LEARN ABOUT CENTRAL OREGON’S Night Sky & TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE BELOW FOR THE CHANCE TO SCORE A HALF-DAY TOUR!
Launching canoes under the setting sun, I challenge my guests "The first to see a bat this evening wins."
Watching the transition from swooping Nighthawks to feasting Bats is one of my favorite sights as the bow of the boat slices through the reflection of the mountains on our way across the lake. Knowing that the bugs that may annoy us during the day, become life sustaining fuel for the birds and bats makes us appreciate the little critters a bit more. It also increases appreciation for the birds and the bats' voracious appetites as they skim across the water in front of your boat, clearing your path of upwards of ~1,000 mosquito sized bugs per hour.
Starlight and Moonlight Canoe trips are the perfect way to continue the outdoor adventure post dinner. A days exploration after the sun sets is beyond what most people have gotten to experience, and these trips give the opportunity to see things that only nighttime can reveal. With the lack of light pollution up in our Cascade Lakes, the stargazing can be the chance of a lifetime.
Mid August brings a celestial occurrence that is a favorite of mine. Knowing my lack of patience to wait and wait for that perfect shooting star, the peak of the Perseids Meteor shower for me is akin to the finale of the fourth of July fireworks show! With upwards of 40-50 meteors per hour, you don’t have to wait a long time to see the bits and pieces of the comet Swift-Tuttle slamming into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at 130,000 mph!! With the Perseids peaking 8/12, the night sky will continue to yield shooting stars and solar systems easily viewable throughout the waning moon.
If you have been contemplating an evening on the water, the Perseids should be your reason to make it happen! The beauty of central Oregon lies in our geographical diversity. While we head West into the mountains for an evening of stars up on our Cascade Lakes, we can also head East into the high desert to spend a few hours exploring underneath the earth - discovering where the lava headed when it flowed from the Newberry Volcano 80,000 years ago.
While the cave looks the same day or night, emerging from the cave at night is an entirely different and unique experience. The summer triangle frames the milky way this time of year and the blanket of stars over the sea of sagebrush allows us the opportunity to stargaze in an area of expansive views.
My excitement increases while I picture what is in store for us guides and our guests for the next few weeks of evening tours. Oh and...BAT! I win! =)
WANDERLUST TRIVIA
Congrats to Olivia C. for correctly answering the questions below!
See below for a link to the answers.
Answers: Meteors & Myotis Answers
