Night Sky Party on Lassen National Forest

A young boy looks through a scope at night with mountains and stars in the distance.

A young boy peers through a scope during a night sky program on the Lassen National Forest April 20, 2024. (USDA Forest Service photo by Carol Underhill)

by Carol Underhill
Pacific Southwest Region
May 13, 2024

Have you ever experienced a national forest after the sun sets and skies darken? On a recent Saturday evening, as the sun dropped below the snow-covered mountains, a hush fell over a crowd gathered at the Hat Creek Overlook on the Lassen National Forest for the Lyrid Meteor Shower. 

Lassen National Forest, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and the Shasta Astronomy Club brought folks together for a night-sky interpretive event. Rangers led talks and volunteers set up telescopes. The crowd viewed distant night sky objects such as Jupiter and five of its moons, the Orion Nebula, and the almost full moon. 

The first ranger talk focused on the Lyrid Meteor Shower. Helen Dhue, Community Volunteer Ambassador for Lassen Volcanic National Park, explained how the shower is a result of the Earth passing through the trail of the Comet Thatcher.

The overlook, with the last light of day on Lassen Peak and Mount Shasta, offered the crowd a unique view. Helen asked everyone to guess “M” for meteorite or “V” for volcanic eruption as she read a quote that could be about either event. Everyone stretched their arms and hands overhead to form the letter “M” or “V” with their best guess. There were surprising gasps and giggles as the answers were revealed. It turns out, meteorites and volcanic eruptions have a lot more in common than previously thought.

The second ranger pointed out the constellations visible in the spring sky. Benjiman Garcia, Interpretive Ranger with Lassen Volcanic National Park, started with the Big Dipper. He explained, “it’s not a constellation by itself. Instead, it’s part of one called Ursa Major.”

A small group of night sky viewers gather at a viewpoint as the sun goes down behind distant mountains on the Lassen National Forest.

A small group gathers at sunset at the Hat Creek Rim Overlook on the Lassen National Forest April 20, 2024. (USDA Forest Service Photo by Carol Underhill)

He also shared how only 20% of Americans can see the Milky Way due to light pollution. Ranger Garcia encouraged every audience member to think about reducing lights at night, like turning off our porch lights when they aren’t needed.

With the many telescopes aimed at distant night sky objects, volunteers with the Shasta Astronomy Club answered visitor’s questions about the equipment and what they could see. Guests followed the lantern-lit sidewalk to visit the telescopes one by one and were amazed at what they revealed.

Forest Service and National Park Service employees stand at a viewpoint area with mountains in the background.

Staff from the Lassen National Forest and Lassen Volcanic National Park during Night Sky Gathering April 20, 2024 (USDA Forest Service photo by Tina Taylor)

Many visitors relaxed with camp chairs, blankets and snacks as they watched for meteors streaking from the northeastern skies. The Hat Creek Rim Overlook is far from city lights, and even with a large moon overhead, a dozen or more meteors per hour could still be seen by eagle-eyed watchers. 

“Forests and parks are just as alive and awake at night as they are during the day,” said Hat Creek Ranger District Support Services Specialist Tina Taylor who spearheaded this multi-agency event. “We hope to continue to offer our communities unique ranger-led activities to explore their national forests and national parks — even after dark.”

Special thanks to the following people who helped make this event a success! 

Jeanie Miller, Administrative Support Assistant
Renee Mee, Visitor Services Information Assistant 
Lassen National Forest Hat Creek Ranger District Recreation Staff
Carlo Arreglo, Acting Chief of Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers
National Park Service and Shasta Astronomy Club Volunteers