Dark sky havens in cottage country

By Conor Mihell

The 200 to 300 stars that barely penetrate the lights of downtown Toronto are nothing compared to the thousands that are visible to the naked eye in the dark skies of rural Ontario. Here is a partial list of astronomical observatories, dark sky reserves, and parks in cottage country.

Buckhorn Observatory, Kawartha Lakes

Charleston Lake Provincial Park, Charleston Lake

Echo Valley Observatory, Huntsville

Gordon’s Park Dark Sky Preserve, Manitoulin Island

Haliburton Forest Observatory, Haliburton

Ken Odaisky Memorial Observatory, Sudbury

Lake St. Peter Provincial Park, Bancroft

Point Pelee National Park and Dark Sky Preserve, Point Pelee

Restoule Provincial Park, North Bay

Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve, Gravenhurst

For a full article on the International Year of Astronomy , pick up our Summer 2009 issue. 

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