Astronomy Hike

Stay up past your bedtime with us to enjoy a variety of nighttime delights, including the Perseid meteor shower! We'll begin this event by hiking one mile up to the summit of Onion Mountain Preserve- a moderate-strenuous journey along an old wood's road- with Outreach Associate Alina, who will point out nocturnal creatures and their noises. We may hear or see owls, flying squirrels, nightjars, moths, and more. Once we reach the summit and true darkness settles in, astronomy buff Gus Zimmerman will guide us through an exploration of the night sky using a laser pointer and a powerful telescope. We'll also find and discuss constellations, prominent stars, and the moon (if viewable.) Just days after the new moon, this is a great night to view the annual Perseid meteor shower, which can produce numerous shooting stars with long, bright tails!

This event is highly weather-dependent, and will be cancelled if there is significant cloud cover. Due to the timing and the moderate-strenuous hike involved in this opportunity, the minimum age to attend is 16. Please leave pets at home. Red light flashlights will be provided to participants who do not have their own red light; white lights will not only affect our ability to view the night sky, but will also disturb the nocturnal creatures around us. Primitive camping is permitted with permission at Onion Mountain Preserve, contact Skye at scahoon@mainspringconserves.org for more details if you are interested in staying the night. Leave No Trace principles apply including no campfires, packing out all waste, and storing food and scented items out of reach of wildlife. There are no camping facilities (bear box, water spigot, bathrooms, etc) available at this location.

We will meet at the North Trailhead of Onion Mountain at 7:45pm on Saturday, August 15th, and begin our hike at 8:00pm sharp. See the map on our website for the meeting location. There are two trailheads for Onion Mountain Preserve, if you are using GPS ensure you are heading to the North Trailhead. Note that while there is limited parking directly at the trailhead, there is ample parking along the road less than 1/4 mile away. After about an hour and a half of stargazing, this event will conclude at 10:30pm, at which point we will hike down the mountain and be back at our cars around 11:00pm.

Tickets for this event are offered on a sliding scale from $20-$50; pay what you can to support our ability to offer low-cost or free educational programs!

Refund policy

Contact Skye at scahoon@mainspringconserves.org to request a refund.

Before 4:00pm on Friday, August 7th: Mainspring will retain a $5 processing fee, and refund the remainder of your ticket value.

After 4:00pm on Friday, August 7th: Refunds are not guaranteed, but Mainspring will attempt to fill empty seats. If a cancelled seat is filled, the former ticket-holder will receive a 50% refund. If the cancelled seat is not filled, we are unable to issue a refund. Thank you for your understanding.

In the event of cancellation due to weather conditions: Mainspring will retain a $5 processing fee, and refund the remainder of your ticket value. Participants may also choose to donate the value of their ticket.