Hundreds of visitors turned out Saturday, April 21, to Fountain Hills’ inaugural Dark Skies Festival celebrating the naming of the community as one of only 17 Dark Sky Communities in the world recognized by the International Dark Sky Association.

As the stars aligned, the event also coincided with International Astronomy Day and the last day of International Dark Sky Week, as well as the day before Earth Day 2018.

With activities beginning at 3 p.m. the sun was still high and provided the opportunity to view its surface through solar telescopes to see sunspots and solar flares.

The portable planetarium set up in the Community Center lobby was a popular attraction with capacity groups lined up for each of the programs.

The ballroom was set up theater style for four programs including Dr. Pierre Deviche, ASU professor of Environmental Physiology, talking about the impacts of artificial light on living organisms on the planet.

He emphasized impacts on birds, but also talked about insects and even humans.

Kenneth Zoll, executive director of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center, talked about cultural astronomy of the prehistoric southwest.

Zoll had numerous stories relating rock art and physical structures to celestial events and orientations.

Dr. Jeffrey Hall, director of Lowell Observatory, discussed discoveries made with the close-up flyby of Pluto made in 2015.

He also conducted celestial laser tours in the Centennial Circle outside the Community Center and Library.

Filmmakers Harun Mehmedinovic and Gavin Heffernan presented their photographic night sky SkyGlow Project.

There were participants in artistic contests associated with the festival including students from first grade through high school.

The group encompassing grades one through three included first place winner Ethan Gazzo; second place, Mya McAllister; and third place Alex Ivie.

First place for grades four and five was MiKayla Lucchese; second place, Ainsley McAloon; third place, Maddax Lagiglia.

Grades six through eight first place went to Sophia Boyce; second place, Diana Bos; third place, Emmaline Smith.

Grades nine through 12 had Sophia Carter in first place; second place, Natalie A. and third place, Isabella Griggs.

EVIT 11-12 grades, first place, Sophie Langer; second place Evelyn Castello; third place, Sahley Beck.

Photo contest winners included Category 1 - Landscape with celestial object and Fountain Hills objects or view; First prize – Becky Chapman, for Fountain Hills Nights; Second Prize – John Barra, for Moonrise Behind Four Peaks; Third Prize – Vicki Orazem, for Lunar Eclipse Over Thompson Peak.

Category 2 – Deep Space from Fountain Hills; First Prize – Dennis Kolesnikov, for the Veil Nebula; Second Prize - Ted Blank, for the M81 & M82 Galaxies.