Science Website. They were moving east to west. Really, any time is a good time to visit the Canadian Rockies, as each season offers its unique landscapes, highlights and attractions. See more ideas about dark skies, canadian rockies, stargazing. This is a rare appearance of the unusual STEVE auroral arc on the night of July 16-17, 2018, with a relatively low Kp Index of only 2 to 3. Dark Sky es una excelente aplicación del tiempo que, valga la redundancia, ya lleva un tiempo entre nosotros (desde mayo de 2016). Black is a dark sky. Our Banff Jasper team shares a passion for adventures and an authentic desire to play host to the world. What a wonderful starry Saskatchewan Summer! In addition to year-round outdoor recreation opportunities, Jasper offers ⦠This is a stack of 100 images for the star trails, stacked with the Long Streak function of Advanced Stacker Plus actions, plus a single exposure taken a minute or so after the last star trail image. The star trails and Milky Way reflect in the calm waters of the small Lake Herbert this night on July 17, 2018. Clouds moving in added the odd dark patches in the Milky Way that look like out of place dark nebulas. (It's like magic!) Banff & Jasper National Parks In 2011, the Royal Astronomical Society designated Jasper as a Dark Sky Preserve in Canada, due to its ideal conditions for dark sky observation. in Banff & Jasper National Parks. in Seattle. Three perfect nights in July provided opportunities to capture the night sky at popular sites in Banff National Park. The main celebration of the night sky is the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, which takes place in October. Jasper Dark Sky Festival Packages Beaverlodge : ... Interprovincial Park and dark-sky preserve. Beta The Interactive Night Sky Map simulates the sky above Banff on a date of your choice. 10 Winter Activities In Canmore You Don`t Want to Miss! Between the two towns, there are private bus services, like the SunDog Connector. Soar to the top of Sulphur Mountain in a gondola cabin to experience a stunning view of six incredible mountain ranges. Far from the light pollution of major cities, Banff National Park is a stargazerâs paradise. Sky Bistro is located in the new Banff Gondola summit building. How To Best Experience Jasperâs Dark Sky Preserve. Winter Dark Sky Astronomy Tours. Babak A. Tafreshi. Singapore Flyer. Although the aurora borealis might not be quite as common in Jasper as it is in the northern reaches of the Yukon and Nunavut, the national park has much more dark sky infrastructure in place. - See 3,344 traveler reviews, 1,616 candid photos, and great deals for Banff, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Perched on the summit of Banffâs Sulphur Mountain at 7,510ft, Sky Bistro is a dining sanctuary in the sky. When the weather forecast in mid-July looked so promising I made an impromptu trip to Banff to shoot nightscapes and time-lapses under unusually clear skies. 16 Unreal Activities You Have to Try This Winter in Banff, Canada! The STEVE aurora was colourless to the eye but did show faint fast-moving rays, here blurred by the long exposure. The unusual STEVE auroral arc across the northern sky at Bow Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta on the night of July 16-17, 2018. Related Articles. Mars is the bright trail at left. The more normal green auroral arc is lower across the northern horizon. @eriiicdubs ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ #albertatourism #dailyviewalberta #beautifuldestinations #canadianphotography #explorebanff #rawsonlake #amazing_pics #earthshots #travelalberta ⦠Since learning to ride on a beat-up clunker, to becoming ⦠Work in Waterton. But if youâre thinking of experiencing Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper as part of a train journey with us, we operate in spring, summer or fall. Banff : Forecast covers the town of Banff and the surrounding 15km, not the whole park. Dinosaur Provincial Park : Provincial Park. And do enlarge to full screen. In addition to being the worldâs ⦠The map also shows the phases of the Moon, and all solar and lunar eclipses. All are 30 seconds at f/2.8 with the 24mm Sigma lens and Nikon D750 at ISO 3200. UFOs are real. With down-to-the-minute forecasts for your exact location from Dark Sky, you'll never get caught in the rain again. It was a bit different than past years due to COVID-19, and weâre eager to hear what you thought of the changes. - Discover Banff Tours. Universe Dope. (It's like magic!) One World Observatory. Canada ; Alberta ; Canadian Rockies ; Banff National Park ; Banff ; Banff - Things to Do ; Discover Banff Tours; Search. All were taken as part of a time-lapse sequence. Parks Canada is installing dark sky-compliant lighting in the Waterton community and other areas in Waterton Lakes National Park as part of infrastructure projects over the next three years. Cool Dark Sky Experience! There are 22 dark sky preserves in Canada, and many are only a few hours away from big cities, making them accessible to anyone who wants to visit. The worldâs largest dark sky preserve, Jasper is the perfect place for stargazing and, if youâre lucky, experiencing the aurora borealis. My last night was at Herbert Lake, a small pond great for capturing reflections of the mountains around Lake Louise, and the Milky Way. All 15 seconds at f/2 with the Sigma 20mm Art lens and Nikon D750 at ISO 6400. Astronomers Without Borders. Another photographer from the U.S. who showed up had no idea there was an aurora happening until I pointed it out. 2 minute read 10 jaw-dropping photos of ⦠Reserva Sky Bistro, Banff en Tripadvisor: Consulta 1.227 opiniones sobre Sky Bistro con puntuación 4,5 de 5 y clasificado en Tripadvisor N.°1 de 128 restaurantes en Banff. 5) Be open to the full Jasper dark sky experience. Sky Bistro pairs the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains with a distinctly Canadian menu that features a handpicked selection of local meats, produce and ingredients. Book today to experience the Rockies, your way! Find event and ticket information on Ticketbud. (In the winter it gets dark early and we donât want you to miss out on those spectacular views!) Discuss. #Stargazing #CanadianRockies #DarkSky #AstroPhotography. 1 minute read Here are the speakers coming to the 2019 Jasper Dark Sky Festival. So even if you donât happen to catch an aurora display, youâll be swept up by the stars. Our diverse team is united by our connection to the people and places weâre lucky to call home. The Universe. Join an extraordinary team and live and work in Banff and Jasper national parks. in Cape Town. The frames were taken as part of a time-lapse sequence. Jasper serves as the ideal place to explore the alpine terrain in Jasper National Park. JASPER NATIONAL PARKSightseeing; Moon Viewing; LF Jasper Planetarium & Telescope Experience; LF Jasper Dark Sky Keynote Presentation BANFF NATIONAL PARKSightseeing Expand map. ... Jasperâs environs are also a great place to see the stars, particularly during the annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival in October, when speakers talk about ⦠429 were here. But STEVE here appears more pink. These days, a dark sky is something worth celebrating and Jasper National Park, one of the worldâs largest dark sky preserves, does a great job of it every October. Sky Bistro is located on the third floor of the Banff Gondola summit. They also have Dark Sky Packages in September and October, coinciding with the Dark Sky Festival mentioned earlier. The stars trailing as they move east to west (left to right), ending with the Milky Way and Galactic Centre (right) over Storm Mountain and the Vermilion Pass area of the Continental Divide in Banff National Park, Alberta. In 2011, Jasper was designated as one of the 17 Dark Sky Preserves in Canada by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. The Jasper Dark Sky Festival: Why You Need to Visit! The Dark Sky Preserve has plenty of dark sky programming that showcases this natural treasure. Journalist . No matter wether you are a passionate stargazer or a mere admirer of tranquility, you can witness Jasper National Park’s dark sky all year round. Milky Way Chasers. Jasper to Banff via the Icefields Parkway (227 km) The best Alberta road trip is from Banff to Jasper (or vice versa) through the Icefields Parkway. YES. The yellow glow at left to the east is from the urban lights of Banff. The Big Dipper is at ⦠Nonprofit Organization. Environmental Conservation Organization. The lights are from Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. Bands of airglow add the green streaks to the sky. The unusual STEVE auroral arc across the northern sky at Bow Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta on the night of July 16-17, 2018. Hubble Space Telescope. The more normal green auroral arc is lower across the northern horizon. in Banff & Jasper National Parks. In 2011, Jasper was designated the worldâs largest Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomy Society in Canada, (11,000-square-kilometre of stargazing), for its low light pollution that creates ideal conditions for astronomical viewing. This is a stack of 8 exposures, mean combined to smooth noise, for the ground, plus 200 exposures for the star trails, and one exposure, untracked, for the fixed sky taken about a minute after the last star trail image. Accessed via the Banff Gondola , the scenic alpine restaurant is ideal after an afternoon strolling the mountain boardwalk, hanging in the heated igloo lounges, or after hiking up the zig-zagged trail to work up your appetite. They look irregular because of rippling in the water. Jasper National Park is the second-largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world. Use it to locate a planet, the Moon, or the Sun and track their movements across the sky. A single static image shows the Milky Way and stars at the end of the motion sequence. They also take active measures in order to educate and promote the reduction of light pollution to the public and nearby cities and towns. The main peak at centre is Bow Peak. But STEVE here appears more pink. Niki Wilson is thrilled to host the Jasper Dark Sky Festival for the seventh time. Each of the dark sky preserves are given a number on the Bortle Scale â a measurement of the night skyâs brightness. I lived in Canmore for awhile, and in Alberta since I came to Canada in 1967. When not introducing you to the talented guests on the main stage she works as a science writer, covering nature and the environment for publications like BBCEarth, Motherboard, Canadian Wildlife Magazine, Natural History Magazine and Canadian Geographic. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. New development permits in the park also require that lighting be dark sky-compliant. Earlier that night the usual auroral arc known as Steve put in an unexpected appearance. Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Dark Sky by Apple App Maps Dark Sky API Help â Go Back. Photo: International Dark Sky Association's John Ashley. Rooftop Bars. I did so from the Storm Mountain viewpoint on the Bow Valley Parkway, with a cooperative train also coming through the scene at the right time. The Jasper Dark Sky Festival began with the goal of celebrating and preserving this status. This month is the best for visiting the park and taking part in the festivities. One special feature of Jasper National Park is its dark sky. A Dark Sky Preserve is an area in which no artificial lighting is visible. Taken from Bow Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta. If you pitch a tent and set up a crackling campfire, sleeping under the stars will turn out to be an unforgettable experience. Dark-Sky Preserves; Dark-Sky Preserves. Blackfoot : Blackfoot Lake ⦠Interest. Banff Mountain Film Festival Films Online for Free List curated by Lianne Caron. These preserves make a special commitment to protect and preserve the night by reducing or eliminating light pollution in all forms. Thank you so much for this post Alan – your images are breathtaking! Backcountry hiking Due to Jasper National Parkâs size, many of its hikes are less developed than their counterparts in Banff National Park, which is definitely a positive for adventurers and experienced hikers, and it also means fewer crowds. Here, brilliant Mars, so photogenic this summer, also reflects in the still waters. Takes into account Daylight Saving Time (DST). This was the view later with the Milky Way and Mars over Bow Valley and Storm Mountain. Dark-Sky Preserves make a special commitment to protect and preserve the night sky and to reduce or eliminate light pollution in all its forms. Located in the heart of Banff National Park are three of the worldâs finest ski resorts; Mt. This makes areas just outside Jasper (including the wide open parking lot at Maligne Canyon, where you can pair the dark sky with a delicious meal in the Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen), perfect for stargazing and getting lost in the wonder of the universe. READ MORE: Kimberleyâs Bruce Kirkby publishes âBlue Sky Kingdomâ documenting family adventure to Zanskar âWhen Banff Film Festival let us know how the festivalâs going to be run this year and how itâs going to be virtual, we were trying to come up with ways that we can get more people interested and more people really excited about it,â Holden said. As part of your dining experience, enjoy a collection of world-class adventures. But STEVE here appears more pink. Science, Technology & Engineering. Northern Lights. Join our LIVE astronomy experts inside for a fun, fun ny, inspirational, audience-participation tour exploring Jasper Dark Sky Preserve â the worldâs largest accessible astronomy parkâ¦Every evening in our world-exclusive 40-seat domed theatre experience (also available, tour outside with the largest telescope in the Rockies as an additional experience. The star trails and Milky Way reflect in the calm waters of Bow Lake this night on July 16, 2018, though they appear large and out of focus. More experiences in Banff & Jasper National Parks. Planet Earth. This was July 15, 2018. Your email address will not be published. From sunset to stargaze, explore the interpretive centre and theatre, capture that perfect photo along the one kilometre mountaintop boardwalk, or warm up ⦠in ⦠The next night, July 16, was one of the most perfect I had ever seen in the Rockies. The Northern Lights happen above the clouds so always always always make sure you check for cloud cover because it wonât be ⦠in Krakow. 5 Awe-Inspiring National Parks in Alberta | Spiritual Travels Thank you so much! Discover Banff Tours: Cool Dark Sky Experience! In 2011, the Royal Astronomical Society designated Jasper as a Dark Sky Preserve in Canada, due to its ideal conditions for dark sky observation. Each of the dark sky preserves are given a number on the Bortle Scale â a measurement of the night skyâs brightness. The unusual STEVE auroral arc across the northern sky at Bow Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta on the night of July 16-17, 2018. Required fields are marked *. Big Sky Observatory Site : An observatory of the Big Sky Astronomical Society. in Singapore. Enjoy the celestial landscape in one of Parks Canada's 13 Dark-Sky Preserves, a welcome escape from glaring city lights. Beaverlodge : Berry Creek : Used by some memembers of the RASC Edmonton Centre. Bus Tours, Nature & Wildlife Tours, Hiking & Camping Tours, Sightseeing Tours, Climbing Tours More | In the Sundance Mall, Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta ⦠Dark sky parks also protect a few remaining pockets of relative darkness and quiet that have all but vanished in the busy-ness of our developed world. Just ⦠), photos like these make me realize that the mountains did get into my blood in those years – and I miss them! Stunning photography Alan! Dark Sky is the most accurate source of hyperlocal weather information: with down-to-the-minute forecasts for your exact location, you'll never get caught in the rain again. Norquay, Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village. Crowfoot Glacier is at far left; Bow Glacier is at right below the Milky Way. The star trail stack is dropped back a lot in brightness, plus they are blurred slightly, so as to not overwhelm the fixed sky image. Dark Sky Guides Ltd. offers guided interpretive stargazing tours that focus on the dark skies of Waterton Lakes National Park. Noise and light pollution both create stress and exacerbate diseases ⦠2. Interest. ⦠Perched on the summit of Banffâs Sulphur Mountain, Sky Bistro is a dining sanctuary in the sky. The star trail stack is dropped back a lot in brightness, plus they are blurred slightly, so as to not overwhelm the fixed sky image. And all this ⦠Home of the proposed Cypress Hills Interprovincial Celestial Observatory. Dawn and dusk (twilight) times and Sun and Moon position. Black Diamond : Forecast also covers the town of Turner Valley. Table Mountain Hiking. Explore local constellations, the Northern Lights, the Milky Way, right to the edge of the universe from Jasper Dark Sky Preserve. Sawridge Inn â On the outskirts of town in a quiet and relaxed setting, this cozy lodge provides all the comforts you need to recharge from a day of winter adventure, including a spa with eucalyptus-infused steam room, indoor pool and hot tub, and ⦠in Banff & Jasper National Parks. Dark sky parks like Waterton-Glacier protect this cultural heritage for millions of visitors from across Montana and all over the world. and outside, the ⦠Escape the ordinary and relive the adventures of explorers past in one of the most picturesque corners of our world. Hidden Lake Lookout. The lights at left are from the Castle Mountain interchange at Highways 1 and 93. Jul 11, 2020 - These amazing pictures of the night sky alive with stars and lights in the Canadian Rockies will have you thinking twice about getting a good nights sleep! The Big Dipper is at left. We are the compass of adventureâwelcoming guests to our backyard and sharing the little-known secrets of these iconic places. in Banff & Jasper National Parks. Join local astronomy guides for views from the worldâs largest accessible dark sky preserve. While the auroral arc was visible the ISS made a bright pass heading east. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! This is a blend of a single 15-second exposure for the sky and ground, with seven 15-second exposures for the ISS, but masked to reveal just the ISS trail and its reflection in the water. Northern Lights. Raise a glass of craft beer from Banff or Canmore. Above is a 360° panorama shot toward the end of the night when the galactic centre of the Milky Way was over Bow Glacier. Itâs cloudy, will this affect the viewing? When I first arrived in the Rockies two years ago, I had heard through word of mouth that the aurora can occasionally be seen up in the skies in Canada. At each site I shot time-lapses, and used those frames to have some fun with star trail stacking, showing the stars turning from east to west and reflected in the lake waters, and with a single still image taken at the end of the sequence layered in to show the untrailed sky and Milky Way. The main peak at left is Mount Temple. In fact, National Geographic named this one of the best road trips in the world. in Hong Kong. You can easily spend a few days here, enjoying a range of outdoor activities in summer and skiing (both kinds) in winter. Time for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset in Banff â Alberta â Canada. It shows when the sky will be dark, assuming no light pollution and a clear sky. in Oslo. Frozen Abraham Lake. Science Website. Marina Bay Sands SkyPark. Aurora Borealis over Banff. Because itâs so close to Edmonton and its million or so residents but far enough from city lights, Elk Island is a dark-sky enthusiastâs dream. Get information on Banff National Park Travel Guide - Expert Picks for your Vacation hotels, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, and ⦠Learn More. Jasper Dark Sky Festival Packages Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Package from CAD $1249 per person for 3 nights includes: Roundtrip Airfare from Vancouver to Edmonton with Flair Airlines for 2 adults; 3 Nights at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for 2 adults ; Round trip shuttle transfers from Edmonton International ⦠All 30 seconds at f/2.8 with the 24mm Sigma lens, and Nikon D750 at ISO 6400. Find your dream job in the Canadian Rockies. All were taken as part of a time-lapse sequence. The chaotic streets of Kathmandu may not seem like a typical breeding ground for world-class mountain bikers, but then again nothing is typical about Rajesh (RJ) Magar. In Banffâs bustling downtown, youâre spoiled for choice when it comes to restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. Streaks of green airglow arc across the south, while to the north the sky is purple from a faint display of aurora. Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival. â Alan, August 2, 2018 / © 2018 Alan Dyer / AmazingSky.com, Your email address will not be published. Flights available from most UK airports. Banff : Forecast covers the town of Banff and the surrounding 15km, not the whole park. SunDog Tour Co. offers memorable sightseeing tours, activities, and luxury transportation services in Jasper, Edmonton, Lake Louise, Banff and Calgary. The more normal green auroral arc is lower across the northern horizon. What makes Jasper Dark Sky Preserve different? Dark Sky Guides Ltd. offers guided interpretive stargazing tours that focus on the dark skies of Waterton Lakes National Park. The Jasper Dark Sky Festival began with the goal of celebrating and preserving this status. As a Dark Sky Preserve, Jasper National Park has made a special commitment to protect and preserve the night sky and to reduce or eliminate light pollution in all its forms. The Kananaskis Nordic Spa: Pure Luxury Only 45 Minutes From Calgary! Stargaze In The Jasper Dark Sky Preserve. All with the Sigma 20mm Art lens at f/2 and Nikon D750 at ISO 6400. The sky images are blended with a stack of 8 images for the ground, mean combined to smooth noise in the ground. Jasper Dark Sky Festival 2019 - Jasper - October 18, 2019 at Jasper, AB T0E, Canada. Banff skiing offers almost 8,000 acres of skiable terrain on one tri-area lift ticket, the seasoned skier or rider will experience plenty of chutes, bowls, steeps and terrain parks to explore, while beginners can get the same thrills on miles of green and blue runs. Jasper National Park is one of 17 designated Dark Sky Preserves in Canada. Learn about stars, the moon, galaxies and constellations during special programming and events throughout the year. Hosted partially inside (though still very dark!) All flight-inclusive tours are ATOL-protected, so ⦠There are four outstanding sites in the radius of the park for dark sky viewing: Maligne Lake, Pyramid Island, the toe of Athabasca Glacier and Old Fort Point. As a result, Jasper National Park pledged to eliminate and reduce light pollution in all its forms and to preserve and protect the night sky. Jasper National Park and its residents are taking extra steps, such as replacing older street lights and improving Parks Canada operations to have a minimal impact on an unimpeded night sky. Lantern Tours at Cave and Basin. All are 30 seconds at f/2 with the 15mm Laowa lens and Sony a7III at ISO 3200. Light blue is full moon. ... wide-open spaces of one of the worldâs largest dark sky preserves. Like Banff, it has a range of accommodations, dining, and activities in all seasons. Jasper National Park has been designated as a Dark Sky Preserve, but if you are in Banff National Park, away from Banff townsite or Lake Louise village, or any other areas where there are streetlights, or lights from buildings etc., if it is a clear night, you will have an amazing view of the stars. On-site planetarium staff will share Aboriginal constellation stories, Northern Lights insights, tips on how to photograph the Milky Way and aurora, and hands-on experiences such as the chance to interact with meteorites from our collection. Jasper Dark Sky Festival. There are 22 dark sky preserves in Canada, and many are only a few hours away from big cities, making them accessible to anyone who wants to visit. The lower the number, the better. It's not often we get to be serious about extra-terrestrial phenomena. A Royal Designation The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) officially designated Jasper a dark sky preserve in March, 2011 and the community has been celebrating with a special festival ever since. Barrhead : Battle River : A private observing site. We are the second largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world, and we are the largest ⦠This is a single exposure for the sky and a mean-stacked blend of 3 exposures for the ground to smooth noise. Now I live in Victoria and, while I love my new home and adore living by the sea (my 48-year goal! With ⦠Clouds are often the norm in the mountains or, increasingly these days, forest fire smoke in late summer. Deep blue shows interference from moonlight. Because the light pollution is so limited in Jasper, the area has ideal conditions for dark sky viewing. in Banff & Jasper National Parks. 3,345 Reviews #6 of 56 Tours in Banff. Crystal clear skies, calm winds, and great lake reflections made for a picture-perfect night at Bow Lake on the Icefields Parkway. The sky images are blended with a stack of 8 images for the ground, mean combined to smooth noise in the ground. Amazing is right! In 2011, Jasper, AB was designated as a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, due to its limited light pollution that creates ideal conditions for dark sky viewing. This is a stack of 300 images for the star trails, stacked with the Ultrastreak function of Advanced Stacker Plus actions, plus a single exposure taken a minute or so after the last star trail image. International Dark-Sky Association. You can see from this site that Banff is completely dark which makes it prime Aurora-viewing territory. The lower the number, the better. Discover Banff Tours. This 300 sq km (116 sq mi) dark sky preserve, just east of Edmonton, encompasses Elk Island National Park and neighboring Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area. The video is also in 4K resolution. Ngong Ping 360 . The Dark Sky Society defines light pollution as, âglare, light trespass, and light which is reflected into the night sky, contributing to sky glow through the use of unshielded, misplaced, excessive, or unnecessary outdoor night lighting.â To put it simply there is an over abundance of artificial light, which negatively affects the natural cycle of day and night and impedes our ability to view the night sky. The Jasper Dark Sky Preserve can be a dazzling, gobsmacking experience for people who are used to light polluted skies. ⦠The Jasper Sky Tram is an easy way to get up high for some alpine hiking, followed by ⦠A dark-sky preserve (DSP), also known as a dark sky reserve, is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory, that restricts artificial light pollution.The purpose of a dark sky preserve is generally to promote astronomy.. Because different national organizations have worked independently to create their programs, different terms have been used to describe the areas. Itâs also where the Jasper Planetarium dome theater is located with nightly telescope expeditions and live Dark Sky tours. Testing the Nikon Z6 for Astrophotography, Testing the Sony a7III for Astrophotography, The Starfields of Sagittarius and Scorpius, How to Shoot and Stitch Nightscape Panoramas, How to Photograph the Geminid Meteor Shower. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this yearâs Jasper Dark Sky Festival! Seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Banff National Park Contrary to popular belief, you donât have to fly all the way to Yellowknife or Iceland to catch the Northern Lights⦠theyâre visible just outside Calgary! But from July 15 to 17 the skies could not have been clearer, except for the clouds that rolled in late on my last night, when I was happy to pack up and get some sleep. For this shot I used a fish-eye lens to record most of the sky and the summer Milky Way arching over the water.