Passage IV

Starlight in the Park

My mom and I, both Michigan-born have been stargazing together since I was a toddler. I learned the names of major constellations long before I could write my own name. Every year, we spend warm August nights lounging in our yard each summer, gazing skyward in awe as the Perseid meteors trickle across the dark sky. So, when the nearby Headlands area was designated an International Dark Sky Park(a title recognizing the area's extraordinarily clear view of the starry night skies), we had to pay it a visit.

That such a park existed just a few miles from our home in Petoskey was incredibly fortunate, we knew. The designation is granted by an organization committed to protecting natural darkness from artificial light pollution, the status of Dark Sky Park has been conferred on only a select few places around the world. To justify the designation, likewise, experts must measure the amount of light in the area and from neighboring light sources. This inspection serves to ensure there is little to no interference among the nighttime view of the skies from the park.

[1] Driving into the park at sunset, we were greeted by acres of trees silhouetted in the fading light. [2] Eventually, we settled on a spot and snuggled into our sleeping bags. [3] Bats flitted through the air, and leaves rustled in the breeze as we walked along the rocky shoreline of Lake Michigan. [4] I told Mom I hoped we'd sight the northern lights, despite an unlikely forecast. [5] Eagerly, me and her waited, the two of us peering into the heavens as the sky darkened and stars began to appear. (55)

"There's Cygnus," I murmured, pointing out the bright constellation that resembles a flying swan, its neck and wings, outstretched. Mom easily spotted Draco, the dragon, her favorite constellation, even though it's composed of relatively dim stars. We made a game of it; each of us taking turns identifying stars, constellations, and planets as the night did what it does. The wide, starry swath of the Milky Way reflecting in the calm waters before us, we fell asleep, dreaming of sparkling skies.