Jasper Dark Sky Festival

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Above me, a black-velvet canopy extends to the horizon. As my eyes adjust, I gasp: stars, constellations like Ursa Major, planets, and the Milky Way swirl above. I’m standing at Lake Annette during the Jasper Dark Sky Festival. 

Silhouettes of fir trees and snow-capped Rocky Mountain peaks and ridges emerge, and once again, I am humbled by nature. 

Every year, for two weekends in October, Jasper National Park welcomes visitors wanting to learn about space and astronomy – and about Jasper being the world’s largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve.

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What’s a Dark Sky Preserve (DSP)?

Jasper Dark Sky Festival
The Jasper Dark Sky Festival is held in October each year. Photo: Jeff Bartlett

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) established guidelines for creating two types of light-restricted, protected areas: dark sky preserves and urban star parks.

To qualify as a Dark Sky Preserve, there must be no artificial lighting visible in the area and the glow from the sky from other light sources cannot be brighter than natural sky glow.

Another important aspect is a Dark Sky Preserve has to have a programme of actively promoting the reduction of light pollution to the public.  

In Canada, there are 22 DSPs and two USPs, which join an international network of such preserves.

Snowcapped mountains in Jasper National Park
A stunning landscape in Jasper National Park during the day. Photo: Garry Norris

On March 26, 2011, RASC designated Jasper a Dark Sky Preserve.

At more than 11,000 square kilometres, it’s not only a vast area, it’s the only DSP containing a town, giving Jasper’s Dark Sky Preserve a unique “most accessible” status.

Jasper is easy to reach because it’s about a four-hour drive (350 km) west of Alberta capital city, Edmonton (or go by VIA Rail train), and a six-hour drive northwest of Calgary (and Banff) via the world-renowned Icefields Parkway. The Rocky Mountaineer train also goes to Jasper. 

Driving to the Jasper Dark Sky Festival
Attending the Jasper Dark Sky Festival is an event you’ll always remember. Photo: Garry Norris
Jasper Dark Sky Festival stars
Gaze in winter at the stars during the Jasper Dark Sky Festival. Photo: Jeff Bartlett

I’m fascinated by the mystery – and science – of the night sky, which connects me to ancient peoples who would similarly have gazed and pondered at celestial phenomena.

Dark Sky Preserve
Parks Canada staff will explain the concepts behind a Dark Sky Preserve during the Jasper festival. Photo: Garry Norris

This festival allows us to mix and mingle with RASC and amateur astronomers, as well as Parks Canada staff, who explains the importance of dark skies to nocturnal animals (and human health) through to space travel.

Jasper Dark Sky Festival

Jasper Dark Sky Festival
Activities at the Jasper Dark Sky Festival. Photo: Jeff Bartlett

During the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, activities and events explain the night sky, where astronomers bring telescopes to reveal Aurora Borealis and shooting stars if we’re lucky. 

Seeing the Aurora Borealis or the Aurora Australis is an amazing experience but they can be unpredictable. 

Many events at the Jasper Dark Sky Festival are free, such as moon viewing, art exhibitions and scientific demonstrations,  or may not cost very much, such as the Full Moon Hike ($10).

There’s also a list of ticketed events, such as food tours, solar gazing and photography workshops. Check out this year’s schedule of events here

Clear nights display the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, planets and their moons, constellations, stars, and more.

Jasper Dark Sky Festival night sky
Jasper Dark Sky Festival is one of the best times to capture amazing photos of the night’s sky. Photo: Jeff Bartlett

Special nighttime events are at Annette and Pyramid lakes: both are easy to reach thanks to frequent shuttle buses from Jasper.

Once at the lakes, Parks Canada staff explained nocturnal animal adaptations and use of darkness for protection from predators.

Two First Nations’ women drummed and sang, and astronomers invited us to peer through their telescopes and learn about the night sky.

festival in jasper national park
You’ll pick up lots of astrophotography tips at the night sky festival in Jasper. Photo: Jeff Bartlett

Because astrophotography (photography of the night sky) is trendy, award-winning photographers such as Paul Zizka offer dark-sky photography clinics, and astrophotographers are on-hand to share tips and techniques.

Jasper Dark Sky Festival
The Jasper Dark Sky Festival has photography workshops, where you can learn how to photograph the night sky. Photo: Jeff Bartlett

In Jasper, the TELUS World of Science Edmonton “mobile planetarium” lets us stargaze in mid-day via digital imagery projected inside its black dome.

During the show, an astronomer explained what we could hope to see at night.

This year’s special guest was Colonel Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut who commanded the International Space Station.

A genuine hero, he’s a particular favourite with children, who he always encourages to be curious. “At nine,” he enthused, “I knew I wanted to be an astronaut.

Kids?

Follow your dreams: you can do it!”

I was inspired by watching him engage with children.

For instance, in front of a crowd of eager kids and parents, he first launched a two-part demonstration rocket, then stayed to watch the first kids launch their own pop-bottle water rockets they’d made during festival workshops.

I spoke with nine-year-old Jacob Bartziokas, who couldn’t wait to launch his rocket.

Did he want to be an astronaut like Chris Hadfield, I asked him?

“I’m not sure yet,” he replied, seriously.

“But I do read non-fiction. Science, you know!”

Watching him launch his rocket, I shared his enthusiasm.

Whatever planners conjure, it will be a fantastic introduction to the importance and fascination of dark skies.

Jasper Dark Sky Festival
Photo: Jeff Bartlett

What else to do in Jasper?

1- Wildlife watching

Wherever you go, watch for wildlife such as moose, wapiti (elk), grizzly or black bear, mule and white-tailed deer, and other critters.

Jasper Dark Sky Festival
Jasper is full of wildlife so keep your eyes peeled. Photo: Garry Norris

2- Drive to Medicine Lake

Medicine Lake was considered magical by First Nations because it mysteriously drains, come autumn.

In fact, today’s geological science tells us the lake’s water drains into an underground karst network of caverns – while the name still recalls the lakes’ mystery and magic.

3- Hike Maligne Canyon

Jasper Dark Sky Festival
Maligne Canyon is an amazing wonder of nature.

How did “maligne” ( ‘maligned’ or ‘wicked’) get attached to a river, lake and valley? 

SunDog Tours guide Bruce McAlpine recounted, “In the mid-1800s, Jesuit Father Pierre-Jean De Smet’s horse stumbled in the river.

Well, priests don’t swear you know… so he christened the river ‘Maligne’.

This lake and valley took the name.”

McAlpine introduced me to Galal Helmy’s Maligne Canyon Restaurant, where you’ll not only get a good meal, but also discover one of Canada’s most renowned First Nation’s artists’ works. 

Norval Morisseau, the “Picasso of North America”, painted many of his Ojibway peoples’ legends.

Here, find an outstanding collection of his colourful, original works.

Said Helmy, “Morrisseau actually lived here for almost ten years, so I knew him well.”

4- Explore Jasper village

Dark Sky Festival
Plan your trip to Jasper around the Jasper Dark Sky Festival Photo: Jeff Bartlett

Always worth a visit any time of year, Jasper is especially intriguing because of its friendly, independent, creative, and environmentally aware residents who particularly wish to preserve their park home.

To catch a special taste of the village, dine at Evil Dave’s Grill or Bear’s Paw Bakery, stay at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Château Jasper.

Interested in gardening?

Find the community garden immediately beside the VIA train station, and discover the challenges of gardening where bears and elk are “garden pests”! 

Jasper Dark Sky Festival

Jasper Dark Sky Festival

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Katharine Fletcher
Katharine Fletcher is a Quebec-based freelance author and writer who is happiest in the wild, back of beyond or exploring cultural destinations. She co-authored Quebec Off the Beaten Path (5th edition, Globe Pequot Press). and is happiest in the wild on a multi-day horseback expedition, riding in the backcountry and camping.