COLUMBUS – Far from the lights of the big city – about 40 miles away, to be more precise — a new park is opening that will give Ohioans another chance to turn their gaze heavenward.
The new John Glenn Astronomy Park is scheduled to open to the public June 21 on state Route 664, less than a half-mile west of Old Man’s Cave in the midst of the Hocking Hills State Park in southeastern Ohio.
Known for its lack of light pollution and resulting clear night sky views, the Hocking Hills has long been a mecca for star-gazers
Members of the Friends of Hocking Hills State Park, which led the fundraising and development efforts for the park named after one of Ohio’s most famous space pioneers, will host a grand opening coinciding with the summer solstice. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour, followed by an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a viewing of the sunset through the summer solstice aperture in the park’s 80-foot Solar Plaza.
Just after sunset, at approximately 9:06 p.m., the park’s team will turn its powerful telescopes toward the moon and Jupiter, which will be high in the southern sky that night, organizers said.
In addition to views of the night sky, visitors can study the sun, Earth and the North Pole, among other features, from the Solar Plaza, which is encircled by a low wall with notches that offer framed views of the Sun on key days.
An enclosed 540-square-foot observatory features a retractable roof that permits night sky viewing.
The park also features gathering areas, open green space and adequate parking.
Glenn agreed to lend his name to the park before his death in 2016. The Friends of Hocking Hills State Park say the park will preserve his legacy with a focus on education and engaging visitors.