Dark-sky preserve

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Template:Short description

File:Rise of the Milky Way.jpg
A dark-sky preserve status enables high-quality astronomical observation in Paranal Observatory.[1]

A dark-sky preserve (DSP) is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory, that restricts or reduces light pollution or maintains and protects naturally dark night skies. Different terms have been used to describe these areas as national organizations and governments have worked independently to create programs. DarkSky International (DarkSky) uses "International Dark Sky Reserve" (IDSR) and "International Dark Sky Park" (IDSP) among others when certifying Dark Sky Places.[2]

History

DarkSky International was founded in 1988 to reserve public or private land for an exquisite outlook of nocturnal territories and starry night skies. Dark-sky preserves are specifically conserved for their cultural, scientific, natural, or educational value and public enjoyment.[3]

In 2007, the Mont Mégantic Observatory in Quebec was the first site to be certified as an International Dark Sky Reserve by DarkSky.[4] The same year, Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah became the first International Dark Sky Park.[5] The Gabriela Mistral Dark Sky Sanctuary in the Elqui Valley of Chile was designated as the world's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2015.[6]

A dark-sky preserve, or dark-sky reserve, should be sufficiently dark to promote astronomy. The lighting protocol for a dark-sky preserve is based on the sensitivity of wildlife to artificial light at night.[7]

Canada has established an extensive and stringent standard for dark-sky preserves, that addresses lighting within dark-sky preserves and influences from skyglow from urban areas in the region. This was based on the work of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Dark Sky Places

DarkSky International's Dark Sky Places program currently offers five types of designations:[2]

  • International Dark Sky Communities – Communities are legally organized cities and towns that adopt quality outdoor lighting ordinances and undertake efforts to educate residents about the importance of dark skies.
  • International Dark Sky Parks – Parks are publicly or privately owned spaces protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors.
  • International Dark Sky Reserves – Reserves consist of a dark "core" zone surrounded by a populated periphery where policy controls are enacted to protect the darkness of the core. These sites are established by a partnership of multiple land managers.
  • International Dark Sky Sanctuaries – Sanctuaries are the most remote (and often darkest) places in the world whose conservation state is most fragile. The geographic isolation of these places significantly limits opportunities for outreach, so this designation is designed to increase awareness of these sites and promote their long-term conservation.
  • Urban Night Sky Places – These places do not qualify for designation within any other category but are recognized for their efforts to educate the public on the benefits of proper outdoor lighting that ensures safety while minimizing potential harm to the natural nighttime environment. Urban Night Sky Places can be municipal parks, open spaces, or similar properties near or surrounded by an urban environment, but whose planning and design actively promote an authentic nighttime experience in the midst of significant artificial light.

Dark Sky Developments of Distinction recognize subdivisions, master planned communities, and unincorporated neighborhoods and townships whose planning actively promotes a more natural night sky but does not qualify them for the International Dark Sky Community designation. This designation was retired in 2020.[8]

Further designations include "Dark Sky Nation", given to the Kaibab Indian Reservation,[9] and "Parashant International Night Sky Province-Window to the Cosmos", given to Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument.[10]

Dark sky preserves, reserves, and parks

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As of January 2023, there are 201 certified Dark Sky Places globally: 38 Communities, 115 Parks, 20 Reserves, 16 Sanctuaries, 6 Developments of Distinction and 6 Urban Night Sky Places.[11]

Country Name Location Area (in ha) Bortle Scale Status Notes
File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia The Jump-Up, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Queensland 1,400 1–2 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated on April 27, 2019
File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Warrumbungle National Park New South Wales 23,312 1 Dark Sky Park Designated on July 4, 2016
File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary South Australia 63,000 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated July 2023[12]
File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia River Murray Dark Sky Reserve South Australia 320,000 2 Dark Sky Reserve Designated October 2019 (gold tier) [13][14]
File:Flag of Austria.svg Austria Naturpark Attersee-Traunsee Upper Austria 10,600 3 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2021[15]
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Desengano State Park Rio de Janeiro 22,400 4 Dark Sky Park Designated December 2021
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Beaver Hills Alberta 29,300 4.5 Dark Sky Preserve Designated on September 3, 2006
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Cypress Hills Alberta / Saskatchewan 39,600 2 Designated on September 28, 2004[16]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Jasper National Park Alberta 1,122,800 1–2 Dark Sky Preserve Designated on March 11, 2011[17]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Alberta / Montana 460,600 3 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2017[18]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Wood Buffalo National Park[19] Alberta / NWT 4,480,700 1–2 UNESCO World Heritage
Dark Sky Preserve 		Designated on June 28, 2013[20]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Cattle Point Oak Bay, British Columbia 5 Urban Star Park Designated March 29, 2013[21]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada McDonald Park British Columbia 5 2–3 Dark Sky Preserve Designated in 2003
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Fundy National Park New Brunswick 20,700 2 Dark Sky Preserve Designated on October 31, 2011[22]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Irving Nature Park Saint John, New Brunswick 243 Urban Star Park Designated on July 1, 2011; First RASC-designated Urban Star Park[23][24]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Kouchibouguac National Park New Brunswick 23,920 2 Designated on June 6, 2009[25]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Mount Carleton Provincial Park New Brunswick 17,427 2 Designated on July 18, 2009[26]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Kejimkujik National Park Nova Scotia 40,400 2 Designated on August 7, 2010[27]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre Ontario 129 2 Designated on November 3, 2012, by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Bruce Peninsula Fathom Five National Marine Park Ontario 16,700 2–3 Designated on March 29, 2009
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Gordon's Park Ontario 43.7 2–3 Dark Sky Preserve Designated on August 15, 2009; designation is only for the Park though Manitoulin Island (276,611 ha) follows dark-sky practices[28]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Lake Superior Provincial Park Ontario 155,600 1-2 Designated in July 2018 [29]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Killarney Provincial Park Ontario 64,500 1-2 Designated in May 2018 [30]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada North Frontenac Township Ontario 116,000 1–2 Designated on August 3, 2013, first Municipality in Canada to achieve Dark Sky Preserve Status.
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Point Pelee National Park Ontario 2,000 3–4 Designated in 2006
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Quetico Provincial Park Ontario 471,800 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated February 2021
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Torrance Barrens Ontario 1,906 3 Designated in 1999; first Canadian dark sky preserve
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Mont Mégantic Observatory Quebec 527,500 2–3 Dark Sky Reserve Designated Sept. 2007; first IDA International Dark-Sky Reserve[31]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Parc du Mont-Bellevue Quebec 159 5 Urban Night Sky Place Designated September 2022[32]
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Mont-Tremblant National Park Quebec 146,600 Dark Sky Park Designated August 2023
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Grasslands National Park Saskatchewan 92,100 1 Designated on October 2, 2009[33]
File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile Gabriela Mistral Elqui Valley 36,400 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated in 2015[34]
File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia Jelsa Hvar 12,120 Dark Sky Community Designated 2022
File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia Petrova Gora-Biljeg 2,930 Dark Sky Park Designated 2019[35]
File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia Vrani kamen 8,000 2 Dark Sky Park Designated 2019[36]
File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic
File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia 		Beskydy Dark-Sky Park Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic
Čadca District, Slovakia 		30,800 3–4 Designated on March 4, 2013; The second world's bilateral dark-sky park[37]
File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic Manětín Dark-Sky Park Plzeň Region 34,600 3–5 Designated on September 15, 2014[38]
File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic
File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland 		Jizera Dark-Sky Park Liberec Region, Czech Republic
Lower Silesia, Poland 		7,500 3–4 Designated on November 4, 2009; the first European dark-sky park and the first world's bilateral dark-sky park[39]
File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Dark Sky Park Bulbjerg Frøstrup 1,250 3 Dark Sky Park Designated 2023[40]
File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Mandø 846 Dark Sky Park Designated 2024[41]
File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Møn and Nyord Zealand 1,100 2 Dark Sky Park Designated 2017
File:Flag of France.svg France Pic du Midi de Bigorre Hautes-Pyrénées 311,200 2–4 Dark Sky Reserve Designated an IDA International Dark Sky Reserve in December 2013; First IDA International Dark Sky Reserve in Europe.[42]
File:Flag of France.svg France Alpes Azur Mercantour Beuil 225,000 Dark Sky Reserve Designated in 2019.[43]
File:Flag of France.svg France Cévennes National Park Cévennes 360,000 Dark Sky Reserve Designated in 2018.[44]
File:Flag of France.svg France Regional Natural Park of Millevaches in Limousin Millevaches 335,000 Dark Sky Reserve Designated in 2021.[45]
File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Winklmoosalm Bavaria 79 2 Dark Sky Park Designated May 2018[46]
File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Westhavelland Nature Park Brandenburg 152,900 Dark Sky Reserve Designated an IDA International Dark Sky Reserve on February 12, 2014[47]
File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Eifel National Park North Rhine-Westphalia 10,700 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated 2014[48]
File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany Rhön Biosphere Reserve Rhön Mountains 172,000 3 Dark Sky Reserve Designated in 2014.[49]
File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece Aenos National Park Cephalonia 2,860 3 Dark Sky Park Designated June 2023[50]
File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary Bükk National Park Bükk Mountains 43,130 4 Dark Sky Park Designated 2017
File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary Hortobágy Starry Sky Park Various counties 10,000 3 Dark Sky Park Designated on January 31, 2011; IDA's third international dark-sky park (Silver tier)[51]
File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary Zselic National Landscape Protection Area Somogy County / Baranya County 9,042 3 Dark Sky Park Designated on November 16, 2009
File:Flag of India.svg India Indian Astronomical Observatory Hanle in Ladakh 70,000 Designated in September 2022.[52][53]
File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry 70,000 1–3 Dark Sky Reserve Designated an IDA International Dark Sky Reserve on January 27, 2014[54]
File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel Makhtesh Ramon Southern District 110,000 2–3 Dark Sky Park Designated September 14, 2017[55]
File:Flag of Japan.svg Japan Minami-Rokuroshi Fukui Prefecture 1,230 Urban Night Sky Place Designated August 2023[56]
File:Flag of Japan.svg Japan Bisei Town, Ibara City Okayama Prefecture 7271 4.5 Dark Sky Community Designated November 2021[57]
File:Flag of Japan.svg Japan Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park Okinawa Prefecture 40,658 4 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2018
File:Flag of Japan.svg Japan Kozushima Dark Sky Island Oshima Subprefecture 1,858 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated November 2020
File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico Joya-La Barreta Ecological Park Querétaro 245 Urban Night Sky Place Designated September 2023[58]
File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve Chihuahua / Coahuila / Texas 3,885,000 3 Dark Sky Reserve Designated April 2022[59]
File:Flag of Namibia.svg Namibia NamibRand Nature Reserve Hardap Region 202,200 Dark Sky Reserve Designated in 2012.
File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg The Netherlands De Boschplaat Terschelling, Friesland 2,400 3 Dark Sky Park Designated on October 7, 2016
File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg The Netherlands Lauwersmeer Friesland 5,000 4 Dark Sky Park Designated October 2016
File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, Mackenzie Basin, Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki 436,700 3 Dark Sky Reserve Designated on June 9, 2012[60][61]
File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Aotea / Great Barrier Island Great Barrier Island 28,500 2 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated in 2017[62]
File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Oxford Forest Conservation Area North Canterbury 11,350 Dark Sky Park Designated in 2024[63]
File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Stewart Island-Rakiura Stewart Island 174,600 2 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated in 2019[64]
File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Wai-iti Dark Sky Park Tasman District 135 3 Dark Sky Park Designated in 2020[65]
File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve Wairarapa 366,500 2 Dark Sky Reserve Designated in 2023[66]
File:Flag of Niue.svg Niue Niue Niue 25,900 2 Dark Sky Sanctuary / Dark Sky Community Designated in 2020. First whole country to become an International Dark Sky Place.[67]
File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland Bieszczady Starry-Sky Park Subcarpathia 113,846 2–3 Designated on March 8, 2013[68]
File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland Sopotnia Wielka Silesian Voivodeship Dark Sky Community Designated November 2023[69]
File:Flag of Poland.svg Poland
File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia
File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine 		East Carpathian Dark-Sky Tripark Bieszczady Starry-Sky Park (Poland)
Poloniny Dark-Sky Park (Slovakia)
Transcarpathian Dark-Sky Park (Ukraine) 		208,667 2–3 Designated on September 9, 2016; first world's trilateral dark-sky park
File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia Poloniny Dark-Sky Park Poloniny National Park 48,519 2–3 Designated on December 3, 2010[70]
File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia Veľká Fatra Dark-Sky Park Veľká Fatra National Park (part of) 325 3–4 Designated on June 12, 2015[71]
File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 95,000 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated in 2019[72]
File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park North Gyeongsang Province, Yeongyang County 390 4 Dark Sky Park Designated on November 1, 2015[73]
File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain Albanyà Catalonia 9,440 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated June 2017
File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine Transcarpathian Dark-Sky Park Uzhansky National Nature Park 46,302 2 Designated on June 10, 2016
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Sark Channel Islands 545 3 Dark Sky Community Designated on January 31, 2011; IDA's first international dark-sky island (Silver tier)[51][74]
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Bodmin Moor Dark Sky Landscape Cornwall 43,400 3 Dark Sky Park Designated July 2017
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom West Penwith Cornwall 13,584 3-4 Dark Sky Park Designated December 2021
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Exmoor National Park Devon / Somerset 18,100 3 Dark Sky Reserve Designated October 10, 2011
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Cranborne Chase National Landscape Dorset / Hampshire / Wiltshire 98,300 4-4.5 Dark Sky Reserve (Provisional) Designated October 2019
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Moore’s Reserve Hampshire / Sussex 162,700 4.5 Dark Sky Reserve Designated May 2016
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory Northern Ireland 1,402 1-2 Dark Sky Park Designated September 2020[75]
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Northumberland International Dark Sky Park Northumberland 148,200 4 Dark Sky Park Designated on December 9, 2013[76][77]
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom North York Moors National Park North Yorkshire 143,600 4 Dark Sky Reserve Designated December 2020
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Yorkshire Dales National Park North Yorkshire 218,000 4-4.5 Dark Sky Reserve Designated 2020
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Mata ki te Rangi (Eyes To the Sky) Pitcairn Islands 4,325 1 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated March 18, 2019[78]
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Galloway Forest Park Scotland 75,000 3 Dark Sky Park Designated on November 16, 2009[79]
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Isle of Coll Scotland 7,700 1 Dark Sky Community Designated on December 9, 2013[80]
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Moffat Scotland 18,700 4 Dark Sky Community Designated 2016
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom North Ronaldsay Dark Sky Island Scotland 700 5 Dark Sky Community Designated 2021
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Tomintoul and Glenlivet – Cairngorms National Park Scotland 24,400 3-4 Dark Sky Park Designated 2018
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli) Wales 179 2 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated February 22, 2023[81]
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park Wales 134,700 4 Dark Sky Reserve Designated February 19, 2013
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Elan Valley Estate Wales 18,000 3-4 Dark Sky Park Designated 2015[82]
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) Wales 213,200 4 Dark Sky Reserve Designated 2015[83]
File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Presteigne and Norton Dark Sky Community Wales 4,000 Dark Sky Community Designated 2023
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Chiricahua National Monument Arizona 4,860 1 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2021[84]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Flagstaff Arizona 17,100 5 Dark Sky Community Designated 2001, first Dark Sky Place certified by the IDA[85]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument /

Walnut Canyon National Monument / Wupatki National Monument

Arizona 17,500 3 Dark Sky Park Designated 2016[86]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Fountain Hills Arizona 5,270 6 Dark Sky Community Designated 2018
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Grand Canyon National Park Arizona 493,100 1-2 Dark Sky Park Designated June 2016[87]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument Arizona 404,700 1 Dark Sky Park Designated 2014[88]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Kartchner Caverns State Park Arizona 290 3 Dark Sky Park Designated August 2017
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Oracle State Park Arizona 1,619 4 Dark Sky Park Designated 2014[89]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Petrified Forest National Park Arizona 59,460 3 Dark Sky Park Designated June 2018
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Pipe Spring National Monument Arizona 16 3 Dark Sky Park Designated March 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Sedona Arizona 4,970 4 Dark Sky Community Designated 2014[90]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Anza-Borrego Desert State Park California 237,100 4 Dark Sky Park Designated January 2018
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Death Valley National Park California 1,374,300 3 Dark Sky Park Designated 2013[91]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Joshua Tree National Park California 321,800 4 Dark Sky Park Designated July 26, 2017[92]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Colorado 12,440 3 Dark Sky Park Designated 2015[93]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Curecanti National Recreation Area Colorado 17,003 3 Dark Sky Park Designated August 2021[94]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Dinosaur National Monument Colorado / Utah 85,098 3 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2019[95]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Colorado 2,427 4 Dark Sky Park Designated June 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Colorado 60,310 2 Dark Sky Park Designated 2019
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Hovenweep National Monument Colorado / Utah 310 2 Dark Sky Park Designated 2014
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Jackson Lake State Park Colorado 1,320 3-4 Dark Sky Park Designated September 2020
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Lake Fork Earth and Sky Center Colorado 24 2 Dark Sky Park Designated September 2020
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Mesa Verde National Park Colorado 21,200 3 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Norwood Colorado 104 5 Dark Sky Community Designated 2019
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Top of the Pines Colorado 71 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated November 2021[96]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Big Cypress National Preserve Florida 290,000 3 Dark Sky Park [97] Designated 2016
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Florida 21,853[98] 3 Dark Sky Park[97] Designated 2016
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Stephen C. Foster State Park Georgia 32 2 Dark Sky Park Designated November 2016[99]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve Idaho 366,742 3 Dark Sky Reserve Designated December 2017[100]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Craters of the Moon National Monument Idaho 303,500 3 Dark Sky Park Designated August 2017[101]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Middle Fork River Forest Preserve Illinois 688 4 Dark Sky Park Designated 2018[102]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Potawatomi Wildlife Park Indiana 116 4.5 Dark Sky Preserve Designated in 2003[103]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Woods Maine 29,900 3 Dark Sky Park Designated May 2021[104]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Maine 35,400 3 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated May 2020
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area Michigan 3,720 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated April 2024[105]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park Michigan 340 4.5 Dark Sky Park Designated January 2020[106]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States The Headlands Michigan 220 4 Dark Sky Park Designated in 2011[107]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Keweenaw Dark Sky Park Michigan 226 3 Dark Sky Park Designated in June 2022
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Lake Hudson State Recreation Area Michigan 890 3 Dark Sky Preserve Designated in 1993[108]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Negwegon State Park Michigan 1,513 Dark Sky Preserve Designated in 2016[109]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Port Crescent State Park Michigan 2,400 3 Dark Sky Preserve Designated in 2012[110]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Rockport Recreation Area Michigan 4,800 Dark Sky Preserve Designated in 2016[111]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Thompson's Harbor State Park Michigan 2,068 2 Dark Sky Preserve Designated in 2016[112]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Wilderness State Park Michigan 4,254 2 Dark Sky Preserve Designated in 2012[113]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Minnesota 440,000 1 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated in 2020[114]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Voyageurs National Park Minnesota 88,200 4 Dark Sky Park Designated in 2020
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge Montana 3,730 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated October 2022[115]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Medicine Rocks State Park Montana 140 1 Dark Sky Park Designated December 2020[116]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area Nebraska 295 3-4 Dark Sky Park Designated 2022
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Great Basin National Park Nevada 31,230 1 Dark Sky Park Designated in 2016[117]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area Nevada 40,990 2-3 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated April 2019
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Capulin Volcano National Monument New Mexico 320 2 Dark Sky Park Designated August 2016[118]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Chaco Culture National Historical Park New Mexico 13,759 2–3[119] Dark Sky Park Designated on August 28, 2013[120]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Clayton Lake State Park New Mexico 79.6 3 Dark Sky Park Designated June 29, 2010[121]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States El Morro National Monument New Mexico 517 3 Dark Sky Park Designated December 2019
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Fort Union National Monument New Mexico 290 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated September 2019
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument New Mexico 399 2 Dark Sky Park Designated September 2016
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Tonto National Monument New Mexico 450 4-4.5 Dark Sky Park Designated May 2019
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Tumacácori National Historical Park New Mexico 150 4-4.5 Dark Sky Park Designated May 2018
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge New Mexico 230 6 Urban Night Sky Place Designated October 2019
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Valles Caldera National Preserve New Mexico 36100 3 Dark Sky Park Designated February 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Geauga Observatory Park Ohio 450 4 Dark Sky Park Designated on August 20, 2011[122]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Oregon Outback Oregon 1,007,421 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated on March 11, 2024[123]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Prineville Reservoir State Park Oregon 120 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated May 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania 430 2[124] Dark Sky Park Designated as a State DSP in 2000 by the Pennsylvania DCNR;
Designated as an International DSP on June 11, 2007, by the IDA.
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Bee Cave Texas 2,221 9 Dark Sky Community Designated 2023
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Big Bend National Park Texas 324,219 3-4 Dark Sky Park Designated February 11, 2012[125]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Big Bend Ranch State Park Texas 125,800 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated November 2017[126]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Black Gap Wildlife Management Area Texas 41,680 3 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated August 2021[127]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Copper Breaks State Park Texas 782 3 Dark Sky Park Designated August 6, 2014[128]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Devils River State Natural Area — Del Norte Unit Texas 8,030 2-3 Dark Sky Sanctuary Designated January 2019
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Dripping Springs Texas 30,300 5 Dark Sky Community Designated February 11, 2014[129]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Enchanted Rock State Natural Area Texas 682 2 Dark Sky Park Designated August 6, 2014[128]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park Texas 640 3 Dark Sky Park Designated November 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Milton Reimers Ranch Park Texas 982 4.5 Dark Sky Park Designated November 2021[130]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States UBarU Camp and Retreat Center Texas 57.5 2–3 Dark Sky Park Designated in 2015; only DSP in the USA on private land[131]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Antelope Island State Park Utah 11,660 4.5 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2017[132]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Arches National Park Utah 31,000 3-4 Dark Sky Park Designated July 2019[133]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Bryce Canyon National Park Utah 14,500 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated August 2019[134]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Canyonlands National Park Utah 136,500 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated August 2015[135]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Capitol Reef National Park Utah 99,000 1 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2015[136]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Cedar Breaks National Monument Utah 2,490 3 Dark Sky Park Designated March 2017[137]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Dead Horse Point State Park Utah 2,170 3 Dark Sky Park Designated June 2016[138]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States East Canyon State Park Utah 295 4 Dark Sky Park Designated August 2020
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Fremont Indian State Park Utah 486 2-3 Dark Sky Park Designated March 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Goblin Valley State Park Utah 4,012 3-4 Dark Sky Park Designated September 2016
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Goosenecks State Park Utah 40 4 Dark Sky Park Designated March 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Jordanelle State Park Utah 2,710 4.5 Dark Sky Park Designated January 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Natural Bridges National Monument Utah 3,090 2 Dark Sky Park Designated in 2007; first international dark-sky park[5]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States North Fork Park Utah 1,000 4.5 Dark Sky Park Designated 2015[139]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Rainbow Bridge National Monument Utah 41,400 5 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2018
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Rockport State Park Utah 480 4 Dark Sky Park Designated January 2021
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Timpanogos Cave National Monument Utah 100 5 Urban Night Sky Place Designated September 2020
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Zion National Park Utah 58,800 3 Dark Sky Park Designated June 2021[140]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Sky Meadows State Park Virginia 754 4.5 Dark Sky Park Designated April 2021[141]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Goldendale Observatory Washington 2 Dark Sky Park Designated June 29, 2010[121]
File:Flag of the United States.svg United States Newport State Park Wisconsin 960 3 Dark Sky Park Designated in 2017[142][143]

Protected zones

Around observatories

Name Country Radius (in km)
Mount John University Observatory New Zealand 37
Kitt Peak US 56
Mont Mégantic Observatory Canada 50
Palomar Observatory US 48
Mount Hopkins US 40
Monte Ekar Observatory Italy 30
Asiago Astrophysical Observatory Italy 30
Mount Laguna US 24
Observatoire de Haute-Provence France 15
Ondřejov Observatory Czech Republic 10
Kleť Czech Republic 10
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory Canada 5
McDonald Observatory US 92
Molėtai Astronomical Observatory Lithuania 3.5

Other

Some regions, like the following, are protected without any reference to an observatory or a park.

By country

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Canada

In the Canadian program, lighting within the area must be strictly controlled to minimize the impact of artificial lighting on wildlife. These guidelines are more stringent than in other countries that lack the extensive wilderness areas that still exist in Canada. The management of a Canadian DSP extends their outreach programs from the public that visit the site to include the promotion of better lighting policies in surrounding urban areas. Currently, dark-sky preserves have more control over internal and external lighting than other programs.

With the increase in regional light pollution, some observatories have actively worked with cities in their region to establish protection zones where there is controlled light pollution. These areas may not yet have been declared dark-sky preserves.

Although dark-sky preserve designations are generally sought by astronomers, it is clear that preserving natural darkness has positive effects on the health of nocturnal wildlife within the parks. For example, the nocturnal black-footed ferret was reintroduced to the Grasslands National Park dark-sky preserve and the success of the reintroduction is enhanced by the pristine natural darkness maintained within the park by the DSP agreement.[145]

Scotland

The island of Rùm in the Hebrides was declared a Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2024.[146] The island has a small population who value the dark sky, and know that too much artificial light negatively affects the young of the Manx Shearwater birds that breed on the island. The local population worked to gain this designation. It is the second such designation in Europe, and the first in Scotland.[147]

See also

References

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External links

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