Road Trip to the Stars: UMD Dark Sky Caravan Aug. 10-17

The Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium is hitting the road from the North Shore to the end of the Gunflint Trail Aug. 10-17. This traveling event will coincide with the annual Perseid meteor shower and a full moon, perfect for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing through a telescope.

The mobile GeoDome Theater creates an immersive learning environment that is interactive and engaging. University of Minnesota Duluth staff and students will lead attendees through a dynamic digital space exploration experience. Accompanying the planetarium will be lunar and celestial telescope viewing with UMD experts and fun hands-on activities.

All events are free, with daily programming that will run from 6 to 10:30 p.m., except where noted.

Planetarium shows will be offered on the half hour. In the event of cloudy skies, programming will be limited to the planetarium.

. Saturday, August 10
Grand Portage State Park
visitor center, Grand Portage
(hours 1 p.m.- 5 p.m.).
. Sunday, August 11
Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium
Monday, August 12
Tettegouche visitor center,
Silver Bay
. Tuesday, August 13
Tettegouche visitor center,
Silver Bay
. Wednesday, August 14
Voyageur Brewing Company,
Grand Marais
lunar and celestial telescope viewing,
Artist Point 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
. Thursday, August 15
Voyageur Brewing Company,
Grand Marais
lunar and celestial telescope viewing,
Artist Point 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

. Friday, August 16
Seagull Lake Community Center,
upper Gunflint Trail
. Saturday, August 17
Seagull Lake Community Center,
upper Gunflint Trail

The end of the tour wraps up with two nights at the end of the Gunflint Trail – known for its pure dark sky with a reading of a class 1 on the Bortle scale, which translates into an excellent dark sky with minimal light pollution.

The Dark Sky Caravan is the prequel to the Dark Sky Festival held in Grand Marais, December 13-14, 2019. This event will be centered on celebrating the night sky with a lineup of presenters, photographers, and stellar storytellers creating an immersive experience for longtime stargazers and novices. Mark your calendar. For more information: www.visitcookcounty.com/ event/dark-sky-festival/.