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(Canceled due to weather) Winter Stargazing and Snowshoe Hike

  • The Nature Museum 186 Townshend Rd Grafton (map)

This event has been canceled due to cloudy skies . . . . .

Join us and the Southern Vermont Astronomy Group (SoVerA) for a special opportunity to stargaze into the clear and magical winter skies! SoVerA will have telescopes set up in the museum’s Chapman Meadow for some special viewing. SoVerA members will be on hand to offer telescope viewing help, provide basic viewing knowledge, and answer astronomy questions. Viewing will occur in The Chapman Meadow from 7:00PM - 9:00PM. Great for families, please dress appropriately! Additionally, there will be a separate and optional guided stargazing snowshoe experience.

We will gather at the museum at 7:45PM and leave at 8:00PM. This group will carpool a short drive away to the nearby Turner Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Turner Hill Road access point. From there, the group will snowshoe approximately 0.5 miles uphill to a large clearing. This high elevation clearing nestled in unique wilderness will offer a fantastic and special view of the winter sky. We will plan to be back at the beginning of the trailhead by approximately 9:30PM. Please note, this will be a consistent and moderately-strenuous snowshoe hike. Snowshoes are required. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Please bring water and a headlamp.

If you would like to borrow a pair of snowshoes, please indicate this on your registration form (How many pairs? What is/are your shoe size(s)?). Snowshoes rentals are limited and are not guaranteed without advance registration. Please note that this event will be skies dependent! Predicting appropriately clear skies is difficult. We will do our best to contact you in the days before the event. But, depending on the weather, we may need to wait until as soon as the morning of the event to decide. Registration is not required, but strongly encouraged for this reason!

This event is by donation.

Please keep an eye on your email and on our Facebook page in the days leading up to the event! SoVerA will be having a film screening event on the prior evening (Thursday, February 27, 2020) at The Whiting Library in Chester, VT. We encourage you to consider attending this event too!