Ring in the New Year with the First Meteor Shower of 2023
World Class Stargazing, Aurora Borealis, and Glacier Trekking at Sheldon Chalet in Alaska
New York, NY (August 15, 2022) The summit of Denali will be the backdrop to the first meteor show of the New Year. The annual phenomenon is known as the Quadrantids, a rare shooting star display that will return for the first week of January. Sitting front row with the best geographical view is the Sheldon Chalet in Denali National Park.
Each year in Alaska this spectacular shooting star performance of Geminidis and Quadrantids, visible from December to January, lights up the sky with 60 to as many as 200 meteor showers per hour under perfect conditions. This year experts are reporting peak showers to start around December 28, 2022 and run through January 12, 2023 with peak showers on the evenings of January 3, 4 and 5th reaching over 100 shooting stars per hour.
Geminidis and Quadrantid are considered to be one of the best annual meteor showers and the only to not originate from a comet. The Quadrantids meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through the dust and debris left behind by the Asteroid 2003 EH1. When those bits of dust and rock hit Earth’s atmosphere, they disintegrate and create the bright fireball meteors or “shooting stars”. Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger particles of material. Fireballs are also brighter, with magnitudes brighter than -3.
With prime viewing time is between 2 a.m. – after the moon sets – and 6 a.m. when the Boötes constellation drops below the horizon, the concierge at Sheldon Chalet will notify guests of the start of this epic performance.
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Best Place to View: Sheldon Chalet in Denali National Park
With clear skies, lunar and solar events illuminate the night brighter than winter daylight hours. The best way to view the Quadrantids is to get away from light pollution. Though meteors radiate from the Boötes constellation which is near the handle of the Big Dipper, the best way to see the meteors is to take in as much sky as possible as they will appear all over the sky. This often means lying on your back and staring up at the sky. At 63 degrees latitude and an elevation of 6000 ft, Sheldon Chalet’s troposphere is some of the thinnest on the planet, allowing guests to see shooting stars more often and brighter than anywhere else. With little to no light pollution and stunning landscapes that frame the sky, evenings sparkle brilliantly with heavenly displays of the aurora and stars and winter’s snowfall begins to blanket the massive Don Sheldon Amphitheater, which averages over 100 feet of new snow per year. Guests’ proximity to the stars and the sparse topography of Denali National Park offers a surreal and uninterrupted stargazing experience overlooking the glacier and mountains. Expert guides are on hand to educate guests about the aurora and offer insight into the night sky constellations. World-class stargazing is enhanced by the cozy fire and satisfying beverages custom crafted by your private chef.
For the 2022/23 season, Sheldon Chalet’s curated activities for guests include:
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Aurora, lighted crystal and blizzard gazing
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Crevasse exploration
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Snow cavern spelunking
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Rock climbing
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Rappelling
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Shooting star and meteor shower gazing
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Epic sledding runs
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Gourmet glacier picnics
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Glacier trekking via snowshoes or skis
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Snow cave or igloo construction
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Heli or fixed wing geography touring
Starting at $75,000 for up to four people for a 3-night minimum, guests can relax, socially distance and experience Denali grandeur at this eco-conscious chalet in a way that’s never been seen before. This ultimate experience includes gear, two adventure guides, a concierge, a chef preparing gourmet meals with premium wine pairings, guided glacier adventures, the helicopter transport to and from the Chalet. At Sheldon Chalet, guests can choose to go on unique flightseeing tours, go on a back-country skiing adventure and enjoy incredible snowshoe treks with prime views of the summit of Denali just ten miles away. For more information about Sheldon Chalet please visit www.sheldonchalet.com. More details on the full Sheldon Chalet experience. Full details on this new Exclusive Buyout Offer.
Exclusive Buyouts
Sheldon Chalet offers a private all-inclusive experience in its 2000 square foot, 5-bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms luxury accommodations for up to 10 guests for a minimum of three nights/ four days.
Includes:
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Helicopter flightseeing tour from Anchorage
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Staff - chef, concierge, and two adventure guides
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Gourmet meals, beverages and luxury accommodations
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Guided glacier exploration
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Outdoor apparel rental package- boots, pants, parka, gloves
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Use of glacier gear - trekking skis or snowshoes and poles, harnesses, and climbing helmets
About Sheldon Chalet:
Sheldon Chalet is perched on a private 4.99 acre nunatak [glacier rock outcropping] located in Denali National Park on the southern flanks of North America’s tallest massif at an elevation of 5,818 feet in the Don Sheldon Amphitheater of the mighty Ruth Glacier. The incredible panoramas feature vertical grandeur including the summit of Denali, only 10 miles away and visible from every vantage point. Air transportation is the only way to reach Sheldon Chalet which sleeps up to ten guests in five bedrooms. The dream of Alaskan visionaries, Don and Roberta Sheldon, Sheldon Chalet is a platform for the adventure of a lifetime and offers guests guides, gear, a chef, concierge, and life expanding experiences at the only destination on the flanks of North America’s highest mountain. There are no roads, rails or trails accessing the area. The closest town of Talkeetna is 55 air miles away. Robert Sheldon, his wife Marne, and sister Kate have made the Sheldon family dream become a reality. Serving delicious Alaskan fare, Sheldon Chalet provides a crown-jewel Alaskan experience with curated activities including guided glacier trekking, and aurora borealis viewing. Each guest is certain to "Experience Grand" at Sheldon Chalet.
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