feature both day and night astronomy programs, Saturday, Aug. 4.

A daytime program will occur from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Spring Canyon day use area, where Education Specialist Janice Elvidge will hold a program about what the sun looks like. She will have filtered telescopes and solar glasses to use as you view and hear about the sun, the earth’s nearest star.

The program will be repeated, this time at Crescent Bay, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the same day.

Later that night, Elvidge will lead viewers through a stargazing and sky tour where they will be able to take a look at a galaxy, nebula, the moon or one of our solar system’s planets. Saturn and Mars are close to Spica in the constellation Virgo that evening.

Bring your own telescopes, spotting scopes or binoculars and chairs and blankets.

Elvidge advised viewers to bring a warm coat.

The event is sponsored by the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.