Centennial celebrations for Idaho’s Craters of the Moon come to an end with ‘night sky’ activities

Pahoehoe lava at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Three special kinds of pahoehoe may be observed in the Craters of the Moon Lava Field: Slabby pahoehoe is made up of jumbled plates or slabs of broken pahoehoe crust; shelly pahoehoe, which forms from gas-charged lava, contains small open tubes, blisters, and thin crusts; and spiny pahoehoe, which is very thick and pasty, contains elongated gas bubbles on the surface that form spines. (Courtesy of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve)

September is the final month to celebrate 100 years of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve’s establishment.

Since May, National Park Service staff have organized monthly activities and events to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of President Calvin Coolidge’s proclamation, which established the preserve to protect its unique lava landscape.

Visitors can participate in events related to this month’s theme, “Expansive Night Sky.”

The dates of this month’s events include:

Sept. 6 and 7 : Visitors can view the Milky Way during a free Star Party led by the park’s “Astro Ranger” and other volunteer astronomers. Craters of the Moon is a certified International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places for stargazing. At this event, visitors will enjoy a talk about the park followed by telescope viewing of the stars. Artist-in-residence photographer Evan Nelson will also be on-site to show attendees how to take night-sky pictures.

Sept. 15: Visitors will take a Full Moon Hike through the park at night. Visitors should bring flashlights or headlights for a ranger-led stroll through the park under the light of the moon to learn about its lunar connections. Artist-in-residence photographer Evan Nelson will also be on-site to show attendees how to take night-sky pictures.

Sept. 28: Photographer Doug Owen will share ideas, methods and tips on how to take your nature photography to the next level.

To learn more about the September events at Craters of the Moon, visit the National Park Service website .

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