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Cypress Hills was Alberta’s first Dark Sky Preserve. It received the official designation in 2004. The park’s high elevation and lack of light pollution mean it’s still one of the darkest and most rewarding. Even casual stargazers will be amazed when the stars come out on clear nights. Prominent features like the Milky Way are easily spotted, and with a little help, you’ll be able to pick out other stars and planets. That help is close to hand. The nearby, privately owned Eagle Butte Observatory offers programs and group bookings. Just over the border in Saskatchewan, The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada–Saskatoon Centre hosts a Summer Star Party over five days in August. (A new comet was discovered during the 2001 party.) Cypress Hill Provincial Park has a variety of camping options. This means amateur stargazers can contemplate the night skies while relaxing around a campfire. With any luck, the Northern Lights will provide the evening’s entertainment.
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