Why Jasper's Dark Sky Preserve Is One of the Best Places for Stargazing in Canada

The Jasper Dark Sky Preserve is the second largest dark sky preserve on the globe (clocking in at a hefty 11,000 km²) but it tops the podium in another category: accessibility. As the world's largest accessible dark sky preserve (meaning there's a town within its borders), Jasper provides not only endless stargazing spots protected from light pollution, but also you don't have to venture far from your hotel room to reach them.

Because who says you have to sacrifice the convenience of nearby provisions and comfortable beds just to enjoy the splendor of the night sky.

Protection from light pollution

For most of Earth’s history, stars were ultra-visible in the night sky no matter where in the world you found yourself. But as cities grew, so did the amount of outdoor lighting. The resulting light pollution has masked most stars, forcing people to venture far beyond their home metropolis to witness the Milky Way. A growing body of evidence suggests light pollution can negatively affect human health, along with insect and animal populations. The Jasper Dark Sky Preserve is a great way to see what your predecessors saw.

From experts to novice, sometimes the grandeur of the night sky can be overwhelming. Luckily there are multiple in-town resources that can help you make sense of it all.

Jasper Planetarium

Pack a galaxy’s worth of perspectives into a single evening with this fascinating and interactive year-round experience. In the Jasper Planetarium’s 44-seat domed theatre, a live guide will tour you through many of Jasper’s best stargazing spots, getting panoramic views of the aurora borealis, stories and explanations behind Indigenous constellations, and local tips for astro-exploration. Get hands-on experience with specialized items from their collection, such as a piece of real meteorite! Package the Planetarium Experience with the Telescope Experience and see the stars through the largest telescope in the Rockies. Cloudy skies? See pre-recorded events through the video telescope (or opt for their two-year raincheck policy). Fun and family-friendly, these tours are great options for kids whose bedtimes fall before the sun does.

Jasper Star Trails

Go off the beaten path and into distant galaxies with passionate local astronomy guide Joel Cooper. His two-hour outdoor tour uses laser-pointers and both optical and digital telescopes to help you go deeper into all things space. Operating beside the gorgeous Lake Annette, bring your blankets, chairs, cameras, snacks and a curious mind ready to find constellations. The telescopes work well even in 60% cloud cover but if the sky is completely overcast then the tour leans more into the educational side of things: the origin and life cycle of stars (see past images captured by their telescopes) and the technology involved in astronomy, recent discoveries and the future space race. During summer’s long days try solargazing! Using specialized equipment, examine the sun and learn how it affects aurora borealis.

Jasper Photo Tours

Backed by three decades of local knowledge and specializing in wildlife, landscape, and astrophotography, Jasper Photo Tours offers both private and semi-private photography tours tailored to your goals — whether that’s a better technical understanding of your camera or shooting some hidden gem locations. Transportation included. Their 2-hour night photography tour provides the best opportunities for creativity in Jasper's Dark Sky Preserve. Learn basic to advanced techniques to capture the night sky, northern lights (conditions permitting) and light painting if it's cloudy. Includes a take-away PDF guide so you can practice and reference what you’ve learned. Departure times vary depending on season.

Who knew that such a violent process could produce something so beautiful. The aurora borealis — those shimmering ribbons of colourful light that weave over northern landscapes on cold nights — are formed when charged particles from faraway solar flares smash into molecules in Earth's atmosphere, causing beautiful bursts that in turn cause a flurry of camera shutters on the ground below. Coming in a variety of colours, these natural phenomena occur in polar regions (in the southern hemisphere they are fittingly referred to as the southern lights, or aurora australis). The best time to view them is between midnight and 2 am.

Can you see the northern lights?
The aurora borealis are common in Jasper, but certainly not guaranteed. According to Jasper Planetarium former manager Peter McMahon, the northern lights happen around once a week in Jasper, but whether or not you'll see them can depend on cloud cover, timing, alert system, and where we're at in the 11-year solar cycle. More tips on how to boost your chances of seeing the northern lights here.

What's better than exploring the wonders of the universe? Exploring it with friends. The annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival has grown to become a homegrown phenom, bringing astronomers together from across the continent to our mountain town every October for two weeks of a star-studded line-up of speakers, celestial experiences and unforgettable guided stargazing. Plan your itinerary here.