Dark Skies at Great Basin National Park now in 360

Youth and adults will now be able to learn about Great Basin National Park's amazing dark skies and the Great Basin Observatory in a planetarium setting.

The Great Basin Observatory, a project of Great Basin National Park Foundation, is managed through a partnership with the Park, and three universities (University of Nevada, Reno, Concordia University, Irvine, and Southern Utah University, Cedar City). Operated remotely, the research-grade GBO extends some of the darkest skies in the contiguous United States to student researchers and inspired Reach for the Stars- an education and outreach program for elementary, middle, and high school students.

The film was created through a partnership with the Fleischmann Planetarium at the University of Nevada, Reno. "This film will help to introduce audiences throughout the Great Basin to Nevada's incredible dark sky resources and help inspire audiences of all ages to gaze up from wherever they live. Connecting to the cosmos is something we can all do if we all work to protect the night," said Paul McFarlane director of the Fleischmann Planetarium.

The film is being made available for free to planetariums throughout the country. Southern Utah University plans to show it as part of their outreach to elementary and middle school students. "This is a perfect fit for us," relates Dr. Cameron Pace of SUU and the Ashcroft Planetarium, "In a normal year we travel to schools with our portable planetarium and introduce over 1,000 youth to the stars and astronomy. What better way to do it than to showcase a local resource, and educate youth that the skies above them are full of wonder."