Dark Sky Cam

The Dark Sky Cam captures images of auroral and milky way activity from the SkyCam mounted on the roof of the Chik-Wauk Museum. This site has remarkably dark skies which leads to amazing night sky viewing. It’s northern latitude also means higher chances of seeing aurora.

Images are captured from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise. To update the image, you will need to refresh the page every minute or so. If the image is not updating, the camera may be down. Given its remote location, we cannot always troubleshoot immediately.

VIEW EACH EVENING'S IMAGES

To see each evening’s images in real time, click this button which will take you directly to our UMD Planetarium Partner Website

Example sequence showing Auroral Activity on 13 – 14 March, 2021.

Prof. Jessica Rogers, Director of the UMD Alworth Planetarium, describing operation of the Chik-Wauk All-Sky Cam at the 2021 Mid-West Planetarium Conference.

Partnership

The Dark Sky Camera is made possible thanks to a collaboration between the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium, the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Gunflint Trail Historical Society, and Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center. 

Location

57 miles up the Gunflint Trail
28 Moose Pond Drive
Grand Marais, MN 55604

Hours

Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center will be open May 25 to October 20, 2024!!

Support

Learn more about becoming a member here or learn more about making a donation here.

Stay in Touch

Location

57 miles up the Gunflint Trail
28 Moose Pond Drive
Grand Marais, MN 55604

Hours

Open for the 2024 season, May 25 - October 20!
10am–5pm Daily

Support

Learn more about becoming a member here or learn more about making a donation here.