September 2023 Night Sky Calendar

As summer transitions to fall Saturn and Jupiter light up the evening sky while Mercury and Venus grace the dawn. After a brief hiatus in the solar glare Venus rapidly climbs the eastern sky at dawn. You can’t miss it — no star blazes quite as brightly as this cloudy planet. Meanwhile, Mercury puts in its best morning appearance of the year for northern hemisphere observers. Look for it about three fists to the lower left of Venus from mid-to-late September.

A moderately bright comet should also be visible in binoculars at dawn very low in the northeastern sky during the first 10 days or so of September. To spot Comet Nishimura you’ll need an unobstructed view in that direction and smoke-free skies. Watch for additional maps and more details about the comet my Facebook page “Astro Bob’s Astronomy for Everyone”.

Finally, this month’s full moon is a special one — the Harvest Moon. When full in September the moon’s path is nearly parallel to the horizon for several evenings in a row, so successive moonrises are just 15-25 minutes apart. Back before electric lighting farmers welcomed the extra light to bring in the harvest. When full in spring the moon’s path tilts steeply, delaying successive moonrises by over an hour.

Events:

September 1 – Waning gibbous moon shines midway between Saturn and Jupiter. See the trio from 11 p.m. local time into the wee hours.

September 3 and 4 – Waning gibbous moon sits to the upper right of Jupiter (Sept. 3) and to the left of the planet the following night

September 6 – Last quarter moon

September 6-11 – Comet Nishimura, discovered by a Japanese amateur astronomer on August 11, will glow bright enough to see in binoculars from a dark-sky location. It will look like a small, fuzzy blob with a short tail very low in the east-northeast starting about 90 minutes before sunrise.

September 11 and 12 (a.m.) – Thin crescent moon to the left of Venus both mornings. Venus is the brilliant “star” in the lower half of the eastern sky 1-2 hours before sunrise.

September 14 – New moon

September 18 – Slender lunar crescent returns at dusk low in the southwestern sky

September 18-30 (a.m.) – Mercury appears the eastern sky about three fists to the lower left of Venus and quickly brightens. Look for a solitary “star” about 7-10° high 45 minutes to an hour before sunrise. You’ll find your local sunrise time at timeanddate.com/sun. Binoculars will help in case smoke or haze dims the view.

September 22 – First quarter moon

September 23 – At 1:49 a.m. CDT autumn officially begins! Day and night are nearly equal at 12 hours apiece across the entire planet. The sun will rise due east and set due west.

September 26 – Waxing gibbous moon in conjunction 3° south of Saturn

September 28-29 – Full Harvest Moon. Since the moment of fullest moon occurs around 5 a.m. on Sept. 29, it will appear full to the eye two nights in a row. To find your local moonrise time go to timeanddate.com/moon

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Bob King is an amateur astronomer, author, and passionate educator. He served as a photographer and photo editor at the Duluth News Tribune for 39 years and taught at the UMD planetarium. Bob’s work had a great impact on Voyageurs National Park. To achieve International Dark Sky Park certification, the park was required to host dark sky education events. Through the Night Sky Explorer webinars, the Conservancy was able to fulfill this component and help secure the certification for Voyageurs National Park. We can’t thank Bob King enough for sharing his talents and knowledge with the Conservancy community to support dark sky preservation.

LCCMR Recommends $994,000 in Funding for the Voyageurs Classroom Initiative

Who introduced you to Voyageurs National Park? Many of us can remember our first time, navigating the park’s winding waterways, taking a plunge into its pristine lakes, and camping beneath the expansive Milky Way. These experiences are transformative and inspire the next generation of public land stewards.

Voyageurs National Park is a world-class, natural classroom where science, culture, and history intersect to offer unparalleled learning and where the benefits of nature are realized.  However, environmental education and public programs have historically been limited at Voyageurs National Park.

Voyageurs is remote and 40% water which creates barriers for many to experience. Morever, funding gaps and transportation barriers have led to a deficit in environmental education offerings and nature experiences for regional rural schools. Teachers across our state network are requesting year-round in-park and classroom-based opportunities for their students. 

After a multi-year gap in youth programming at the park, Voyageurs Conservancy stepped in to develop a broad public-private partnership with the National Park Service and many community organizations to sustain and enhance education programs.

Voyageurs Conservancy submitted a proposal to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) to receive funding from Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). This year, LCCMR received over 218 proposals and selected the Conservancy’s Voyageurs Classroom Initiative as one of their 2024 project recommendations.

With legislative approval, the Conservancy will receive $994,000 over three years for the next phase of the Voyageurs Classroom - connecting more families and youth to Voyageurs National Park than ever before!

The Voyageurs Classroom will connect 17,000 Minnesotans to the unique cultural and ecological space of Voyageurs National Park through outdoor, classroom, and virtual learning opportunities. These statewide Voyageurs Classroom will expand reach and relevance to move the needle from “why visit” to “why help preserve” Voyageurs National Park. In partnership with the National Park Service, we will:

• Connect future environmental stewards to Voyageurs by reaching 12,000 K-12 youth through in-park and classroom-based programs

• Support 700 National Park Teen Ambassadors on one-day and multi-day canoe trips that encourage connections to cultural stories, environmental stewardship, leadership, and conservation career pathways

• Provide career experience for future environmental professionals investing in 18 young adult Field Fellows.

• Engage a diverse audience of 5,000 Minnesotans through enhanced recreation and conservation experiences with Voyageurs.

The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund was established in 1998 when voters approved a constitutional amendment to secure permanent funds from Minnesota State Lottery proceeds and investment income. 

The function of the LCCMR is to make funding recommendations to the legislature for special environment and natural resource projects, primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). These projects help maintain and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources. The LCCMR developed from a program initiated in 1963. 

Since 1963, approximately $1.0 billion has been appropriated to more than 2,400 projects recommended to the legislature by the Commission to protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources. The LCCMR, a coalition of senators, representatives, governors, and citizens, reviews and recommends projects to receive ENRTF funding. Once recommended, the projects are presented to the Minnesota Legislature for approval.

Restoring Wetlands at Voyageurs National Park

Restoring Voyageurs National Park's wetlands is hard, yet rewarding work! Recently, a large invasive cattail mat was removed in the Black Bay Narrows of Rainy Lake. This floating cattail mat has been moving around the park since the 2022 flood and posed a risk to Voyageurs’ wetland habitat.

Cattail removal at Black Bay Narrows, Rainy Lake

Why does removing cattails matter?

These hybrid cattails are aggressive and non-native to Minnesota. They suffocate native vegetation and create dangerous floating mats. If left unmanaged, these invasive species would overtake the park’s rich wetlands. Healthy wetlands are critical to Voyageurs National Park’s resiliency. By removing invasive cattails we are protecting:

Wildlife Habitat: By removing invasive cattails, we are increasing biodiverse habitats for wild rice, marsh birds, native fish, and more.

Water Quality: Wetlands act as natural water purifiers, filtering sediment and absorbing many pollutants in surface waters.

Endangered Species: About one-third of all plants and animals listed as threatened or endangered species in the United States depend on wetlands for their survival.

Recreation: Wetlands contain a diversity of plants, animals and water features that provide beautiful places for sightseeing, hiking, fishing, hunting, boating, bird watching, and photography.

Education: Ecological, cultural, and historic resources run abundant in our nation's wetlands, and provide countless opportunities for environmental education and public awareness programs.

Credit: Andrea Hynes

In 2015, Voyageurs National Park and Voyageurs Conservancy, with support from many other partners, launched a 10-year plan to restore cattail-invaded wetlands. The goal of the Voyageurs Restoration Project is to mechanically remove cattail and other invasive plants and restore native vegetation, such as wild rice, using new and established techniques. The project is also evaluating the effectiveness of our restoration strategies for their use in Voyageurs National Park and the surrounding region. With your support, we are working to restore over 500 acres of native wetlands in the park!

Team of Wildlife & Wetland Technicians at Voyageurs National Park

Learn more:

• Voyageurs Wetland Restoration Initiative

• Wetland Habitats at Voyageurs National Park

• Not All Cattails are Created Equal: Typha x glauca the Silent Invader

• Why are Wetlands Important? - National Park Service

Meet our Voyageurs Field Fellows - Summer 2023

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating field work of our summer Field Fellows! Investing in the next generation of conservation leaders, this program offers paid internships for students and recent graduates to develop hands-on professional experience in Minnesota’s national park.

The Field Fellows program enriches the personal development of young adults, while preserving the wild character of Voyageurs National Park for generations to come. Meet Ian, Ellen, Gen, and Faith and learn about their lasting contributions to Voyageurs National Park!

Meet Ian Smith - Voyageurs Wolf Project Fellow

Ian maintaining trail cams for wolf ecology research / Credit: Margot Dupont

Ian graduated from Macalester College in Saint Paul with a major in Biology and a minor in English.  Ian serves as a Field Fellow under the Voyageurs Wolf Project - a research project in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem that studies the summer predation and reproductive behavior of wolves.

Ian learned about the Voyageurs Wolf Project through his mentors in college, Dr. Stotra Chakrabarti and Dr. Joseph Bump. “[Dr. Chakrabarti] became super influential in my life, realizing I wanted to work with wildlife. The Wolf Project was one of the first wildlife projects I learned about. I was really excited to work out in the field; I grew up in cities a lot of the time and didn’t get a lot of exposure to the outdoors like this, but I’ve learned so much in my time here.”

Ian has multiple responsibilities including checking wolf cameras. Here, Ian is checking up on a camera  around the Ray area to study the Stub-Tail pack territory. He  replaces the batteries, the SD card, and removes any grass or brush that’s grown up around the camera’s line of vision. Since the cameras are motion sensored, long grass blowing in the wind can cause the video to begin and waste precious battery and storage space. Ian plans on continuing his career in wildlife studies, hoping to travel far and wide to discover as much as he can!

Replacing batteries in trail cams / Credit: Margot Dupont

Meet Ellen Windels, Culture and Collectives Field Fellow

Ellen Windels, Culture and Collectives Fellow / Credit: Margot Dupont

Ellen has worked alongside Catherine Crawford in Voyageurs National Park's archives for the past 5 years. Starting as a volunteer when she was just 13 years old, Ellen knows the park’s history better than most!

Ellen has a passion for archeology and discovering anything and everything. Recently, one of her favorite objects to study are prehistoric stone tools and pottery pieces.

“The stone tools have flakes and come off in ridges. It is really interesting to see where it was hit, the process of making those tools,” says Ellen. She has contributed greatly to the park's archives throughout the years. One of her greatest accomplishments is creating an organized card catalogue for the entire library.

In these photos, Ellen is beginning the tedious process of taking inventory of the museum they have to report annually. Ellen serves as Catherine’s witness to make sure every book, rock, bead, animal pelt, and more is accounted for. This is one big job considering the museum storage alone has upwards of 180,000 objects!

This August, Ellen is off to Yale to study Anthropology. Thank you for all the time you have given to Voyageurs, Ellen! We can’t wait to see where you go next!

Filing through catalogue cards in the park’s archives / Credit: Margot Dupont

Meet Gen Schave, Aquatics Ecology Field Fellow

Gen Schave, Aquatics Fellow / Credit: Margot Dupont

Gen is spending her summer gathering important water quality data in Voyageurs National Park. Graduating with a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Florida, Gen transitioned from the ocean to the freshwater lakes of Minnesota’s national park.

Gen is contributing to ongoing research that better understands and protects the park’s outstanding resource waters. A typical day in the field includes hiking to remote backcountry lakes, traversing by canoe, and taking water quality and zooplankton measurements.

“I plan to continue doing Aquatic Ecology and Fisheries work. I may look into saltwater systems a little more for future plans—just being a south Floridian with a passion for the ocean. I have learned an immense amount about the uniqueness of the area and aquatic research in general. It amazes me to think about all the information there is to clean water from water—whether it’s a single drop or the deep depths of the ocean. It really connects us all,” says Gen.

Thank you for serving Voyageurs and the aquatics team, Gen!

Gen boating out to a research site / Credit: Margot Dupont

Meet Faith Jung, Voyageurs Wolf Project Fellow

Faith Jung, Voyageurs Wolf Project Fellow / Credit: Margot Dupont

Faith is from the Chicago area and graduated from Lake Forest College with a double major in Environmental Studies and Philosophy. Faith states: “I love being here, this [work] is what I’ve always wanted to do—based on my inspirations of Steve Irwin and Jane Goodall. From this project I’ve learned so much, how diverse the ecosystems are and how diligent wolves are—how they use their resources, hunt, and positively impact the population.” 

Faith plans to keep growing and learning more, researching wolves and other species, like orcas. Through this work, Faith hopes to better educate the public about understanding wolves in their natural environments. Shadowing Faith through a normal day in her life was anything but normal. On any given day, Faith will be bushwhacking alone through Voyageurs National Park tracking wolf cluster points on a GPS. These points are marked when a tracked wolf spends over 20 minutes in an area—doing anything from feeding to bedding. To reach these points can mean long hikes through brush, in bogs, and on rocky cliff sides in the park, looking for wolf activity.

Faith’s work is critical to gain a better understanding of summer wolf ecology in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem!

Faith hiking to a cluster site / Credit: Margot Dupont

Support Field Fellows:

The Conservancy’s Voyageurs Field Fellows program seeks to increase accessibility and professional development opportunities at Voyageurs National Park. The fellowship offers students and recent graduates a stipend-paid internship to engage in real world, hands-on work in areas such as preservation, natural resource management, environmental education and more. If you’d like to support future Field Fellows and their important work, please consider becoming a member with a gift today.

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Funding for this project was provided in part by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources  Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources  (LCCMR).

The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.

Voyageurs Star Party - Free Star Party event at Voyageurs National Park celebrates night skies August 10-12, 2023

Voyageurs Star Party is a free 3-day event that celebrates the night skies of Voyageurs - an International Dark Sky Park

The National Park Service and Voyageurs Conservancy are celebrating the natural wonder and cultural heritage of Voyageurs National Park's night skies with our third annual summer Star Party August 10-12. Discover your park after dark at the Voyageurs Star Party - a stellar series of free astronomy events. This three-day Star Party celebration at Voyageurs National Park will support the continued protection and enjoyment of our incredible night skies. Although light pollution threatens dark skies across the globe, Voyageurs National Park hosts some of the darkest skies in the region. Join us for special speakers, telescope viewing sessions, guided constellation tours, ranger programs, and more!

Events are free and for all-ages. Conservancy and ranger-led activities will be held in the early evening at both Rainy Lake Visitor Center and Kabetogama Visitor Center. Special speakers and Astro “Bob” will inspire you with the galaxies, planets, and stars above our heads. Once the park goes dark, attendees will enjoy guided telescope sessions and constellation tours under Voyageurs’ star-studded skies. 

View a full schedule of 2023 events and the most up-to-date information at voyageurs.org/starparty. Program schedule highlights include:

Thursday, August 10
International Falls & Ranier Area

Stars and Space Storytime
2:00-3:30 p.m.
International Falls Library 
Join us for this family-friendly event to kick off the Voyageurs Star Party! We'll read a selection of star and space-themed children’s books 2:00-2:30. Starting at 2:30 we’ll be visited by author Polly Carlson-Voiles and illustrator Consie Powell for a very special storytime about their new book, Star Party. A two-time winner of the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award, Polly Carlson-Voiles has been inspired by years of canoe trips, cabin time, and teaching. Both Polly and Consie are based in Ely, MN, and are inspired by stargazing in the  Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. During the event you can purchase Star Party and also pick up a free National Park Service Junior Ranger Night Explorer book and a Bell Museum scavenger hunt to begin your own dark sky adventures.

Light Pollution Challenges and Solutions, and the Economic Opportunities of Astro-tourism
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. 
Ranier Community Hall
Join Dark Sky Delegate and Starry Skies North chapter president Todd Burlet as he explores light pollution and the economic opportunities it creates for still-dark locales. Learn about the sources of light pollution, the impact it has on human health and wellness, as well as the health of our plants, animals, and waters. We’ll share simple things you can do as individuals, families, and communities to reduce light pollution while still enjoying quality outdoor lighting.  Learn more about the economic opportunities of Astro-Tourism and how to tap into this growing market, including how to attract visitors during ‘shoulder’ seasons.

Friday, August 11 at Rainy Lake Visitor Center
Saturday, August 12 at Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center

The following schedule is the same for both Friday and Saturday with different locations. On Friday, August 11 all activities and programs will be located at Voyageurs National Park’s Rainy Lake Visitor Center. On Saturday, August 12, all activities will be located at the park’s Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center. 

11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
View solar scopes and ask your burning astronomy questions as you explore the sky by day with “Astro” Bob King and Voyageurs Conservancy’s Dark Sky Expert Educator Jesse Gates. Starry Skies North will be on hand with resources to help you learn how to protect darkness in your own backyard.

11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Inside the visitor centers, enjoy two showings of the film Northern Nights, Starry Skies at 11 am and 2 pm. Co-produced with Hamline University Center for Global Environmental Education, this is a film experience that will transform your appreciation of the North Country’s spectacular starry skies - a visually stunning celebration of our spectacular starry skies above the world’s largest designated Dark Sky sanctuary. Ojibwe, Dakota cultural astronomers, and other experts share the wonders of the heavens.

7:00 p.m. - Midnight  
Join us for free family-friendly evening programs outdoors under the amazing skies of Voyageurs National Park. 

Wear layers, bring water and a camp chair or blanket, pack bug spray, and keep in mind parking is limited. There will be no food vendors on site nor seating provided. Eat dinner before you arrive or pack a picnic (and plan to pack your trash out with you). 

During 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. there will be various half-hour special National Park Service Ranger Programs including talks about the Solar System and Aurora Borealis, as well as story time around the campfire with s’mores and opportunities to get on the water via canoe. Special thanks to Voyageurs Conservancy and North Mallow for providing free s’mores.

7:00 - 11:00 p.m.
Canoemobile with Wilderness Inquiry   

In partnership with Voyageurs Conservancy and the National Park Service, Wilderness Inquiry is thrilled to bring Canoemobile to the Voyageurs Star Party. Enjoy an evening paddle with Wilderness Inquiry in a 10-person canoe. No prior paddling experience is required. PFDs will be provided for all ages. Weather permitting, groups will go out on a rotating basis, first-come, first-serve.

9:00 p.m.
Discover the Night with “Astro” Bob King
Join astronomer and planetarium educator "Astro" Bob King for an awe-inspiring presentation under the night sky. Learn about August's celestial events and what makes Voyageurs National Park's dark skies so spectacular. Bob King served as a photographer and photo editor at the Duluth News Tribune for 39 years and also taught at the UMD planetarium for many years. He has written several books on astronomy including The Urban Legends of Space, which examines science vs. pseudoscience in Astronomy.

10:00 p.m. - Midnight
Night Sky Tour: Telescope Sessions + Constellation Tours
Once nighttime falls, enjoy telescope sessions and constellation tours under Voyageurs’ star-studded skies. Join Astro Bob, Park Rangers, Voyageurs Conservancy, and Starry Skies North to put your new night-watching skills to the test. View Jupiter and Saturn through a telescope, enjoy constellation tours over the park, learn about astro-photography, and take in the wilderness above our heads until midnight. You’ll even get the chance to view other galaxies through our new high-powered 18” Obsession Telescope. Attendees should remember that cell phone lights and any white flashlights/lighting are discouraged so we can enjoy the stars in complete darkness.

A detailed schedule of activities, weather-related updates, and things to know before you attend the 2023 Voyageurs Star Party are available at voyageurs.org/starparty and www.nps.gov/voya. 

All are welcome to attend this free event at Voyageurs National Park. There are no entrance fees at Voyageurs National Park and no additional tickets or sign-up is required to attend the Star Party. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own supplies to this event. Seating is not provided so bring a camp chair or blanket if you wish. Wear layers, bring water, pack bug spray, and keep in mind parking is limited. Eat dinner before you arrive or pack a picnic (and plan to pack your trash out with you) as there will not be food vendors in the park. Be prepared to wait in line to park or walk a short distance from overflow parking.

This Voyageurs Star Party is brought to you by Voyageurs Conservancy, the National Park Service, Starry Skies North, Wilderness Inquiry, North Mallow, Bell Museum, Backus Community Center, Ranier Days, and International Falls Library. Special thanks to Curtis Wong, Lee Grim, Buzz Bruggeman, Elaine Johnson, Bob King, Gordy Lindgren, Ben Sunne, Mike Williams and many other volunteers and supporters. 

In December 2020, Voyageurs National Park became officially certified as an International Dark Sky Park. This certification from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) recognizes Voyageurs for the exceptional quality of its dark skies and its ongoing commitment to preserving darkness and educating the public about the night sky. Voyageurs Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner of Voyageurs National Park, was proud to help secure this certification by funding key light fixture changes and hosting night sky educational programs.

Voyageurs Conservancy and Voyageurs National Park host the Dark Sky Classroom - a suite of engaging programs and events to educate youth and the public on the significance of our dark skies. This includes weekly Dark Sky Programs, Dark Sky Virtual Field Trips for elementary students, and the Voyageurs Star Party. You can support the Voyageurs Star Party and Dark Sky Classroom with a donation at voyageurs.org/give. You can sign up to receive future emails from Voyageurs Conservancy at voyageurs.org.

August 2023 Night Sky Calendar

Lots of good stuff is happening this month including two full moons! Prospects are excellent for the annual Perseid meteor shower which peaks the night of August 12-13. Come join us at Voyageurs National Park for the Star Party to watch the meteors fly.

Venus departs the evening sky in August but returns to view at dawn by month’s end. Mars now shines at its faintest for the year at magnitude 1.8. Use binoculars to spot it very low in the western sky in mid-twilight. Mercury may also be visible about 8° to the lower right of Mars during the first few nights of August 25-30 minutes after sunset.

Saturn is the easiest evening planet to see. Watch for it to pop up in the southeastern sky around 10 p.m. local time followed by brilliant Jupiter two hours later.

On August 24 the moon will pass directly in front of the bright star Antares in Scorpius and cover it for about an hour. The event is called an occultation, and you can watch the star wink out with your eyes or through a pair of binoculars. Not to miss!

Events:

August 1 – Full Sturgeon Moon. Get its name because this time of year was good for catching sturgeon in the Great Lakes. The August full moon occurs just 11 hours after lunar perigee, when the moon is closest to Earth. Being closer it will appear a little brighter and larger than usual, the reason it’s also called a Supermoon. To find your local moonrise time go to timeanddate.com/moon

August 3 – Waning gibbous moon in conjunction with Saturn 4° to its lower right

August 8 (a.m.) – Last quarter moon. Beautiful, close conjunction of Jupiter and the moon this morning best from 1 a.m. local time till dawn. The duo will be just 1.5° apart.

August 9 (a.m.) – Thick, waning crescent moon near the Pleiades star cluster

August 12-13 – Peak of the Perseid meteor shower. The moon will not interfere. From the city you’ll see around 20-30 meteors per hour and double that from the countryside. You can face any direction to watch the shower. Viewing starts around 10 p.m. local time but is typically best from midnight till dawn.

August 13 – Venus is at inferior conjunction when it passes between the sun and Earth. Temporarily swamped by the sun’s glare it won’t be visible until later this month.

August 15 (a.m.) – Razor-thin crescent moon (less than 24 hours shy of New Moon) hovers low in the eastern sky about 45 minutes before sunrise.

August 16 – New moon

August 18 – Crescent moon and Mars in conjunction low in the western sky. Mars will sit less than a degree below the moon. Use binoculars.

August 24 – First quarter moon

August 24 – The half-moon covers Antares, brightest star in Scorpius for much of the U.S. and Canada. The occultation occurs around 10 p.m. local time out East, around 9 p.m. in the Midwest and 8 p.m. in the mountain states. See Astro Bob’s Astronomy on Facebook for details.

August 27 – Saturn at opposition and closest to Earth for the year. The ring king rises in the southeastern sky in Aquarius around sunset and shines all night. Even a small telescope magnifying 30x will show the rings along with Titan, the planet’s brightest moon.

Around August 29 – Venus returns to view in the morning sky. Look low in the east starting about an hour before sunrise.

August 30 – Full moon / Blue Moon / Supermoon. In the modern era the second full moon in a single month is called a Blue Moon. This Blue Moon will be the year’s largest full moon since perigee occurs just 9 hours before full moon.

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Bob King is an amateur astronomer, author, and passionate educator. He served as a photographer and photo editor at the Duluth News Tribune for 39 years and taught at the UMD planetarium. Bob’s work had a great impact on Voyageurs National Park. To achieve International Dark Sky Park certification, the park was required to host dark sky education events. Through the Night Sky Explorer webinars, the Conservancy was able to fulfill this component and help secure the certification for Voyageurs National Park. We can’t thank Bob King enough for sharing his talents and knowledge with the Conservancy community to support dark sky preservation.

Voyageurs National Park Announces Boat Launch Ramp Replacement at the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center in 2023

Later this summer, the National Park Service will be replacing the Kabetogama Lake Boat Launch Ramp. The original boat launch ramp was built in the 1980s and is in a deteriorated condition. The new launch ramp will replace the current footprint of forty-feet wide, sixteen-foot lanes, constructed out of concrete, and include one-inch-deep V-Groove patterns to assist with traction while launching or loading watercrafts. This project is considered Deferred Maintenance and funding comes from the Repair Rehabilitation Maintenance Program.  

The actual launch ramp closure dates are pending the contracting process and weather considerations but will likely occur between mid-August and September 30. Several factors will play into the timeline for construction; consideration of visitor use, favorable construction times, and weather conditions such as freeze thaw cycles.  The exact dates of the project will be decided after a contractor is selected and will be announced later in July. 

During the replacement period, the visitor center picnic area, beach, canoe/kayak launch, and vault toilet adjacent to the boat launch ramp will be closed. Watercraft access from the lake to the visitor center and marina, area will remain open, and a portable toilet will be provided for visitor use. Visitor parking to the center will be provided near the Historic Ranger Cabin District, please see the map. 

Adjacent area state and county boat launch ramps, area resorts, and the park will remain open. Another press release will follow once dates for construction are determined.

Contact: Tawnya Schoewe, tawnya_schoewe@nps.gov 218-283-6670

The single greatest enigma in wolf biology: wolf pup survival

Written By Tom Gable

Another spring has arrived and with it the birth of wolf pups for wolf packs in and around Voyageurs National Park. Most pups are born in the first 3 weeks of April and we know that at least 3 packs have given birth already based on the movements of GPS-collared wolves in those packs and we suspect another pack to show indications of this any day now.

One of our fundamental research objectives on the Voyageurs Wolf Project is to learn as much as we can about the pup-rearing behavior of wolves. For example, how many pups are born each year? Where are wolves giving birth to and rearing pups? How many pups survive to adulthood?

Wolf pups from the Bluebird Lake Pack in Spring 2022 taken shortly after we removed the pups from the den. Once pups are removed from dens, we briefly put them in a sack with their littermates where the pups wait until we can tag them. We put the pups back into the den once we are done tagging them. Photo: Anthony Souffle

Answering these questions requires having GPS-collared wolves in packs so that we can determine where dens are. The more packs that have collared wolves in them, the more data we are able to glean. We had collared wolves in 8 different packs last fall and were excited because that seemed to indicate we would be able to study the pup-rearing behavior of a substantial number of packs this spring.

But we should have known better. Wolves live dynamic, perilous lives that are unpredictable and ever-changing. We have observed evidence of this every year—collared wolves that we thought would live ended up dying, wolves that we thought would stay with their pack ended up leaving. Yet, we still hoped this winter would be different.

The wolves had other plans.

In October 2022, both collared wolves from the Wiyapka Lake Pack left the pack and dispersed. One wolf is currently on the shores of Lake Vermillion and the other in north-central Wisconsin! Both are still lone wolves, presumably wandering in search of a mate and a place to settle down.

A few months later, both collared wolves in the Bluebird Lake Pack, which was only 3 wolves to begin with, were killed by other wolves within a 1-week period in late January. The collared wolves were the breeding male and female of the pack, and once they were killed, the pack was effectively ended. Their territory was promptly taken over by a new pack that we named the “Clearcut Pack”.

How we found the breeding male of the Bluebird Lake Pack in late January 2023. The breeding male had been killed by other wolves just 6 days after his mate was also killed by other wolves. This male’s death marked the end of the Bluebird Lake Pack.

At the same time, Wolf Y1T, the breeding male of the Blood Moon Pack, started wandering south of his territory with his mate—the pack is only these two wolves. The pair spent most of the winter rambling around the remote country between Nett and Ash Lake and have yet to return to their territory for good. We are not sure why yet.

Then in March, we lost contact with the Lightfoot Pack. One collared wolf in the Lightfoot Pack decided to hit the open road and head north to Canada. About the same time, the collar on the only other collared wolf in the pack stopped working—an unfortunate technological failure!

All said and done, in a matter of 6 months, we went from 8 packs with collared wolves to 4. As I alluded to earlier, this pattern is not entirely unusual for us but we are always optimistic we might get lucky. However, this highlights why studying wolves in densely-forested environments can be so challenging and difficult.

We will start trying to collar wolves in late April and early May. If we have a good start, like we did last year, we might be able to get functional collars on several other packs before the end of May. We typically aim to collar 1-2 wolves in the majority of packs we study. And while that rarely happens, it is what we aspire to.

Regardless, we are excited to study the pup-rearing behavior of the 4 packs that do have GPS-collared wolves in. During the first two weeks of May, we will visit the dens of each of these packs to count the number of pups and to tag each pup. To do this, we briefly remove pups from dens so that we can sex pups, take measurements, collect genetic samples, and insert small micro-chips that will allow us to identify pups as adults.

A wolf pup from the Windsong Pack in Spring 2022. Five pups from the Windsong Pack survived to their first birthday, which is quite extraordinary for wolves in the Voyageurs area. Photo taken by Anthony Souffle.

This information is critical to answering the most important question regarding wolf pups: how many survive their first year? For over 50 years, biologists studying wolves in forested ecosystems have wondered about pup survival rates yet studying pup survival in ecosystems where you cannot readily observe wolf pups had made this challenging. As a result, some have stated that wolf pup survival is “probably the single greatest enigma in wolf biology today”.

Yet, recent technological advances have provided new tools to estimate wolf pup survival rates in forested ecosystems and we on the Voyageurs Wolf Project are using all of these new tools in a concerted effort to reveal this aspect of wolf biology that has remained poorly understood.

Our main approach is to count the number of pups in dens so we know how many are born, which is crucial for determining what percent actually survive. We then use remote cameras scattered about pack territories to get video footage of pups as they get older to determine how many pups are still alive as summer progresses to fall and then winter.

A Windsong pup in the pack’s den in Spring 2022. The den was just a dug out area underneath the roots of a conifer. Photo: Anthony Souffle.

So far, we have found some interesting results: pup survival from year to year appears highly variable. For example, we estimated that only 7% of pups survived till their first birthday in 2020-2021. That stands in stark contrast to the following year (2021-2022) when 53% of pups survived to adulthood.

For context, the typical litter in the Voyageurs area consists of 5.1 pups based on data from 29 litters. Thus, in 2020-2021, an average of only 0.4 pups per pack survived compared to 2.7 pups per pack just one year later. Such variation in survival rates is fascinating and intriguing, or at least we think so. How could survival change so drastically from one year to the next? We have some strong suspicions but do not know for sure yet. Ultimately, we need several more years of data to have a large enough sample size to examine this topic robustly because there are a lot of variables to account for and we only add a few data points each year!

But, we are optimistic that we will be able to understand what drives wolf pup survival, and in turn wolf population change, if we can keep the Voyageurs Wolf Project going long-term, which is our dream!

Wolf pack territories in and around Voyageurs National Park. The number below each pack refers to the number of wolves in each pack in Winter 2021-2022. We will share updated information for 2022-2023 this summer! We currently have wolves collared in the Paradise, Bug Creek, Windsong, and Vermilion River Pack. The Vermilion River pack is not on this map but is just to the east of the Bug Creek Pack.

Voyageurs National Park’s Wildlife Biologist Steve Windels Recipient of 2023 Distinguished Moose Biologist Award.

Steve Windels with Distinguished Moose Biologist Award

National Park Service Wildlife Biologist Dr. Steve Windels was recently honored with the 2023 Distinguished Moose Biologist Award at the 55th North American Moose Conference and Workshop held May 22-26, 2023, in Grand Portage, Minnesota. The Distinguished Moose Biologist Award was established to honor “the outstanding contribution of an individual to the understanding and management of moose” in North America and Eurasia. Windels is the thirty-nineth person to receive this honor since the award was established in 1981, and the sixth from Minnesota.

Windels first started working with moose in 1994 as an undergraduate research technician working for parts of three seasons with the University of Minnesota’s Dr. Peter Jordan on a long-term study of moose foraging ecology at Isle Royale National Park. He continued his interest in foraging ecology of large mammals during Masters thesis research on white-tailed deer in northern Mexico and again for his Ph.D. research on deer and moose browsing in the Western Great Lakes states. He has worked as a Wildlife Biologist at Voyageurs National Park since 2003, where he has studied many components of the southern boreal forest ecosystem including beavers, muskrats, gray wolves, and bald eagles in addition to the iconic moose.

Windels collaring a moose

He started a long-term research and monitoring program for the park’s moose population in 2009, which included capturing and monitoring 23 adult moose with GPS collars to understand moose behavioral responses to climate change in the park. He co-supervised two Masters students working on moose-related research and served on the thesis committees of five graduate and undergraduate student projects related to moose in Minnesota and Ontario. He authored / co-authored ten peer-reviewed articles and eight technical reports on moose ecology and conservation and has given many scientific and public presentations on the topics as well. He has been an Associate Editor of Alces, a scientific journal devoted to the biology and management of moose, since 2015, and he served as a Co-Chair of the organizing committee for three North American Moose Conferences and Workshops (45th, 54th, and 55th).

“It’s very humbling to share this award with so many moose biologists that I have admired for so long, including many that I now consider close friends and colleagues,” said Windels. “In particular, I’m honored to share this award with one of my mentors and a previous award recipient, Dr. Peter Jordan, who first introduced me to moose ecology and management at Isle Royale National Park almost 30 years ago! Those early experiences in the field with him set me on a professional path that I’m still following today.”

More information about the award and a history of winners can be found on the Alces Journal website: www.alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/dmb

July 2023 Night Sky Calendar

With both feet firmly planted in summer our eyes are free to roam the night sky in search of our favorite stars and constellations. The Big Dipper slides down from its lofty perch near the zenith to a more comfortable viewing position in the northwestern sky this month. The “W” constellation Cassiopeia, which hid behind low hills and trees in June, pivots higher in the northeast.

We welcome the Summer Triangle’s appearance in the east. Bright Vega in Lyra the Lyre (a small harp), Deneb in Cygnus the Swan and Altair in Aquila the Eagle outline the pizza-slice-shaped figure. On nights when the moon isn’t too bright, you’ll see the Milky Way cutting directly across the triangle. The easiest and brightest part of the band, the Cygnus Star Cloud, is centered on Cygnus, better known as the Northern Cross. Binoculars will reveal hundreds of stars shimmering in the stellar mist.

In the bottom half of the southern sky look for ruby-red Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius the Scorpion. Higher up in the southwestern sky Arcturus flashes orange and red. The fourth brightest star in the nighttime sky it gets its name from the ancient Greek arktos for “bear” and ouros for “watcher.” Arcturus follows behind the Great Bear (Big Dipper / Ursa Major) and keeps an eye on his whereabouts. Venus and Mars still hold sway in the western sky at dusk early in July, but both will disappear in the solar glare by month’s end. Mars will remain near the sun and invisible for some months, but Venus will return with its usual fire at dawn in August. Saturn rises in the southeast before midnight local time followed by brilliant Jupiter.

On July 1 st the giant planet comes up in the east around 2 a.m., but by month’s end it rises close to midnight. Nights are tightly compressed in July. Darkness gets underway well after 10 p.m. and before you know it, it’s dawn again. Summer sky- watching often means losing a little sleep, but the warm, fragrant nights, orange moon and star-soaked Milky Way conspire to make it all worthwhile.

Events:

July 3 – Full Buck Moon. Named for male deer which are growing their antlers this time of year. This full moon occurs a day before lunar perigee, when the moon is closest to Earth, so it will appear a little brighter and larger than usual.

July 7 – Venus brightest of the year in the evening sky. Magnitude −4.7. In steadily held 7x or 10x binoculars it looks like a tiny crescent moon all month.

July 7 (early a.m.) – Waning gibbous moon and Saturn in conjunction 3.5° apart. Best from 12:30 a.m. till dawn local time.

July 9 – Last quarter moon rises around midnight in Pisces.

July 9 – Mars and Regulus in conjunction just 0.5° apart at dusk. Use Venus, located 4.5° to the lower right, to find the pair. Binoculars will help in case twilight interferes and clearly show their contrasting colors.

July 11 (early a.m.) – Thick waning crescent moon shines about 5° to the right (west) of Jupiter this morning.

July 13 (early a.m.) – Early risers’ special! Thin crescent moon shimmers just 2° below the Pleiades star cluster. Best views from 3 a.m. till dawn local time. Binoculars will make this an especially beautiful sight.

July 17 – New Moon

July 18 – See the extremely young moon — just 1.3 days old — very low in the west-northwest sky 25 to 45 minutes after sundown. Mercury glimmers 5° to its left (south). You’ll need binoculars to nail the planet.

July 20 – Waxing crescent moon in conjunction with Mars. Look about 3° to the moon’s lower left to find the fading planet.

July 24 – Waxing moon 2° above and right (northwest) of Virgo’s brightest star Spica tonight.

July 25 – First quarter moon. Half-moon due south around sunset.

July 27 – Last sighting of Venus at dusk? Try looking with binoculars just above the western horizon about 20 minutes after sunset.

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Bob King is an amateur astronomer, author, and passionate educator. He served as a photographer and photo editor at the Duluth News Tribune for 39 years and taught at the UMD planetarium. Bob’s work had a great impact on Voyageurs National Park. To achieve International Dark Sky Park certification, the park was required to host dark sky education events. Through the Night Sky Explorer webinars, the Conservancy was able to fulfill this component and help secure the certification for Voyageurs National Park. We can’t thank Bob King enough for sharing his talents and knowledge with the Conservancy community to support dark sky preservation.

Voyageurs National Park Establishes Vessel Decontamination Station at Kettle Falls Portage for 2023 Season

In response to the discovery of zebra mussel veligers (larvae) in Black Bay of Rainy Lake in late 2021, Voyageurs staff is continuing a containment and prevention program. This program involves educational activities as well as new management operations related to Kettle Falls and Gold Portage areas.   

Voyageurs National Park management continues to require all vessels crossing the Kettle Falls Portage from Rainy Lake to Namakan Lake to be decontaminated by trained staff. Visitors may experience delays when portaging at this area. In addition, transporting vessels at Gold Portage will be allowed from Kabetogama Lake to Black Bay of Rainy Lake only.  

What Can Visitors Expect at Kettle Falls:  

When crossing from Rainy Lake to Namakan Lake:  

• Boaters will be required to drain bait containers, live wells, ballast tanks, bilge areas, and any other water holds on vessels and equipment.  

• Be prepared to transport caught fish on ice from one lake to another.  

• Have a plan to maintain bait once bait containers are drained.  

• Trained staff will decontaminate all boats (including canoes and kayaks) with a washer using water heated to 140° F.   
  
  
  When crossing from Namakan Lake to Rainy Lake:  

• Boaters will be required to drain bait containers, live wells, ballast tanks, bilge areas, and any other water holds on vessels and equipment.  

• Be prepared to transport caught fish on ice from one lake to another.  

• Have a plan to maintain bait once bait containers are drained.  
  
  
  These operational changes are being implemented to minimize the risk of human activities further transporting zebra mussels upstream within the Rainy Lake Watershed. It is recognized that zebra mussels can significantly harm aquatic ecosystems by reducing the health and populations of native fish and native mussels, cause considerable economic loss resulting from clogged water intake systems, fouled boat motors, and reduce waterfront property values.   
  
  To find out more about Zebra mussels go to https://www.nps.gov/voya/learn/nature/aquatic-invasive-species.htm . 

Voyageurs National Park Operational Updates: Summer 2023

Kettle Falls

In 2023 the National Park Service will be installing camper cabins in the Kettle Falls area. These cabins will provide visitors another level of opportunity to experience the woods and waters of Voyageurs. Docks, trails, and social areas will be developed for each camper cabin in the near future.

Bethany Roisland

Ash River and Kabetogama Boat Ramps

The dock at the Ash River Visitor Center boat ramp will be removed and a new dock will be constructed early in the summer. The Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center boat ramp will be removed and replaced in late summer, likely between August and September. Please check www.nps.gov/voya for closures and recreation.gov to learn more about launch sites for Voyageurs boat tours.

Jonathan Beyer

Zebra Mussel Prevention

To prevent the spread of invasive zebra mussels in the park, vessels crossing the Kettle Falls Portage from Rainy to Namakan Lake will need to be decontaminated by trained staff. There may be delays at the portage as vessel decontamination can take 30-45 minutes. Additionally, boats may only traverse at Gold Portage traveling from Kabetogama Lake to Black Bay, Rainy Lake. These portage restrictions and decontamination stations are in response to the discovery of invasive zebra mussel larvae in Rainy Lake.

Emily Kurmis

NEW Voyageurs Starwatch Cruise

Enjoy a new boat program at Voyageurs National Park! View constellations, planets, and galaxies aboard The Voyageur tour boat, while rangers tell stories about constellations and help you to identify them. The Starwatch Cruise boards at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center and runs in August and September. More details at: recreation.gov or www.nps.gov/voya/thingstodo 

Ben Sunne

National Park Service Announces Kettle Falls Concession Prospectus Update

A commercial service opportunity, referred to as a prospectus for lodging, bar/restaurant, retail, and marina services was advertised this spring for the Kettle Falls Hotel operation; however, no proposals were received.  

The current operator's contract continues through the end of 2023. Currently, the National Park Service (NPS) is evaluating its options for next steps going forward.  There will be no disruption in visitor services in 2023, and we do not anticipate any in the future.  

The National Park Service posts business opportunities and concessions information at the following site: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/concessions/index.htm . 

The Kettle Falls Hotel is as colorful as the buildings red roof. The hotel has accommodated and entertained travelers since 1913. Purchased just a few years later by the Williams family, who had a long tradition of serving hearty home cooking and hospitality. The Kettle Falls area has been a crossroads of history for fur traders, Indigenous people, commercial fisherman, gold miners, and today’s anglers and park enthusiasts. 

The historic hotel was renovated by the National Park Service in 1987. The Kettle Falls Hotel and Villas is the only lodging within Voyageurs National Park and is only accessible by water. For lodging information at the Kettle Falls Hotel, go to https://www.kettlefallshotel.com  Additional lodging near the park is located in the gateway communities of International Falls, Kabetogama, Ash River, and Crane Lake. 

Mark Miller / NPS

Voyageurs National Park Announces Personnel Changes

Voyageurs National Park is excited to announce new staffing!

Facility Services: 

Laura Bellasalma is the new Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist.  She comes to Voyageurs from Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. Laura grew up in New Jersey but spent her summers in California with her grandparents near Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area and when she was younger, she spent her summers by Morristown and Thomas Edison National Historical Parks. Laura went to college at Florida Atlantic University for wildlife and forestry. After graduation, she worked in Florida before moving to Arizona. Eventually, she went back to college for her second bachelor’s degree in Science - Park and Recreational Management with a minor in Criminal Justice at Northern Arizona University. 

In 2006, while in school, Laura got into the Park Ranger Training Program. After completing the program, she became a seasonal park ranger (protection) at Devils Tower, then Lava Beds National Monument, and Mount Rainier. In 2011, she accepted a permanent park ranger (protection) position at Lava Beds National Monument eventually transitioning her career from protection to maintenance. In 2014, she started at Crater Lake National Park as a Facility Management Assistant and moved up to the Budget Analyst and Facility Services Assistant, into the Facility Management Systems Specialist (FMSS), Housing Manager, and Fleet Manager in 2017. Prior to coming to Voyageurs, Laura was in the Facility Manager Leaders Program (FMLP), worked at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore for her developmental activity, then went to Morristown and Thomas Edison National Historical Park for her directed field experience, eventually graduating from the program in April of 2023.    

Laura relocated to the area in early May and is looking forward to living in Minnesota. Her time at Crater Lake has prepared her for wintery conditions. In Laura’s spare time she enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, traveling, and exploring with her dog, Junior.   

Chad Nevalainen is transitioning from the park’s Namakan District Roads and Trails Work Leader to the District’s Roads and Trails Supervisor. Chad joined the National Park Service as a seasonal employee at Voyageurs National Park in 2003. He worked seven summers at the park while attending Thief River Falls Technical Community College where he received a diploma as an Aviation Mechanic. After that, he attended Itasca Community College, where he received his Associates Degree (A.A.S) in Natural Resource Management and Wildland Firefighting. Chad also attended the University of Minnesota Crookston and received his bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Natural Resource and Park Management. Chad joined Voyageurs National Park as a permanent employee in 2015.  

Chad was raised in Kabetogama, MN where he and his family have enjoyed the park. Camping, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, tubing, and water skiing are some of his favorite activities. He hopes to be a part of maintaining the park so others may have a positive experience when they visit. When asked what his goals at the park are, he said, “I am dedicated to making Voyageurs a better place for visitors to enjoy so they have a positive experience and can share memories of this place with their friends and family.”   

Chad and his team are devoted to make the park facilities the best they can be. On a side note - he still has his red card for wildland firefighting and gets to travel out-of-state to fight wildfires. Chad resides in Kabetogama with his wife and two kids. His family loves having Voyageurs in their backyard where they enjoy doing all the same things he did while growing up.  

Natural and Cultural Resources Team:  

James Smith began a permanent position as a biological science technician at Voyageurs in June of 2022. James’ position is shared between the park, where he works on long term water quality monitoring in the waters in and surrounding Voyageurs, and the Great Lakes Network where he assists in region wide aquatic ecosystem monitoring. James is originally from Anchorage, Alaska where he grew up paddling, camping, and snowboarding. James started his career at Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and has since worked three seasonal positions at Voyageurs National Park, as well as temporary positions in south Texas, New Mexico, and Oregon. James is thrilled to be back at Voyageurs after many years away and is most excited to enjoy evenings paddling calm waterways and collecting popular hot dish recipes to make his own. 

Cat Berrick started in May 2022 as the new permanent Wildlife Technician at Voyageurs National Park. Cat previously worked as a seasonal technician in Voyageurs during the summer of 2020. Originally from Nebraska, for the past 7 years Cat has worked as a seasonal fisheries and wildlife technician in her home state as well as in Utah, Idaho, and Washington. She is excited to be back in Minnesota with all the foraging, fishing, and hunting opportunities the North Woods has to offer. In her free time, she enjoys looking for new wild edibles, reading, and training her cocker spaniel puppy, Timberdoodle AKA “Doodie”.  

June 2023 Night Sky Calendar

With the summer solstice arriving on June 21, we experience the shortest nights and longest days of the year this month along with summer astronomy’s nemesis, the mosquito. When you go out stargazing be sure to protect yourself. I’d hate for you to miss all the wonderful things coming our way.

Venus, the brilliant planet in the western sky at dusk, chases fainter Mars all month but fails to catch up to it. On June 1 st the duo will be 10.5° apart, the width of a fist held at arm’s length. They’ll be closest at month’s end with the Red Planet just 3.5° to the upper left of Venus. As July opens, they’ll slowly separate with Mars continuing on its merry way east and Venus headed back toward the sun.

Saturn brightens in June and climbs higher in the sky during the early morning hours in the constellation Aquarius. The best time to see it is at the start of dawn. Look for a solitary bright star about three “fists” high in the southeastern sky around 3:30-4 a.m. local time.

A new planet joins the crew this month — Jupiter. At midmonth it shines low in the eastern sky in Aries the Ram during morning twilight. On the 14 the waning crescent moon joins the gas giant in a spectacular conjunction. Find a location with a good view to the east and start watching 75 minutes to an hour before sunrise.

Events:

June 1-2 – Mars meets the Beehive Cluster! The Red Planet, shining modestly at magnitude 1.6, appears at the cluster’s western border on June 1 and then slips inside of it the following night (June 2). Although you can see the Beehive with the naked eye as a faint, fuzzy patch from a dark sky you’ll need binoculars or a small telescope this time around because of the nearly full moon. Point your binoculars at Mars and look around it for a sprinkling of stars. The Beehive is in Cancer the Crab and located about 610 light-years from Earth.

June 1-2 – Venus forms a straight, nearly horizontal line with Gemini’s brightest stars Pollux and Castor. Pollux is one of the brightest stars in the night sky orbited by a planet. Named Thestias, it’s at least twice as massive as Jupiter and orbits the star every 1.6 years.

June 3 – Full Strawberry Moon. Watch for it to rise around sunset in Scorpius just a few degrees east of the constellation’s brightest star, Antares.

June 4 – Venus at greatest eastern elongation from the sun (45°)

June 10 – Last quarter moon

June 12-13 – It’s Venus’s turn to visit the Beehive. The brilliant planet cruises less than a degree north (above) the cluster’s center on both nights. Use binoculars or a small telescope.

June 14 (dawn) – Waning crescent moon and Jupiter snuggle next to each other in a lovely conjunction low in the eastern sky during morning twilight. They’ll be about 3° apart. Mid-month to late June – Watch China’s Tiangong space station cross the southern sky during evening hours. It will look like a slowly-moving bright star traveling west to east. For when and where to look, go to heavens-above.com, click on the blue link to add your observing location then return to the home page and click on the blue Tiangong link.

June 17 – New moon

June 21 – Summer solstice at 9:57 a.m. Central Daylight Time. The sun reaches it highest point in the sky. Longest day and shortest night of the year for northern hemisphere residents. First day of winter if you live in the southern hemisphere.

June 21 – A thin, waxing lunar crescent will not only be in conjunction just 2.5° above Venus tonight, but Mars will shine nearby (4.5° to the upper left) in a picturesque threesome.

June 25 – First quarter moon

June 30 – Waxing gibbous moon 2.5° to the right (west) of Antares in Scorpius

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Bob King is an amateur astronomer, author, and passionate educator. He served as a photographer and photo editor at the Duluth News Tribune for 39 years and taught at the UMD planetarium. Bob’s work had a great impact on Voyageurs National Park. To achieve International Dark Sky Park certification, the park was required to host dark sky education events. Through the Night Sky Explorer webinars, the Conservancy was able to fulfill this component and help secure the certification for Voyageurs National Park. We can’t thank Bob King enough for sharing his talents and knowledge with the Conservancy community to support dark sky preservation.

Voyageurs National Park Completes Buoy Placement for 2023 Summer Season

Voyageurs National Park staff have placed hazard markers and other buoys within park boundaries.

Boaters should remember that various hazards may develop at any time during the summer without warning, and these hazards may not be marked. 

Lamplighters from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) are also working on placing navigational aids in the park’s four main lakes: Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point Lakes.  

May 2023 Night Sky Calendar

What a captivating sight Venus is in the western sky at dusk! The planet sets quite late – right around midnight from many locations – and displays phases like the moon’s when viewed through a small telescope. On May 1 Venus looks like a small gibbous or two-thirds-full moon. By month’s end it dwindles to half and grows larger as its distance from Earth shrinks. If you keep a close eye you’ll notice that the planet slowly gains on much fainter Mars, which crosses from Gemini into Cancer during May.

Saturn appears at dawn but remains rather low in the southeastern sky for the moment. The moon helps pinpoint it on May 13. Jupiter pops back into view in the dawn sky this month. I encourage you to catch its close conjunction with the thin, waning moon on May 17.

One of my favorite spring sky sights is the return of the summer Milky Way, that misty sash of billions of stars so distant they blend into a foggy haze. On May 1, it mounts the eastern sky around 1 a.m. local time. By month’s end – the same time the mosquitos return (grr!) – the puffy band stands over the horizon two hours earlier around 11 p.m. Is summer already so close? The stars say so.

Events:

May 4 – Waxing gibbous moon shines just 2° to the upper left (northeast) of Virgo’s brightest star Spica

May 5 – Full Flower Moon

May 6 (early a.m.) – Peak of the annual Eta Aquariid meteor shower. Shower meteors are bits and pieces of Halley’s Comet that strike the atmosphere at high speed, burn up and produce streaks of light called meteors. Unfortunately, the moon will be full, making viewing it a challenge. But if you like early morning adventures, plan to be out in the last hour before dawn around 3:30-4 a.m. and face south. Northern hemisphere sky watchers might see up to a couple dozen meteors per hour under better circumstances.

May 8-10 – Venus passes 1.5° to 2° above the star cluster M35 in Gemini the Twins on all three evenings. This is a binocular event visible starting in late twilight. Place Venus in the upper part of the binocular field of view and look a short distance below it to spot a little clump of stars. The cluster twinkles from 2,800 light-years away.

May 12 – Last quarter moon

May 12-30 – The International Space Station makes evening and morning passes from dusk till dawn over the next 2 1/2 weeks. The flying space laboratory looks like a brilliant, pale yellow star traveling from west to east across the sky. For local times, go to Heavens Above or NASA's Spot the Station.

May 13 (dawn) – Thick, waning crescent moon passes about 5° to the lower right (southwest) of Saturn in early morning twilight. Look low in the southeastern sky for the pair.

May 17 (dawn) – Wire-thin crescent moon hovers just a degree to the right of Jupiter very low above the eastern horizon about 45 minutes before sunrise. You’ll need an unobstructed view to the east to see the cool duo.

May 19 – New moon

May 22 and 23 – Lunar crescent shines about 5° to the lower right of Venus at dusk on May 22 and 6° to its upper left on May 23.

May 24 – Waxing crescent moon shines about 4° to the upper left of Mars at nightfall

May 26 – Almost-first quarter moon beams 3.5° above Leo’s brightest star Regulus at nightfall

May 27 – First quarter moon

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Bob King is an amateur astronomer, author, and passionate educator. He served as a photographer and photo editor at the Duluth News Tribune for 39 years and taught at the UMD planetarium. Bob’s work had a great impact on Voyageurs National Park. To achieve International Dark Sky Park certification, the park was required to host dark sky education events. Through the Night Sky Explorer webinars, the Conservancy was able to fulfill this component and help secure the certification for Voyageurs National Park. We can’t thank Bob King enough for sharing his talents and knowledge with the Conservancy community to support dark sky preservation.

National Park Service Proposes Frozen Lake Surface Access and Use Plan

The National Park Service (NPS) will be developing a Frozen Lake Surface Access and Use Plan at Voyageurs National Park and is seeking your input. 

More Information:

• Frozen Lake Surface Access and Use Plan – National Park Service

• Plan to limit ATVs on frozen Voyageurs Park lakes makes waves – Duluth News Tribune

• Inside the fight over frozen lakes in Voyageurs National Park; ATVs, trucks could be restricted – Star Tribune

During a typical winter in Voyageurs National Park, ice roads are plowed and maintained by park staff on Kabetogama and Rainy Lakes (depending on weather/ice conditions). Ice roads allow access to ice fishing locations among other sites, and provide visitors with a unique way to experience and drive through the splendor of Voyageurs in the winter. Winter visitors can also enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and use snowmobiles on a designated trail system and on lake surfaces.  

The process to update the guidelines to manage ice roads and winter access on frozen lakes in Voyageurs National Park involves responding to changes in outdoor recreation trends and the need to protect natural and cultural resources. The park’s enabling legislation specifically allows for recreational fishing and includes provisions for winter sports, including snowmobile use. Past plans and regulations address snowmobiles, but not the use of off-road vehicles (ATVs, UTVs and others) on frozen lake surfaces. Off-road vehicles are prohibited in most national parks.

Adding another layer to park management questions, ice houses and shelters have evolved from simple shacks to large campers. With the rise of ATVs, side-by-side UTVs, off-road capable trucks, as well as new types of ice fishing shelters, the park is developing guidelines for its visitors on these winter activities.

Truck plowing ice road / National Park Service

The NPS has drafted a preliminary proposal (view it here) for the public to provide comment on. The National Park Service’s current planning process will not establish any changes to snowmobile use in Voyageurs. This planning effort aims to align winter recreation activities on and near ice roads with established NPS regulations and policies by defining allowable use to minimize or avoid adverse impacts to visitor experience and natural resources. 

Preliminary proposal for zones, ice roads, and trails / National Park Service

In its proposed preliminary Frozen Lake Surface Access and Use Plan (view it here), the NPS is proposing:

• Two zones for different frozen lake usage and management. On all of Kabetogama Lake and the western part of Rainy Lake, ice roads would be maintained and off-road vehicles and ice-fishing shelters would be allowed in a corridor along up to 26 miles of ice roads.

• All other lakes in the park would be left ice road-less and accessible by snowmobiles or by non-motorized travel (per the current management plan).

• Off-road vehicles would be allowed to operate within 300 feet of the edge of an ice road, where ice fishing shelters will also be allowed.

The moderate and low-use zones would be established by:

• Evaluating appropriate areas for ice roads.

• Identifying the types of vehicles allowed on different areas of frozen lake surfaces.

• Identifying the types of ice shelters allowed in different areas of frozen lake surfaces and determining how long they should remain in place.

• Determining appropriate uses of the Mukooda Truck Portage.

A Frozen Lake Surface Access and Use Plan is needed because:

• The park currently does not have a plan for management of the frozen lake surfaces other than for snowmobile use.

• Current park management of vehicles on frozen lake surfaces is not consistent with federal regulations governing the operation of vehicles off of park roads.

• Ice shelters have evolved from homemade shacks to campers that can be lowered onto the ice. An increase in the number and weight of ice shelters on the frozen lake surface could have adverse impacts on safety, visitor experience, and natural resources.  

Resources that can be impacted by winter recreation and need protections include:

• Wildlife

• Visitor Use and Experience

• Safety

• Water Quality

• Air Quality

• Socioeconomics

• Acoustic Environment (Soundscapes)

• Scenic views

• Night Skies

• Fisheries

Ice Fishing Shelter in Voyageurs National Park / National Park Service

YOU CAN HELP INFORM THE PLAN

We invite you to participate in the planning process by attending a public comment session and/or submitting your comments and ideas to help inform frozen lake surface management at the park. The public input period for this process will be open through June 3, 2023.

The information obtained from the public during this civic engagement period will be used to develop and refine alternatives for frozen lake surface management, identify issues, and ensure the NPS has the information needed to move forward with the planning process.

The park will host two in-person meetings and one virtual public meeting. Park staff will give a brief presentation from 5:00 to 5:30 pm and will then be available to answer questions from the public via an open house format until 7:00 pm. The meeting schedule is: 

Tuesday, April 18, 2023
5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST
Kabetogama Community Building
9707 Gamma Road Kabetogama, MN  

Thursday, April 20, 2023
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. CST
Auditorium at Rainy River Campus of Minnesota North College
1501 Highway 71, International Falls, Minnesota 56649
 

Wednesday, April 19, 2023
5:00 to 7:00 p.m. CST
Virtual Meeting
Meeting link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83447266503
Telephone: If you would like to call in on listen only mode and not view the presentation, please call US: +1 312-626-6799 Webinar ID: 834 4726 6503 

All meeting information is also available on the project PEPC page, under “Meeting Notices” https://parkplanning.nps.gov/VOYA-frozen.

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Voyageurs Conservancy & the Frozen Lake Access & Use Plan

Voyageurs Conservancy is the official philanthropic partner of Voyageurs National Park. Our members, partners, donors and volunteers represent some of the many stakeholders (hailing from the park’s gateway communities to all over the U.S.) that enjoy and cherish the lands and waters of Voyageurs National Park and choose to invest in its ongoing stewardship. The Conservancy works collaboratively with NPS on joint programs and projects (i.e Dark Sky Initiative, Wetland Restoration, Voyageurs Classroom), but continues to operate as an independent 501c3 organization, managed by a board of directors. Through our funding, advocacy, and education efforts, we work to balance the long-term preservation of the wild character of the Voyageurs landscape with sustainable human access.

The Voyageurs Conservancy was not involved in the internal formation of the National Park Service's draft proposed "Voyageurs National Park Frozen Lake Surface Access & Use Plan." Conservancy staff and volunteers viewed the draft plan on the same timeline as the public and have the same commenting options as the general public.

The Conservancy is still reviewing the proposed plan and formulating comments. Given this is the first phase of review of the proposed plan, the Conservancy will focus on listening to stakeholder input and formulating key questions for future plan drafts.

By far, Conservancy members and park users most value the “wild character” of the park (based on surveys and community listening sessions). Common sense regulations and policies should help preserve this core experience of Voyageurs.

The Voyageurs Conservancy supports the NPS’ need to come into compliance with federal regulations by establishing policies on this issue. In general, the Conservancy supports fees and permitting that allow the NPS to better fund park operations and manage sustainable levels of use.

Voyageurs National Park Reservations for 2023 Boat Tours and North Canoe Programs Open April 15

Voyageurs National Park staff announce ranger - led boat tours and North Canoe Voyage reservations open at 9:00 am CST on April 15 for the 2023 season.

Tours departing from Rainy Lake Visitor Center

Please Note: No Rainy Lake tours on Friday June 19, 26, or July 3

·       Discovery Cruise

·       Gold Mine Tour

·       Grand Tour

·       Starwatch Cruise

·       Kettle Falls Cruise

Tours departing from Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center

·       Ellsworth Rock Gardens (June / July)

Tours departing from Ash River Visitor Center

Please Note: No Kettle Falls Cruises from Ash River on June 23, 30, and July 7

·       Ellsworth Rock Gardens (August / Sept)

·       Kettle Falls Day Cruise

·       Kettle Falls Evening Cruise

Special Interpretive Programs

·       Rainy Lake North Canoe Voyage departing from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center

·       Ash River North Canoe Voyage departing from the Ash River Visitor Center

Park staff encourage visitors to make reservations as soon as they know their plans. Visitors may find tour descriptions and reserve their tickets by going to recreation.gov’s Voyageurs National Park Tours page for boat tours, and the Special Interpretive Programs page for North Canoe Voyage reservations. Tickets can also be purchased by contacting the National Call Center at (877) 444-6777. Walk-ins are allowed only if space is available.

During the summer of 2021 the National Park Service completed a Civic Engagement process to determine if changes to recreation fee rates are warranted for park amenities. From June 28 to July 25 of 2021, public meetings and online resources were offered as opportunities to provide comment. After evaluating the responses submitted, park and regional officials determined that the majority of the public supported the proposed changes. Commencing with the Special Interpretive Program Fee in the summer of 2023 completes the implementation of all fee changes approved in 2021.

Voyageurs National Park’s alternative transportation program is crucial for providing meaningful visitor experiences in a unique water-based park where much of the rich natural and cultural resources can only be viewed beyond where roads end. For visitors without a vessel, boat tours and North Canoe Voyage’s offer a way to experience the scenic and expansive waterways, abundant wildlife, ancient geologic formations, and remote Visitor Destination sites that are dedicated to sharing the park’s history and significance.

Fee revenue brought in from the transportation program allows these tours to be self-sustaining, covering costs for fuel, maintenance, and approximately 75% of the seasonal staff that conduct tours. This includes boat captains and deckhands to safely transport visitors, and knowledgeable interpretive rangers to provide engaging interpretive talks. Similarly, revenue from the Special Interpretive Programs will help cover costs for supplies and staff needed to offer these services.

Voyageurs National Park - Winter Trails Report 4/5/2023

All park ice roads are now closed for the season. Grooming operations have ended for the season on all park trails, but snowmobile trails remain open. When land portages lose proper snow cover, or ice conditions are no longer safe, stakes will be removed and trails will be closed. Ski trails remain open but are not being groomed. Remember, ice is never 100% safe so pay attention to signage and be aware of your surroundings. As a reminder, please only park in plowed, designated areas.

Snowmobile Trails:
International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) - Open,
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) - Open
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) - Open
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) - Open
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) - Open
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) - Open

Ice Roads:
Rainy Lake Ice Road - Not Open
Rainy Lake Dryweed Loop - Not Open
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road - Not Open
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road West and East Spur Roads - Not Open

Ski Trails: Last groomed 3/24/2023
Kabetogama Area:
Echo Bay Ski Trail - Open
Rainy Lake Area:
Rainy Lake Rec Trail - Open
Black Bay Ski Trail - Birch Trail is open Pine Trail is open Ridge trail is open
Tilson Connector Trail - Open

Snowshoe Trails:
Rainy Lake Area:
Rainy Lake Recreation Trail - Open
Oberholtzer Trail - Open
Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail - Open
Ash River Area:
KabAsh Trail - Open
Blind Ash Bay Trail - Open
Sullivan Bay Trail - Open

Kabetogama Lake Recreation Area:
Sledding Hill - Not Open
Ice Rink - Not Open

For further information on land trails in communities surrounding the park check out these links:
Voyageur Trail Society - Trail Updates https://www.snowmobilevacation.com and https://www.facebook.com/VTSIGrooms
Trail Report (ridetheborders.com) http://www.ridetheborders.com/trail-report.html and https://www.facebook.com/IVSClub
Snow Depth and Groomed Trail Conditions | Minnesota DNR https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html
Buyck Portageurs Snowmobile Club https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057218389432
Ash River Kabetogama Snowdrifters - Ash River Kabetogama Snowdrifters Snowmobile Club. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068157102512