ASTRONOMY & ASTROLOGY, AND HISTORICAL ARCHEOLOGY
AT PIPE SPRING

The celebration of Arizona Archeology and Heritage Awareness Month continues at Pipe Spring National Monument Friday, March 16th, from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. (Arizona/Mountain Standard Time), with a special astronomy presentation. (For those of you coming from Utah, please note that the presentation will be at 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. (Utah/Mountain Daylight Savings Time). A professional talk and walk on historical archeology will be given the following Thursday, March 22nd at 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. (Arizona/Mountain Standard Time).

The Friday evening event will begin with a presentation on the basics of astronomy from local amateur astronomer, Mike Satter. That will be followed by astrological stories and mythology related to the stars and planets presented by Mike Satter, Von Del Chamberlain, and Benn Pikyavit. Mr. Satter and Mr. Chamberlain (former director of the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City) will tell Native American stories about the stars and constellations and make some connections to classical stories of Western European civilization as well. Southern Paiute tribal member and National Park Service ranger, Benn Pikyavit will share Southern Paiute stories. The talks will all be presented inside the Pipe Spring National Monument/Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians visitor center regardless of weather conditions. Mr. Satter will also have a 6” reflector telescope available for a closer look at celestial bodies following the talks – weather permitting.

A historical archeology walk – “Rusty Nails and Glass Bottles: The Role of Historical Archaeology in Understanding Historic Settlement at Pipe Spring National Monument” will be given the following Thursday, March 22nd from 1:30 – 3:30 in the afternoon by Zion National Park archeologist, Sarah Horton. Ms. Horton will draw on the years of archeological investigations at Pipe Spring and careful examinations of the remnants of the past aid in our understanding of the lives of the pioneers who settled at this location in the 1800’s.

Pipe Spring National Monument is located ¼ mile off Arizona State Highway 389, 15 miles west of Fredonia, Arizona, 21 miles south and west of Kanab, Utah, and 42 miles east of Hurricane, Utah. A $5 entrance fee will be charged for entrance to the visitor center and museum and attendance at the program. National Park Passes, Golden Age and Golden Access Passes will be accepted as always. For additional information call Pipe Spring National Monument at 928-643-7105.