to Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Lights Out Challenge 10:30-11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11
Perseid Picnic & formal program 9-11 p.m. Aug. 11
Meteor shower viewing (informal) overnight Aug. 11-12
Every year in August the richest part of the Milky Way arcs over northern Michigan, as though borne along by the mighty hero, Perseus. The constellation Perseus holds the radiant, or central point from which emanate the meteors that bears his name, the Perseids, arguably the most well-known meteor shower in the history of humanity.
“To take best advantage of the peak of this shower, we challenge our local communities to take the ‘light’s out challenge’,” said Program Director Mary Stewart Adams. “It’s a really fun and friendly competition where we get our Emmet County communities that are across the Straits and across the Little Traverse Bay from one another to turn off their lights and see who can achieve greater darkness.”
Adams and her team spend the one-hour challenge time measuring sky quality in each of the four communities of Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, to see which community has achieved greater darkness relative to the light quality measurement from a typical night in their respective communities.
“Obviously there’s some self-interest in the event,” says Adams. “When we can get whole communities to turn off the lights, then we begin to get a greater sense of what a true night can be like. And when a lot of people are doing this the night of a beautiful meteor shower, then we’ve created an unforgettable experience.”
And while communities around Emmet County and Northern Michigan are turning off their lights, at Headlands we host an evening of stories and science, to which you are welcomed to bring your own picnic, or order from Etta’s food truck that will be on site for the night. (Bringing a picnic is not required for participation!)
“Our Headlands program starts at 9 pm, just a few minutes after sunset on Tuesday evening, the 11th of August. Then as the lights are going out around the region, we lean back and take in the gorgeous views overhead, while hearing the tales of the hero Perseus, information about the meteor shower’s parent comet Swift-Tuttle, and a whole lot more,” said Adams.
Meteor Showers are best viewed with the naked eye, in a dark environment with a wide open sky. We will host tonight’s program in the open field at the Heritage Village Historic site, directly across from the entrance to Headlands.
“And it’s not just about the beauty of the meteor shower,” Adams continued. “Our ‘light’s out challenge’ is designed to raise awareness about the effects of artificial light at night on habitat, human health, and the way we use our energy resources. We take our inspiration for dark sky advocacy from the International Dark Sky Association, the association that granted our International Dark Sky status at Headlands, and his challenge is our way to ‘give back’ to a great community.”
As described above, the Lights Out Challenge extends from 10:30 to 11:30 pm; the Headlands program will happen in the open field at Heritage Village from 9 to 11 pm; and guests are welcome to stay out all night and make wishes on the shooting stars.
The International Dark Sky Park is located about two miles west of downtown Mackinaw City in northwest lower Michigan.
From downtown Mackinaw City, head west on Central Avenue — the main street through the downtown. Take it as far as it goes, to the T-intersection at Headlands Road. Turn left, or south, on Headlands Road. The Headlands will be a short ways down (about two blocks) on your right. Look for the sign at the entrance.
15675 Headlands Road
Mackinaw City, MI 49701