Yosemite National Park is located in the High Sierras, 141 miles (227 km) southeast of Sacramento, California. Most visitors to Yosemite spend the majority of their time in Yosemite Valley, beneath the granite cliffs of El Capitan and within view of Half Dome. In the springtime, waterfalls roar down the cliffsides but can completely dry up by autumn. Camping and lodging is located throughout the park. Yosemite is situated out of reach of the light domes of major cities. An EarthSky visitor says, “In the valley you are surrounded by high mountains, and it’s like lying in a bowl and looking at the stars cross the sky.”
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.