Sprites, Elves, Ghosts and More
On rare occasions under dark night skies, high above powerful thunderstorms, strange flashes of red and blue light suddenly leap skyward to form dramatic, jellyfish-like shapes. Known to science as sprites, these strange lightning-related events are still poorly understood. In this talk, we'll explore how these events form, how you can see them for yourself, and how you can contribute to NASA's efforts to better understand them.
- February 8–12, 2025
2/8 and 2/12 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
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South Rim Visitor Center Theater
8 South Entrance Road
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
86023
Stephen Hummel
Stephen Hummel is the Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator for McDonald Observatory, part of the University of Texas at Austin. Stephen's work has focused on preserving dark skies in far west Texas. Stephen worked to create the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest area in the world certified by Dark Sky International, spanning the Big Bend region of Texas and Mexico. An experienced astronomy and dark sky educator, Stephen has led hundreds of constellation tours and telescope viewing events, as well as trainings for state and national park staff. Stephen works with industrial facilities, hotels, businesses, and local governments on lighting design to preserve dark skies.