- Badger Gulch Natural Area Preserve (dnr.wa.gov)
Located in a steep, narrow canyon, this 180 acre preserve protects excellent examples of the native grasslands and oak - pine savannas found in south-central Washington, as well as intact riparian vegetation along a seasonal creek. The site is rich in bird fauna, supporting a number of declining species such as the ash-throated flycatcher, Lewis’ woodpecker, and Vaux’s swift. The rocky slopes above the creek also contain populations of beaked cryptantha, a state-listed sensitive plant species.
- Messier 15 (Wikipedia)
Messier 15 or M15 (also designated NGC 7078 and sometimes known as the Great Pegasus Cluster) is a globular cluster in the constellation Pegasus. It was discovered by Jean-Dominique Maraldi in 1746 and included in Charles Messier’s catalogue of comet-like objects in 1764. At an estimated 12.5±1.3 billion years old, it is one of the oldest known globular clusters.