50 Years, 50 Legacies: “Astro” Bob King & Jesse Gates
#32: Bob King & Jesse Gates
Working to protect the dark skies of Voyageurs
After Voyageurs National Park earned international recognition for its pristine night skies, Bob King and Jesse Gates helped Minnesotans look up and fall in love with the stars in new and meaningful ways. VNP hired Jesse specifically for his experience developing dark sky programming following the designation, and together he and Bob have used photography, public observing sessions, hands-on education, and community engagement to shape a culture of dark sky appreciation that continues to inspire people across generations.
“Astro” Bob King
Bob King
For decades, Bob King, known to many as Astro Bob, has been a guiding voice for anyone curious about the night sky. A lifelong astronomy enthusiast, King has spent his career helping educate and inform the community around him. Formally, he spent 39 years as the photo editor for the Duluth News Tribune, and still maintains a regular blog for the newspaper, which he also publishes much of on the Voyageurs Conservancy blog.
Outside of his day job, King’s dedication to public outreach has made the night sky more accessible to thousands across northern Minnesota. He has authored four books, Night Sky with the Naked Eye, Wonders of the Night Sky You Must See Before You Die, Urban Legends from Space, and Magnificent Aurora writes for Sky & Telescope, and regularly teaches community programs.
At Voyageurs, King’s influence helped fuel the growing momentum around night-sky interpretation and citizen science years before the park’s formal push for International Dark Sky Park status in 2020. His photography and storytelling have illuminated the unique beauty of northern Minnesota’s nightscape, and his engaging programs, featured at events like Star Party and Boreal Stargazing Week, have inspired hundreds of visitors and local communities alike to support light pollution reduction and conservation efforts.
Jesse Gates teaching a Park After Dark program. Credit: Gordy Lindgren
Jesse Gates
When Jesse Gates arrived at Voyageurs National Park as a seasonal ranger, he brought with him a deep passion for science, storytelling, and creating accessible ways for people to experience the outdoors. Born and raised in New York City, Jesse’s love for wild places began during his studies in geosciences at Humboldt State University in California and quickly grew through years of park service experience across the National Park System, which brought him to Bryce Canyon National Park, another International dark sky parks
At Voyageurs, Jesse found the perfect place for his strongest interest – night sky education. After a season as a seasonal ranger, Jesse joined the Voyageurs Conservancy team to help strengthen year-round astronomy programming and community engagement in 2021. His work has helped broaden access to night sky education and helped support the park’s growing role as a leader in night sky conservation.
In the summer, Jesse leads weekly Park After Dark programs and coordinates the Conservancy’s annual Star Party. During the school year, he co-leads field trips for local students in the park alongside NPS staff and engages classrooms from across the country through virtual dark sky programs focused on the science of northern lights, moon phases, and light pollution.
In 2025, Jesse earned the achievement of becoming a certified NASA Solar System Ambassador, joining over 1,000 individuals all over the country educating their communities about science, space, and their connection to the solar system.
Jesse Gates at a Boreal Stargazing Week telescope program. Photo Credit: Gordy Lindgren
Thanks in part to the foundation shaped by educators and advocates like King and Gates, Voyageurs National Park was certified as an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International in 2020 – a milestone recognizing some of the darkest, most pristine night skies in the world. This designation reflects years of collaboration among the National Park Service, Voyageurs Conservancy, scientists, partners, and surrounding communities.
Together, their contributions deepen the connection between visitors and the skies above Voyageurs. The belief that everyone deserves the chance to experience the wonder and awe of a truly dark sky continues to guide the park and conservancy’s education, conservation, and community outreach efforts.
Check out the full list of our 50 legacies!
This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of Voyageurs National Park by sharing 50 inspiring stories of the people who shaped its legacy. Years, 50 Legacies is a yearlong storytelling series highlighting individuals whose lives are woven into the fabric of the park – whether through conservation work, cultural traditions, recreation, research, or personal connection.
Raise a canteen and celebrate this historic milestone with us at our 50th anniversary website. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more inspiring stories and updates!
