In today’s issue:

Your weekend weather outlook: There was Philly Frighteningly hot on Halloweenand Friday may be more of the same. A return to autumn is expected on Saturday and Sunday.

— Paola Pérez ([email protected])

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Carl Sagan described the universe as “the greatest of mysteries.”

What’s there? If you’ve ever wondered about the night sky, Here’s your sign to start stargazing. This guide covers:

Here are the best places to stargaze near (and far)

All necessary equipment

Tips for understanding light pollution

Our pick of the best apps to help determine what’s in the sky

Hear from experts on how to make the most of stargazing in our area.

News worth knowing

Consider this your last call to capture fall colors in our area.

Our city-by-city tracker shows you Where exactly to go to see what’s left of these seasonal hues Across from the Keystone State. The guide stated when the leaves:

hasn’t changed yet

is starting to change

near the top

on top

Now, almost the entire state is either:

starting to fade

past peak

Right now: Leaves in Philadelphia and surrounding counties starting to fade (so they still have color but they won’t last more than a few days).

There are still areas where the colors are vibrant and the trees are not bare. Check out our map to see where you can admire the greenery before you go past peak (meaning all or almost all of the color is gone).

PS I would love to see your fall foliage pictures. Email me your best shots.

We now hand the microphone to Jason Nark. You will always find his work here. Here’s a story I want to bring you from 2022.

Sunlight filtered over the thick Pennsylvania forest, and a few rays fell on the long, serrated leaves of the American chestnut trees below.

The higher Mike Manes, 78, climbed on the Appalachian Trail, the more chestnut trees he saw. Most of them weren’t very tall or wide, but they weren’t exactly young either. These trees, once kings of the American forests in the Northeast, were not born from new seeds. They had risen from older roots beneath the ground, slender tendrils seeking to retake their kingdom from an unstoppable enemy they had been fighting for over a century.

“I see one there, but it’s dead,” said Manes, a volunteer with the American Chestnut Foundation.

There were up to 4 billion chestnut trees in the United States in the 19th century, making them one of the most dominant hardwoods in the East. Indigenous people on these lands called them “grandfathers” because they often grew more than 100 feet tall and dominated the canopy. Historians have called the chestnut a “cradle-to-grave” tree; Their rot-resistant wood was once used to make cradles, houses and coffins for centuries. Its seeds, covered in large spiny burrs, fed almost every living thing in the land.

“They were the most dominant trees in Pennsylvania forests,” Manes said. —Jason Nark

Read on to learn more about the disease ravaging American chestnuts and efforts to restore the former king of Pennsylvania’s woods..

A calming view

I captured this scene on a gorgeous autumn morning this week.

Your outdoor experience

Outdoors reader Michelle Young sent these beautiful images along with the following message to guide us through her favorite spots:

Down the coast, I love walking along the seawall at Anglesea, taking the trails to the beach at Cape May Lighthouse, taking late-night off-season hikes in Northern Wildwood, or driving through the woods along Rt 347 or Rt 49 with just the windows open. About 10 years ago, my son moved to the “Happy Valley” area, which has a completely different level of peace. The view is beautiful after passing Harrisburg on the trip there. We drive along the Susquehanna River with mountains in the distance, stopping at Fort Hunter Manor and Park to stretch our legs, taking in the views of the river along with the architecture of the Rockville Bridge, returning to the car to pass the miniature Statue of Liberty and then past the “Seven Mountains” area towards our destination. Once we get there, we make it a point to visit a new park every time we go. My favorite is Bald Eagle State Park, which is breathtaking, standing by the lake or walking on a trail, taking in the smells and sounds of nature.

Thanks for this enjoyable tour.

before you go

This season we explored much of our region together:

We tried rock climbing, camp, cyclingAnd hiking

We are making tents kayak, canoeAnd fisheryand I took a dive beat the heat

We traveled John Heinz shelter, Pine BarrensAnd Delaware Water Gap

We chose pumpkins, applesAnd fruitsand I enjoyed it beauties at farmers markets

We tested our endurance on more intense adventuresThen I stopped for peace and quiet some of the quietest spots

We learned about the creatures that share nature with us birds with tickswith oyster And beavers – and we can’t forget that Joro spider

We’ve come a long way in between but now I want to hear from you. What activities have you tried this season? Email me to describe your experiences in a few sentences.

We’re going back in time on Sunday. Don’t forget to change your hours. Trust me — there’s a bright side to this change.

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