A Journey With The Stars

For those looking for something different to do, try a Friday or Saturday night of star gazing in one of the few dark sky locations.  The Bare Dark Sky Observatory is located at the Mayland Earth to Sky Park in Yancey County, very close to Mountain Air.  The address is: 66 Energy Exchange Dr, Burnsville, NC 28714.  It offers a 360 degree view.  People can view the moon, planets and stars through the 34" diameter Sam Scope, as well as the smaller planetary telescope.  Or you can simply appreciate the dark night sky.

The Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina have stood as silent witnesses to the uninterrupted, nightly rain of starlight for nearly a half-billion years, but artificial light now threatens this nightly show. In honor of notable local efforts to preserve the natural nighttime landscape of western North Carolina, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) designated the Mayland Earth to Sky Park and Observatory as the first IDA-certified Star Park in the southeastern United States.

The Mayland Earth to Sky Park and Bare Dark Sky Observatory is open to the public many Friday and Saturday nights.  More information and tickets are available here.