Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 7:30 p.m. to midnight
Cost: $10 per adult, and free for children 12 years old and under

Celebrate our dark skies with a star party and an outdoor screening of The City Dark, a new documentary about light pollution, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center.

This joint program of the nature center and the Big Bend Astronomers kicks off with hot chocolate, popcorn and sunset viewing at the visitors center. The City Dark showing begins at 8 p.m., followed by the star party, which wraps up around midnight.

In The City Dark, filmmaker Ian Cheney asks, “Do we need the stars?” To answer this question, he looks at the threat of killer asteroids in Hawaii, hatching turtles along the Florida coast, and injured birds on Chicago streets. The film unravels the myriad implications of a globe glittering with lights—including increased breast cancer rates from exposure to light at night, and a generation of kids without a glimpse of the universe above. Featuring stunning astrophotography and a cast of eclectic scientists, philosophers, historians and lighting designers, The City Dark is the definitive story of light pollution and the disappearing stars.

This is an outdoor event, so please bring a blanket and flashlight. Metal chairs will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their own more comfortable seating.

To register or for more information, please contact the nature center at 432.364.2499 or visit cdri.org.