NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, July 25.
PORT ANGELES — A free astronomy program with telescopes continues at Hurricane Ridge, one of the best light-restricted “dark sky” sites on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Led by John Goar of the Olympic Astronomical Society, the stars-and-planets programs last about an hour.
Upcoming dates
Meet Goar at the Ridge’s visitor center, 17 miles up Hurricane Ridge Road from Port Angeles in Olympic National Park, on these dates and times:
■ Tonight and every night through Wednesday night, July 30, 10:30 p.m.
■ Thursday night, Aug. 14, and nightly through Wednesday night, Aug. 20, 9:45 p.m.
■ Thursday night, Aug. 21, and nightly through Friday night, Aug. 29, 9:30 p.m.
Saturn and moons
With participants using the telescopes, he shows the planet Saturn and its moons, other planets and stars, globular star cluster M13, the Ring Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy.
The viewings at the Ridge this Saturday and on Aug. 23 will include a “star party” by Olympic Astronomical Society members, “who will be happy for the public to look through their telescopes,” Goar said.
If skies are cloudy, Goar’s program will be canceled.
For program status, phone the Hurricane Ridge Road hotline at 360-565-3131 after 4 p.m. the day of the program.
“Dress warmly,” said Goar, noting that the visitor center is situated at 5,242 feet.
Full moon hikes
In addition, you can explore the star-filled summer night with Goar with his “Full Moon Hikes” to Hurricane Hill next month.
The hikes, which are 3 miles round trip, will depart under full moons from the Hurricane Hill trailhead, 1.5 miles past the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10.
Sturdy shoes
“Please wear sturdy shoes,” said Goar. “A constellation tour will occur at the top of Hurricane Hill.”
Like the telescope programs, the hikes will be canceled if it is cloudy.
Check the hotline after 4 p.m. the day of the hike.
For more information, visit www.olympictelescope.com.
