Finding Heaven in the Darkest of Skies
written by Terry Burger June 2, 2019
Cherry Springs State Park, Potter County, Pennsylvania
A time-traveler from the early 1800s would find Cherry Springs State Park, located in Potter County, Pennsylvania, practically unchanged today in comparison to their own time. It remains a very remote, very wild location that draws night sky enthusiasts from all around the world.
The 82-acre park is named for the large black cherry trees originally found in the area and is surrounded by the 262,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest. The Susquehannock Trail passes near the park and offers backpackers and hikers 85 miles of paths to enjoy.
Great views of the heavens, such as the Milky Way, planets, and hard-to-see astronomical objects, and other phenomena are common on clear nights, especially when there is a new moon.
The park is open 365 days a year. It includes a rustic campground which is open the second Friday of April through the last weekend of October. The Overnight Astronomy Observation Field is open to registered uses all night (no pets allowed). Reservations can be made by clicking the link above or by calling 888-PA-PARKS between 7:00 and 5:00 P.M., Monday through Saturday.
The Night Sky Public Viewing Area is intended for short-term stargazing and is not permitted for overnight stays.
As a child, I clearly recall viewing the Milky Way Galaxy over our Southern Indiana farm on evenings when the skies were clear. It looked a lot like it does in this picture I borrowed from the Internet.
My family and I lived in the country approximately 50 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky. The light pollution then, compared to now, must have been minimal for us to have viewed it so clearly.
To say Autumn and I were excited to visit Cherry Springs State Park would definitely be an understatement!
Our Experience of Cherry Springs State Park
June 2, 2019
Although the sun sets fast in these parts, when Autumn and I first arrived at the park there was still plenty of daylight left for exploring the grounds a bit. It was a clear day with similar skies for the evening forecast for the early part of the evening. The skies were predicted to become partly cloudy shortly after midnight.
This picture captures the Night Sky Public Viewing Area. As you can see, it is an ample field for viewing the heavens. All you need for a wonderful evening is a lawn chair to sit on or a blanket to lay on. And, as was the case for us this evening, a blanket or sleeping bags to curl up under. The evenings can become quite chilly. Despite being June 2, the temperature dropped into the low 30s this evening.
There are also benches at the west end of the field. Here, park rangers often provide educational lectures of the night skies for a small fee, pointing out various planets, constellations, and the like. The provide a good history of the park as well. Once the lecture is over you are free to lounge here if you so choose.
Pictured here are the domes that can be reserved for those with serious star-gazing interests and equipment. Many wonderful photographs of the heavens have been taken from these domes. This area is known by astronomers around the world as a prime viewing location due to it being exceptionally clear, having low particulate (dust) rates, and offering a nearly complete absence of light pollution.
Finally, when Autumn and I return to Cherry Springs State Park (yes, we will definitely be returning), we plan to camp here in the rustic campground area. Our Subaru Outback will be loaded down with all our gear and we shall want for nothing but the heavenly light show.
With the sun now setting in the west, Autumn and I enthusiastically selected our spot in the field and thereon placed our sleeping bags which we would be warming up under soon enough. Even with our coats on the evening air was COLD, which is understandable at 2300 feet above sea level. To make matters even more interesting, the grass and our sleeping bags were covered in dew. After a couple hours of walking around and getting my feet wet, I couldn’t feel my toes for the cold!
This picture best represents how dark it actually gets on the evening of a full moon. Until your eyes adjust, you literally cannot see your hand in front of your face. Even then it is difficult. But the heavens come alive to put on a real show.
Since Autumn and I do not have the necessary telescope and camera to take pictures of the night skies, I borrowed these three from the Internet to show you a few of the pictures that astronomers have taken of the heavens from Cherry Springs State Park. The one of the Milky Way Galaxy can easily been viewed from the park with the naked eye.
The Last Word
Today, there are few locations east of the Mississippi River that offer a great view of the natural sky due to the significant amount of light pollution we have created. That’s why settings like Cherry Springs State Park are so important, so our children will have the opportunity to experience the Milky Way Galaxy the way we did just a few short decades ago.
With hundreds of thousands of stars in front of your eyes, it feels as if you can reach out and touch them. And under optimal conditions, the Milky Way Galaxy casts a shadow on the grounds!
While a typical clear night might have as many as 100 observers, it is not at all crowded given the ample acreage available. Additionally, each year the park hosts two major star parties, the Black Forest Star Party and the Cherry Springs Star Party.
If you or your family have never experienced the fullness of the heavens, or if it has been too long since you have, Autumn and I highly recommend you visit a dark park as soon as possible. You will not be disappointed. East of the Mississippi, it does not get any better than Cherry Springs State Park.
WANDERLUST RATING : 4 Star
Wanderlust Rating Scale:
1 STAR – RECOMMEND YOU CODDIWOMPLE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION
2 STAR – WORTH A LOOKSEE FOR A GADABOUT
3 STAR – A TRUE TROUVAILLE
4 STAR – AN EXCEPTIONAL SOJOURN
5 STAR – A “TWO WANDERLUST SOULS” FAVORITE RECOMMENDATION
