Dark Sky Festival - Workshops and Presentations

TAWBAS Presentation:  Monday  -  8:30pm to 9:30pm
Indigenous Skies
  - Tba - 
Presentation and discussion of our skies from an indigenous perspective. Mythology aspects, celestial event prompts or triggers, and much more.

Further details will be posted soon.
TAWBAS Presentations:  Tuesday  -  1:30pm to 2:30pm
Basic Astronomy
  - TAWBAS Volunteer
​Whether you are spotting planets with the naked eye or seeking out galaxies with a telescope, there are lots of ways for you to enjoy the wonders of the universe. This workshop will help you get started.
Fear not - it doesn’t take a lot of skill or equipment to be stargazing and you can do it almost anywhere. We will provide some fundamental navigating tips to get you started.

Basic Astronomy Photography
  - Mark McGuire - TAWBAS Volunteer
Wondering if your camera is good enough to photograph the aurora or make star trails? Let our talented presenter walk you through the basics of night-time photography.
For this casual, hands-on session, bring your camera and learn how to prepare for a quiet evening of photographing the night sky and the aurora borealis. Discussion topics can range from camera selection right through to the camera/video settings you should be using as well site selection and preparation.
TAWBAS Presentations:  Tuesday  -  3:00pm to 4:00pm
Climate Change Impacts to Our Night Sky
  - Video conference link : tba -
Hear from a meteorologist and science geek, their assessment as to potential impacts that climate change will have on astronomy and your ability to enjoy the night sky in the future.
More details will be posted soon.

Lights Dimmed: Protecting our skies and helping wildlife
  - TAWBAS Volunteer
​This presentation delves into efforts to reduce light pollution and mitigate its harmful effects on nocturnally birds and wildlife.
Imagine a sky filled with thousands of birds, each following an invisible map imprinted in their instincts. Now, picture bright city lights confusing their path, leading them straight into glass towers or causing them to circle aimlessly until exhaustion claims them. This is the hidden impact of urban lighting—one that the Lights Out program seeks to mitigate.
Keynote Session:  Tuesday  -  7:00pm to 8:00pm
To be announced
   - Gary Perez: Indigenous Cosmology
​​The Essence of Indigenous Cosmogony
At its core, Indigenous cosmogony encapsulates the relationship between people, nature, and the cosmos. It is a worldview that acknowledges the interconnectedness of all beings—humans, animals, plants, and celestial bodies. This interconnectedness transcends simple coexistence; it fosters a deep sense of responsibility towards one another and the environment.
Guided Hike/View Tour:  Wednesday  -  1:00pm to 2:30 pm
Voyager 1 - Beyond Expectations
  Mike Couvrette - TAWBAS Volunteer
This guided tour can be viewing or hiked at WBNP's Salt Plains. During the tour, you will hear about the discoveries made by Voyager 1 during its 47 year traveling through our solar system and more recently, interstellar space. We will also experience - to scale we can see - the distance it has travelled and notable discoveries along the way.
- ​More details to follow !
Special Presentation:  Wednesday  -  3:30pm to 4:30 pm
TBA - Nocturnal Ethnology
  - Becca Steele Rodriguez
Presentation and discussion on Nocturnal Ethnology - the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous (native) plants.

Becca's work is ancestral, as her family is Otómi and Cohuiltecan. As an herbalist, she focuses on Meso-American Ethnobotany in order to blend culture and adapt for climate resilience.
- ​More details to follow !
 TAWBAS Presentation:  Thursday  -  1:30pm to 3:00 pm
Space Debris - Past, Present, Future
  - tba - TAWBAS Volunteer
This presentation will provide an overview of the issues and concerns regarding space debris, how it got there, our current situation and future ramifications as well as how mankind might deal with it. The presentation will also highlight some notable space debris issues from the past such as Kosmos-954, Skylab and other lesser known incidents.

2024 DSF Sponsors
​Updated:  13 July 2025