Fostering the Keweenaw’s Dark Skies

[ A Visit Keweenaw Sustainable Tourism Series Event ]

Program Description

The Keweenaw is home to some of the darkest skies in the Midwest. This provides visitors and residents access to incredible stargazing opportunities and even the chance to experience the Northern Lights. Join Visit Keweenaw for a discussion on ways to ensure the Keweenaw’s dark skies are preserved for future generations and the science behind light pollution prevention. We’ll touch on actions taken to establish the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Copper Harbor and why preserving dark skies are important to the region.

Speakers

John Mueller | Keweenaw Mountain Lodge & Keweenaw Dark Sky Park: John is the chief lead at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, where he is heavily involved with the staff as it relates to culture, operations, and strategy of the resort. He purchased the WPA-era lodge at the top of the Keweenaw in 2018, and has transitioned the rustic and historic cabins to be supported by outdoor activities, rustic worldly food, and education year-round.

Previously, John was a professor at St. Edward’s University, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation. Before his time at St. Edward’s, he was a faculty member at Fresno State and Western Michigan University. He finished his PhD in Entrepreneurship at the University of Louisville, and has an MBA from the University of Illinois and a BBA from Southern Methodist University. He is a native of Austin, Texas, and has lived in many cool places around the world which has helped shape his perspective on life.

John Barentine | Dark Sky Consulting, LLC: John is an Arizona native and comes from the “dark side” of science — professional astronomy. He grew up in Phoenix and was involved in amateur astronomy there from grade school. Later, he attended the University of Arizona, beginning research in jobs at the National Optical Astronomy Observatories and National Solar Observatory headquarters in Tucson. From 2001-06 he was on the staff of Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, serving first as an observing specialist on the Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5-meter telescope and then as an observer for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. John is the author of three books on the history of astronomy, The Lost Constellations, Uncharted Constellations, and Mystery of the Ashen Light of Venus. The asteroid (14505) Barentine is named in his honor. ​

He obtained a master’s degree in physics at Colorado State University and a master’s and Ph.D. in astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin. John has contributed to science in fields ranging from solar physics to galaxy evolution while helping develop hardware for ground-based and aircraft-borne astronomy. Throughout his career, he has been involved in education and outreach efforts to help increase the public understanding of science.

John formerly served as the International Dark Sky Places Program Manager, Director of Public Policy and Director of Conservation for the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) in Tucson, Arizona.

This event is organized by Visit Keweenaw as part of the Keweenaw Sustainable Tourism Series.