Photo: Jerry Black
Explore the dark sky
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
Stars, planets, and cultural traditions
Welcome to Nova Scotia’s darkest sky and brightest stars. Kejimkujik invites you to experience the astronomical depth of its Dark-Sky Preserve. Gaze at brilliant celestial bodies and discover how stars have inspired centuries of story, song, and legend.
Stargazing in fall, winter and spring
Walk or bike to the Sky Circle. The road to the campground (beyond the corner by the Big Dam Road) is gated from November until the spring.
When the Main Parkway is clear: Merrymakedge Beach provides a stunning view of southern skies.
When roads are icy or snow covered: park at the Visitor Centre and enjoy the big sky overhead.
Experience Kejimkujik at Night!
Transcript
[ This video contains no spoken words ]
Parks Canada beaver logo
Text: Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, Nova Scotia
[Sunset views at Kejimkujik on the lake and from the ground.]
[Family of four unpacking the Kejimkujik Dark Sky kit containing binoculars, a Night Sky Guide, and a star finder.]
[Sun dropping below tree line around Kejimkujik Lake.]
[Sunset on Kejimkujik Lake seen from behind two canoes.]
[Family of four running across a bridge crossing the Mersey River.]
[As darkness falls, the family of four watches people canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding under the bridge with lit lanterns on their boats/boards.]
[A campfire is being made.]
[People are sitting around the campfire as people are dancing and telling stories.]
[People are lighting and carrying lanterns through the forest on a guided night tour.]
[Family of four is looking at the stars through a telescope.]
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site logo.
[A shooting star crossing a stary night sky.]
Animated image with "Watch another video" and "Subscribe" written on it.
Credits:
Parks Canada logo.
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Parks Canada, 2018.
Canada wordmark.
Please only use a red light when joining us for night programs to protect your night vision and the night vision of other visitors. Did you know it takes 20 to 30 minutes for the human eye to adapt to the dark? Our eyes take quite a while to adjust to the darkness of the night sky. Any exposure to bright light will cause the adjustment to start again.
Please only use a red light at night
Annual Kejimkujik Dark Sky Weekend!
Join the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and Parks Canada to learn more about the stars, planets, and constellations in the night sky.
Whether you’re new to stargazing or a seasoned observer, there will be stories and discoveries for all ages!
More information about the Annual Kejimkujik Dark Sky Weekend
Guided experiences
Outdoor shows ponder extraterrestrial life and interstellar phenomena alongside incredible imagery, music, and stories.
Night hikes and campfire programs examine how artificial light affects humans and wildlife, as well as the value of these Dark-Sky Preserves.
Occasional night-time canoe excursions offer a truly magical night-sky perspective.
Self-guided experiences: rent a dark-sky kit
Spend your evening exploring the stars, galaxies, and constellations with our self-discovery dark-sky kits. Dark-sky kits are available to rent at the Visitor Centre from June to October.
Availability: June to October, first some, first served
Location: Visitor Centre, 902-682-2772
Rental cost: see prices
Each kit includes:
- Binoculars (Celestron 8X42 mm)
- Star finder
- Red light
- Activities for children
- Stargazing references
Astronomers use a red light to read charts and maps at night — now you can too! Each Dark-Sky kit includes a red light for this purpose.
Dark-Sky Preserve
In 2010, Kejimkujik was designated a Dark-Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, in recognition of its low levels of light pollution and its ability to connect people to the night skies.
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