Families and individuals of all ages are invited to the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park for a special “star viewing party” on Saturday July 18.  The event starts at9:45 PM at the plaza in front of the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise. If the sky remains clear, the event will last until at least 11:45 PM.  The outdoor star gazing will be led by the 2015 Mount Rainier Astro-Volunteer team. These volunteers donate the use of their personal telescopes for the public and educate about the night skies.

Weather permitting, nightly star viewing with at least one of the Mount Rainier astronomers will take place outside the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center through Labor Day this season.  This Saturday, all six of the Mount Rainier Astro-Volunteer team will be present with telescopes for this special event. If weather makes star gazing difficult, the star party will be cancelled.  Call the Mount Rainier Astronomy hotline at (360) 569-6230 for updates on sky viewing and cancellations.

This event is free and open to all.  The entry fee to the park is $20 per private vehicle.

Information about the National Park Service Natural Lightscapes program is available at: http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/lightscapes/

General park information is available at www.nps.gov/mora or by calling 360-569-2211.