Erica Levi Zelinger 2023-12-19 08:21:41
You’ve been cleared for takeoff for a trip across Pennsylvania, where we’ve starred a list of sky-high wonders to launch lunar lovers, stargazers, and aviation aficionados into the final frontier. And should stars align for a visit, we also have a cosmic calendar of events that will light up the Keystone State sky. CELESTIAL AND NATURAL WONDERS Embark from Pennsylvania on an expedition into the galactic realms. See a marvelous moment as it happens in real life on April 8, 2024. You’ll need special eclipse safety glasses to marvel at the total solar eclipse, where the shadow of the moon will sweep across the earth, and the afternoon sky will turn dark for about 3 minutes and 40 seconds. For optimal viewing, visit the town of Erie, which will be within the path of totality. Grab a stellar seat for the full-dome imagery at Neag Planetarium at the Reading Public Museum and look up to see shows about black holes, aviation through the ages, and curated images from the James Webb Telescope. Listen to the symphony orchestra or guest speakers under more than a thousand stars and zodiac constellations gracing the otherworldly ceiling of the Forum Auditorium at the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Build your own lunar rover or embark on a simulated mission at Pittsburgh’s Moonshot Museum, the first museum to focus on career and community readiness for the 21st-century space industry. Wrap yourself in a sleeping bag, tilt back your head, and catch a glimpse of the Milky Way in the dark skies above 82-acre Cherry Springs State Park in Coudersport. On a clear night, more than 10,000 stars are visible to the naked eye. HIGH IN THE SKY Get some air while you sightsee—Pennsylvania’s high-flying attractions offer a bird’s-eye view of the landscape. Nighttime is the right time to launch your own lantern at the Night Lights Lantern Festival at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton or Pocono Raceway in Long Pond. Watch as the glowing orbs—made of rice paper, bamboo, and string— take flight in a magical, picture-perfect moment. Be part of the breathtaking balloon ascension over the Lancaster County countryside or spectate from the ground at the Lancaster Hot Air Balloon Festival and County Fair in Bird-in-Hand. The mountains meet the sky at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton where raw beauty and untamed wilderness flourish during the annual fall migration. Observe more than 17 species of raptors, including the iconic bald eagle, soar over the sanctuary on their journey south. Learn about Ben Franklin’s kite and key experiment at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute, where the permanent exhibit called Electricity will have your hair standing on end. Peer down to the valley floor through a glass observation area on the Kinzua Sky Walk, an engineering marvel that extends 624 feet, at a height of 225 feet, above the Kinzua Gorge, in Mt. Jewett. Its thermals—rising pockets of warm air—make Hyner View State Park and its majestic outlook one of the best spots to hang glide 1,300 feet above the Susquehanna River. Even if you’re not ready to take to the skies, watch with delight as other daredevils try out their wings. Lift off for a scenic view of Philadelphia with Sky River Helicopters. You’ll fly along the Delaware River, take in the city skyline, and see the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Boathouse Row. For a majestic view of the Pocono Mountains, charter a Hop On Air Airplane tour to see the Delaware Water Gap or Lake Wallenpaupack. MARVELS OF AVIATION Hop in the pilot seat at Pennsylvania’s air museums and uncover the stories of intrepid aviators who pushed boundaries to new heights. Explore aircraft nuances, observe aerial reenactments, and learn warfare history at Reading’s World War II Weekend at Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, Jun. 7–9, 2024. The sky is still the limit for many of the 30 vintage aircraft at Eagles Mere Air Museum where you might just catch a plane from World Wars I and II taking off. Housed in the former engineering building of Piper Aircraft, the Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven honors the history and legacy of the international aircraft manufacturer, featuring details about airplane styling and aviation engineering as well as many static aircraft displays. Questions like, “How do you keep the body of a helicopter steady?” and “Who are the Whirly Girls?” are answered in the narrative and interactive exhibits at the American Helicopter Museum & education Center in West Chester. Whether a stellar formation, constellation contemplation, or aviation infatuation, the sky really is the limit for discovering your own piece of Pennsylvania happiness.
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