Shuttle to the Stars:
Exploring the Space Shuttle’s Place in History
On Saturday, November 7, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM, join us at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center for a look back at the Space Shuttle, the program that carried astronauts and telescopes into orbit for thirty years. BLM park ranger Chad Hoing will share the missions that changed space exploration, then we’ll head outside for a constellation tour and telescope viewing.
Bring warm layers and a red flashlight or headlamp.
Working Towards a Greater Mission
Every Star Party is a step toward earning Red Rock Canyon NCA an Urban Night Sky Place designation from DarkSky International. It recognizes places near big cities that still offer a truly dark sky.
Earning it takes years and robust community coordination. The application calls for a lighting management plan, an inventory and retrofit of outdoor lights, ongoing sky quality measurements, regular public programs, and proof of community support. In return, Red Rock gains international recognition, protection for the nocturnal wildlife, and a lasting commitment to keeping the Milky Way visible just outside Las Vegas.
We are very close to finishing our application and celebrating this milestone! Stay tuned for updates.
We’re grateful to the partners who have helped get us this far:
- Friends of Red Rock Canyon
- Southern Nevada Conservancy
- The Las Vegas Astronomical Society
- UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada
- The BLM Dark Sky Volunteer Team
- The Brett Torino Foundation
Thanks to supporters like you, Save Red Rock has been able to raise funds for purchasing supplies for Star Party programs, an Unistellar smart telescope, covering speaker honorariums, and paying DRI (Desert Research Institute) to install and monitor sky quality meters throughout the canyon.
Want to help us get there?
