Dark Sky preserve
Encyclopedia
A dark-sky preserve is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory
, that is kept free of artificial light. The purpose of a dark-sky preserve is generally to promote astronomy
. Because different national organizations have worked independently to create their programs, different terms have been used to describe the areas. This has led to confusion between the terms reserve, preserve, and park. For example, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
prefers to use the word preserve because reserve is associated with a non-permanent status and could be related to Indian Reserves. The International Dark-Sky Association
(IDA) chooses reserve to avoid confusion with park, when using the acronyms IDSR (International Dark-Sky Reserve) and IDSP (International Dark-Sky Park).
In 1999, the first permanent preserve was established in Torrance Barrens in Ontario
, Canada. Nevertheless, protection zones around observatories existed well before the creation of that preserve.
The IDA recognizes protected areas outside the United States. The Mont Mégantic Observatory
in Quebec, Canada is the first such site to be recognized. In 2007, the IDA recognized the world's first International Dark-Sky Reserve around Mont Megantic
, Quebec.
IDA has also recognized Natural Bridges National Monument
in Utah as the world's first International Dark-Sky Park.
Canada has established an extensive standard for dark-sky preserves that addresses lighting within the DSP and influences from skyglow
from urban areas in the region. This was based on the work of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
. There are no other established standards for dark sky preserves. Outside Canada, such designations are generally through self-proclamation. As a result, the validity of such a designation may be dubious. In some cases, dark sky preserves are neither dark nor protected.
It is generally understood that a Dark-Sky Preserve, or Dark-Sky Reserve, should be sufficiently dark to promote astronomy. 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.
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
, that is kept free of artificial light. The purpose of a dark-sky preserve is generally to promote astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
. Because different national organizations have worked independently to create their programs, different terms have been used to describe the areas. This has led to confusion between the terms reserve, preserve, and park. For example, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is a national, non-profit, charitable organization devoted to the advancement of astronomy and related sciences. At present, there are 29 local branches of the Society, called centres, located in towns and cities across the country from St. John's,...
prefers to use the word preserve because reserve is associated with a non-permanent status and could be related to Indian Reserves. The International Dark-Sky Association
International Dark-Sky Association
The International Dark-Sky Association is a U.S.-based non-profit organization incorporated in 1988 by founders Dr. David Crawford, a professional astronomer, and Dr. Timothy Hunter, a medical doctor/amateur astronomer...
(IDA) chooses reserve to avoid confusion with park, when using the acronyms IDSR (International Dark-Sky Reserve) and IDSP (International Dark-Sky Park).
In 1999, the first permanent preserve was established in Torrance Barrens in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. Nevertheless, protection zones around observatories existed well before the creation of that preserve.
The IDA recognizes protected areas outside the United States. The Mont Mégantic Observatory
Mont Mégantic Observatory
The Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic is an astronomical observatory owned and operated jointly by the Université de Montréal, the Université Laval and the McGill University...
in Quebec, Canada is the first such site to be recognized. In 2007, the IDA recognized the world's first International Dark-Sky Reserve around Mont Megantic
Mont Mégantic
Mont Mégantic is a monadnock located in Québec, Canada, about 15 km north of the border between Québec and the U.S. states of Maine and New Hampshire.Mégantic is on the border of the regional county municipalities of Le Granit and Le Haut-Saint-François....
, Quebec.
IDA has also recognized Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about north west of the Four Corners boundary of southeast Utah, in the western United States, at the junction of White Canyon and Armstrong Canyon, part of the Colorado River drainage...
in Utah as the world's first International Dark-Sky Park.
Canada has established an extensive standard for dark-sky preserves that addresses lighting within the DSP and influences from skyglow
Skyglow
Skyglow is the illumination of the night sky or parts of it. The most common cause of skyglow is artificial light that emits light pollution, which accumulates into a vast glow that can be seen from miles away and from high in the sky...
from urban areas in the region. This was based on the work of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is a national, non-profit, charitable organization devoted to the advancement of astronomy and related sciences. At present, there are 29 local branches of the Society, called centres, located in towns and cities across the country from St. John's,...
. There are no other established standards for dark sky preserves. Outside Canada, such designations are generally through self-proclamation. As a result, the validity of such a designation may be dubious. In some cases, dark sky preserves are neither dark nor protected.
It is generally understood that a Dark-Sky Preserve, or Dark-Sky Reserve, should be sufficiently dark to promote astronomy. 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
Light pollution
Light pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
, 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
Black-footed Ferret
The Black-footed Ferret , also known as the American polecat or Prairie Dog Hunter, is a species of Mustelid native to central North America. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN, because of its very small and restricted populations...
was reintroduced to the Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park is one of Canada's newer national parks, located in southern Saskatchewan, and one of 43 parks and park reserves in Canada's national park system...
Dark-sky Preserve and the success of the reintroduction is enhanced by the pristine natural darkness maintained within the park by the DSP agreement.
Dark-Sky Preserves, Reserves and Parks
| Name | Location | Area (in ha) | Bortle Scale Bortle Dark-Sky Scale The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale is a nine-level numeric scale that measures the night sky's and stars' brightness of a particular location. It quantifies the astronomical observability of celestial objects and the interference caused by light pollution and skyglow. John E... |
Notes/Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper National Park Jasper National Park Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning 10,878 km² . It is located in the province of Alberta, north of Banff National Park and west of the City of Edmonton. The park includes the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and... |
Alberta, Canada | 1,122,800 | 1-2 | Designated on Mar. 11, 2011 |
| Cypress Hills | Saskatchewan/Alberta, Canada | 39,600 | 2 | Designated on Sep. 28, 2004 |
| Beaver Hills | Alberta, Canada | 29,300 | 4.5 | Designated on Sep. 3, 2006 |
| Zselic Landscape Protection Area | Hungary | 9,042 | 3–4 | Designated on Nov. 16, 2009 |
| Mont Mégantic Observatory Mont Mégantic Observatory The Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic is an astronomical observatory owned and operated jointly by the Université de Montréal, the Université Laval and the McGill University... |
Quebec, Canada | 5,845 | 1–2 | Designated Sept. 2005; first IDA International Dark-Sky Reserve |
| McDonald Creek Provincial Park McDonald Creek Provincial Park McDonald Creek Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located 10 km south of Nakusp along Highway 6 in the Arrow Lakes region. The 468-hectare park is bisected by Upper Arrow Lake, and it provides beaches, a boat launch and 46 camping spaces on the eastern shore of the... |
British Columbia, Canada | 2,225 | 2–3 | Designated in 2003 |
| Gordon's Park | Ontario, Canada | 43.7 | 2–3 | Designated on Aug. 15, 2009; designation is only for the Park though Manitoulin Island (276,611 ha) follows dark-sky practices |
| Bruce Peninsula Fathom Five National Marine Park | Ontario, Canada | 16,700 | 2–3 | Designated on Mar. 29, 2009 |
| Point Pelee National Park Point Pelee National Park -See also:*National Parks of Canada*List of National Parks of Canada*Long Point-External links:**... |
Ontario, Canada | 2,000 | 3–4 | Designated in 2006 |
| Torrance Barrens | Ontario, Canada | 1990 | 3 | Designated in 1999; first Canadian Dark-Sky Preserve |
| Grasslands National Park Grasslands National Park Grasslands National Park is one of Canada's newer national parks, located in southern Saskatchewan, and one of 43 parks and park reserves in Canada's national park system... |
Saskatchewan, Canada | 92,100 | 1–2 | Designated on Oct. 2, 2009 |
| Kouchibouguac National Park Kouchibouguac National Park Kouchibouguac National Park is located on the east coast of New Brunswick, north of the town of Richibucto. The park includes barrier islands, sand dunes, lagoons, salt marshes and forests. It provides habitat for seabirds, including the endangered Piping Plover, and the second largest tern colony... |
New Brunswick, Canada | 23,920 | 2 | Designated on Jun. 6, 2009 |
| Mount Carleton Provincial Park Mount Carleton Provincial Park Mount Carleton Provincial Park, established in 1970, is the largest provincial park in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada. Encompassing 174 km² in the remote highlands of north-central New Brunswick, the park's dominant natural features include the highest peak in the Maritimes, Mount... |
New Brunswick, Canada | 17,427 | 2 | Designated on Jul. 18, 2009 |
| Kejimkujik National Park Kejimkujik National Park Kejimkujik National Park is part of the Canadian National Parks system, located in the province of Nova Scotia... |
Nova Scotia, Canada | 40,400 | 2 | Designated on Aug. 7, 2010 |
| Lake Hudson State Recreation Area | Michigan, USA | 890 | 3 | Designated in 1993 |
| Natural Bridges National Monument Natural Bridges National Monument Natural Bridges National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located about north west of the Four Corners boundary of southeast Utah, in the western United States, at the junction of White Canyon and Armstrong Canyon, part of the Colorado River drainage... |
Utah, USA | 251 | 2 | Designated in 2007; first International Dark-Sky Park |
| Potawatomi Wildlife Park Potawatomi Wildlife Park Potawatomi Wildlife Park in Tippecanoe, Indiana is a privately owned and managed nature sanctuary.-External links:*... |
Indiana, USA | 116 | 4.5 | Designated in 2003 |
| Cherry Springs State Park Cherry Springs State Park Cherry Springs State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Potter County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park was created from land within the Susquehannock State Forest, and is on Pennsylvania Route 44 in West Branch Township. Cherry Springs, named for a large stand of Black Cherry trees... |
Pennsylvania, USA | 20 | 2 | Designated as a State DSP in 2000 by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and as the second International DSP by the IDA on June 11, 2007. |
| Galloway Forest Park Galloway Forest Park Galloway Forest Park is a woodland park in Scotland, principally covering woodland in Dumfries and Galloway. It is operated by Forestry Commission Scotland.... |
Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland | 75,000 | 3 | Designated on Nov. 16, 2009 |
| Izera Dark-Sky Park | Jizera Mountains, Czech Republic and Poland | 7,500 | 3 | Designated on Nov. 4, 2009; first bilateral dark sky park. |
| Poloniny Dark-Sky Park | Poloniny National Park Poloniny National Park Poloniny National Park is a national park in north eastern Slovakia at the Polish and Ukrainian borders, in the Bukovské vrchy mountain range, which belongs to the Eastern Carpathians. It was created on 1 October 1997 with a protected area of 298.05 km² and a buffer zone of 109.73 km²... , Slovakia Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
48,519 | 2-3 | Designated on Dec. 3, 2010 |
| Hortobagy Starry Sky Park | Hungary | 10,000 | ? | Designated on Jan. 31, 2011; IDA's third international dark-sky park (Silver tier) |
| Sark Sark Sark is a small island in the Channel Islands in southwestern English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. It is a royal fief, geographically located in the Channel Islands in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, with its own set of laws based on Norman law and its own parliament. It has a population... |
British Crown Dependency of Guernsey Guernsey Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet... |
545 | 3 | Designated on Jan. 31, 2011; IDA's first international dark-sky island (Silver tier) |
| Irving Nature Park Irving Nature Park The Irving Nature Park is a free park developed with the intention of protecting the environment. It encompasses a total of 243 hectares and is sandwiched between a salt marsh and the Bay of Fundy. This environmental retreat is close to the nearby urban centre of Saint John, New Brunswick, only... Urban Star Park |
Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada | 243 | ? | Designated on Jul. 1, 2011; First RASC-designated Urban Star Park |
Around observatories
| Name | Country | Radius (in km) |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald Observatory McDonald Observatory The McDonald Observatory is an astronomical observatory located near the unincorporated community of Fort Davis in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States. The facility is located on Mount Fowlkes and Mount Locke in the Davis Mountains of West Texas... |
USA | 92 |
| Kitt Peak Kitt Peak Kitt Peak is a mountain in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the location of the Kitt Peak National Observatory. The radio telescope at the Observatory is one of ten dishes comprising the Very Long Baseline Array .... |
USA | 56 |
| Mont Mégantic Observatory Mont Mégantic Observatory The Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic is an astronomical observatory owned and operated jointly by the Université de Montréal, the Université Laval and the McGill University... |
Canada | 50 |
| Palomar Observatory Palomar Observatory Palomar Observatory is a privately owned observatory located in San Diego County, California, southeast of Pasadena's Mount Wilson Observatory, in the Palomar Mountain Range. At approximately elevation, it is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology... |
USA | 48 |
| Mount Hopkins Mount Hopkins (Arizona) Mount Hopkins is a mountain in Santa Cruz County, Arizona part of the Santa Rita Mountains range. Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory is located on it. It is within the Coronado National Forest and was named after Gilbert Hopkins who was killed nearby in 1865 during the Battle of Fort Buchanan.... |
USA | 40 |
| Monte Ekar Observatory | Italy | 30 |
| Asiago Astrophysical Observatory Asiago Astrophysical Observatory The Asiago Astrophysical Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by the University of Padua. Founded in 1942, it is located on the plateau of Asiago, 90 km northwest of Padova near the town of Asiago... |
Italy | 30 |
| Mount Laguna Mount Laguna, California Mount Laguna is a small census-designated place in San Diego County, California. It is located at almost 6,000 feet above sea level in a forest of Jeffrey pine, east of San Diego in the Laguna Mountains on the eastern edge of the Cleveland National Forest. The hamlet sits at the high point of a... |
USA | 24 |
| Observatoire de Haute-Provence Haute-Provence Observatory The Observatoire de Haute-Provence was established in 1937 as a national facility for French astronomers. Astronomical observations began in 1943 using the 1.20 m telescope, and the first research papers based on observations made at the observatory were published in 1944... |
France | 15 |
| Ondřejov Observatory Ondrejov Observatory The Ondřejov Observatory is the principal observatory of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. It is located near the village of Ondřejov, 35 km southeast of Prague.... |
Czech Republic | 10 |
| Kleť Klet The Kleť is a mountain located in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, near the town of Český Krumlov. It rises above sea level, and on a clear day affords a view of the Alps to the South.... |
Czech Republic | 10 |
| Dominion Astrophysical Observatory Dominion Astrophysical Observatory The Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, located on Observatory Hill, in Saanich, British Columbia, was completed in 1918 by the Canadian government. Proposed and designed by John S... |
Canada | 5 |
Other
Some regions, like the following, are protected without any reference to an observatory or a park.- Regions of CoquimboCoquimboCoquimbo is a port city, commune and capital of the Elqui Province, located on the Pan-American Highway, in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Coquimbo lies in a valley south of La Serena, with which it forms Greater La Serena with more than 400,000 inhabitants. The commune spans an area around the...
, Atacama, and AntofagastaAntofagastaAntofagasta is a port city in northern Chile, about north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. According to the 2002 census, the city has a population of 296,905...
in northern ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far... - The island of La PalmaLa PalmaLa Palma is the most north-westerly of the Canary Islands. La Palma has an area of 706 km2 making it the fifth largest of the seven main Canary Islands...
of the Canary IslandsCanary IslandsThe Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union... - The Big IslandHawaii (island)The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
of HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...