Discover the Night Sky!

Description: Experience the Leighton Art Centre like never before – while gazing up into the beautiful night sky! Start your night sky journey by building your own Star Map and Star Map Finder (Planisphere). Then head into the night, guided by your flashlights and by our resident biologist and naturalist Jim Critchley, to the Echo Hill lookout point on the Leighton Centre property. Use your newly made Star Map to recognize and identify the stars, constellations and zodiac signs that light up the foothills at night.

The Spring Sky is a great time to view the Moon! We will also look for visible planets, passing satellites, and constellations and we might even hear the coyotes howl!

Audience: Open to anyone with an interest in learning about the night sky! Great for families with kids ages 10 and up. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Weather: This is an outdoor evening workshop, please make sure you dress appropriately for the cool night air. Extremely poor weather may result in cancellation. For our cancellation & refund policy, please see below.

Supplies: Please bring a water bottle, warm clothes, sturdy shoes and a flashlight. Walking poles may be a good addition. We suggest you bring your camera and binoculars too. A portable lawn chair is an asset!

Registration cost:   $15.00 per person

Did you know that Members of the Leighton Art Centre get 10% off the registration cost of all workshops and kids’ summer camps? Please visit  https://leightoncentre.org/join-us/become-a-member/.

Cancellation and Refund Policy: Please note there is a NO REFUND policy on all Leighton Art Centre workshops. A refund will be only be issued to participants if the workshop is cancelled by the workshop coordinator due to insufficient enrollment, extreme weather conditions, or Covid-19 restrictions. Workshops may be cancelled prior to the start date and participants will be notified via email and/or phone, and a full refund will be processed.

Withdrawal from workshops for medical reasons must be accompanied by a doctor’s medical note and must be received by the Leighton workshop coordinator prior to the workshop start date to be qualified for a full refund.

Guide’s Biography

This workshop will be led by retired Science Teacher, biologist and naturalist, Jim Critchley B.E.S, B.Ed, M.Ed. Jim is an experienced field researcher and Educator. He holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and has worked as a research technologist on an Atlantic salmon spawning river for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.