Stephen C. Foster State Park Offers Darkened Southern Georgia Skies

Summary: Stephen C. Foster State Park, located in the Okefenokee Swamp, offers darkened southern Georgia skies as Georgia’s first International Dark Sky Park.

Georgia’s Stephen C. Foster State Park lies at the western edge of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge; the refuge’s lightless expanse (lower right) noticeably darkens landscape northwest of Jacksonville, northeastern Florida; “Southeastern USA at Night,” Expedition Crew 30’s digital camera photograph taken Jan. 29, 2012, from International Space Station: NASA, Public Domain, via NASA Observatory

Located in the Okefenokee Swamp, remote Stephen C. Foster State Park treats visitors to starry, darkened southern Georgia skies as Georgia’s first International Dark Sky Association-designated International Dark Sky Park.

Stephen C. Foster State Park’s schedule of events  includes astronomy programs. The winter season 2016-2017 schedule began in mid-December 2016 and ran through early March 2017. Stargazing events offered by the small park include Paddler Under the Stars and Swamper’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Winter season 2016-2017 offered seven Paddle Under the Stars events. Starry paddles were offered twice monthly from Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, through Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Winter season 2016-2017 finished Saturday, March 4, 2017, with the most recent Paddle Under the Stars. The ranger-guided, two-hour paddle through Okefenokee Swamp takes in wildlife, such as American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), and wonders of darkened night skies, such as the Milky Way. The starry paddles begin at the marina next to the park’s Trading Post.

Swamper’s Guide to the Galaxy took place twice monthly in December 2016 and January 2017. The hour-long program features naked eye and telescopic astronomy for observing the moon and scouting meteors, planets and stars in the state park’s darkened skies. The park’s assets include 8-inch and 10-inch telescopes. Swamper’s Guide to the Galaxy begins at the Trading Post parking lot.

On Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, J. Scott Feierabend, the International Dark Sky Association’s executive director, announced accreditation of Stephen C. Foster State Park as Georgia’s first International Dark Sky Park. Based in Tucson, Arizona, the International Dark Sky Association aims to conserve and protect the world’s darkened skies through the association’s Dark Sky Places program. The program comprises five designations: International Dark Sky Communities, International Dark Sky Parks, International Dark Sky Reserves, International Dark Sky Sanctuaries and Dark Sky Developments of Distinction.

IDA’s executive director noted the significance of the park’s designation. “Stephen C. Foster’s accomplishment is a big win for the American Southeast,” J. Scott Feierabend stated in the IDA news release. “Given that such little natural darkness remains in the eastern United States, we are especially pleased to make today’s announcement.”

Preparatory to applying for IDA designation, Stephen C. Foster State Park staff removed 13 street lights and transitioned from bumps to directional LED lighting. In tandem with the local electrical co-op, the staff installed downward-shining lighting as well as motion-activated sensors on cabin outdoor lighting.

Stephen C. Foster State Park comprises only 80 acres (32 hectares; 0.32 square kilometers; 0.125 square miles) in the extensive surround of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 402,000 acres (162,683.628 hectares; 1,627 square kilometers; 628.125 square miles).

Stephen C. Foster State Park serves as one of three main entrances to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The entrance is managed cooperatively between Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

On Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, Stephen C. Foster State Park celebrated its designation as an International Dark Sky Park. Stargazing in Okefenokee Swamp followed the celebratory ceremony. The moon, cooperatively in its waxing gibbous phase, allowed for detailed views of its craters. The darkened skies’ star-studded lineup included Earth’s neighboring planets of Mars and Venus as well as Polaris the North Star and night’s fifth brightest star, blue-white Vega in the constellation of Lyra the Harp.

The takeaway for Stephen C. Foster State Park as a small park with a prestigious designation, as of November 2016, is the excellent stargazing plentifully available under the park’s darkened southern Georgia skies.

Contact details:
Stephen C. Foster State Park
17515 Highway 177
Fargo, Georgia 31631

event phone: (912) 637-5274

website: http://gastateparks.org/StephenCFoster

hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Because of the park’s location within a National Wildlife Refuge, gates are locked at closing. No late access is allowed.

Stephen C. Foster State Park’s marina is starting point for mobile astronomy programs, such as Paddle Under the Stars: Moultrie Creek (moultriecreek), CC BY SA 2.0, via Flickr

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Georgia’s Stephen C. Foster State Park lies at the western edge of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge; the refuge’s lightless expanse noticeably darkens landscape northwest of Jacksonville, northeastern Florida; “Southeastern USA at Night,” Expedition Crew 30’s digital camera photograph taken Jan. 29, 2012, from International Space Station: NASA, Public Domain, via NASA Observatory @ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=77146&src=flickr

Stephen C. Foster State Park’s marina is starting point for mobile astronomy programs, such as Paddle Under the Stars: Moultrie Creek (moultriecreek), CC BY SA 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/moultriecreek/2931496116/

For further information:

“Dark Sky Celebration Astronomy Program.” Georgia State Parks > Events > Archive.
Available @ http://gastateparks.org/event/245687?c=13024159

The International Dark-Sky Association. Fighting Light Pollution: Smart Lighting Solutions for Individuals and Communities. Mechanicsburg PA: Stackpole Books, 2012.

Marriner, Derdriu. “Australia and Eurasia Have 11 International Dark Sky Parks for Starers.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/11/australia-and-eurasia-have-11.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Big Cypress National Preserve Night Sky Outing, Saturday, March 25." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 22, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/03/2017-big-cypress-national-preserve.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Gabriela Mistral Dark Sky Sanctuary Marks First IDSS Anniversary.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/08/gabriela-mistral-dark-sky-sanctuary.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Star-Filled Four Corners States Claim 16 International Dark Sky Parks.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016.
Available @ http://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/11/star-filled-four-corners-states-claim.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “United States Has 30 International Dark Sky Parks as of October 2016.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016.
Available @ http://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/11/united-states-has-30-international-dark.html

“Stephen C. Foster State Park (West).” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service > National Wildlife Refuges > Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Georgia > Visit > Plan Your Visit.
Available @ https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Okefenokee/visit/plan_your_visit.html

“Stephen C. Foster State Park.” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/stephen-c-foster-state-park/

“Stephen C. Foster State Park Named Among World’s Best Star-Gazing Locations.” Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites > Information.
Available @ http://gastateparks.org/info/246529

“Stephen C. Foster State Park Named First International Dark Sky Park in Georgia (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > Dark Sky Places. Nov. 9, 2016.
Available @ http://darksky.org/stephen-c-foster-state-park-named-first-international-dark-sky-park-in-georgia-u-s/