Earth and Space News: dark stargazing parks

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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Australia and Eurasia Have 11 International Dark Sky Parks for Starers

Summary: As of October 2016, Australia and Eurasia have 11 International Dark Sky Parks certified by the International Dark-Sky Association for top stargazing.

Southern Scotland's Galloway Forest Park shares simultaneous honor with southwestern Hungary's Zselic National Landscape Protection Area as first European International Dark Sky Parks; on Galloway Forest Park's eastern fringes, view of Clatteringshaws Loch, looking toward Low Craignell; Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, 16:49:03: wazimu0, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Flickr

As of October 2016, Australia and Eurasia have 11 International Dark Sky Parks that are certified by the Tucson, Arizona-based International Dark-Sky Association as committed to preserving darkened skies for exceptional stargazing.

The International Dark-Sky Association, co-founded in 1988 by astronomer David Livingstone Crawford and radiologist Timothy “Tim” B. Hunter, aims for night sky protection by way of dark sky place certifications and eco-friendly outdoor lighting initiatives. Certification as an International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) indicates to visitors the park’s commitment to eco-friendly protections of darkened skies for public stargazing enjoyment.

As of mid-October 2016, the International Dark-Sky Association has certified 41 International Dark Sky Parks. The United States has 30 International Dark Sky Parks. Of the 11 certified parks located outside of the United States, 10 are located in Eurasia and one is sited in Australia.

On Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, the International Dark-Sky Association named Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park, located in extreme eastern South Korea, as Asia’s first dark sky park. The South Korean eco park attracts stargazers with star-filled skies, with darkness protections expressly for firefly conservation, in an isolated, lightly populated mountainous terrain.

On Monday, July 4, 2016, the International Dark-Sky Association announced the certification of Warrumbungle National Park in west central New South Wales as Australia’s first International Dark Sky Park. Southeastern Australia’s volcanically-formed park is adjacent to Siding Spring Observatory, which houses Australia’s largest telescope.

The British Isles claim four International Dark Sky Parks. Three are in the United Kingdom, and one is located in the Republic of Ireland.

On Thursday, May 5, 2016, the International Dark-Sky Association named Ballycroy National Park in northwestern County Mayo as the Republic of Ireland’s first International Dark Sky Park. Ballycroy National Park protects one of Western Europe’s largest remaining blanket bog habitats in a low-density county with traditionally darkened, pristine skies.

A press release dated Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, simultaneously designated Galloway Forest Park in southern Scotland and Zselic National Landscape Protection Area in southwestern Hungary as the first European International Dark Sky Parks.

With certification, Galloway Forest Park also became the first International Dark Sky Park in the United Kingdom. Amplifying the honor is its status, as the International Dark-Sky Association’s fourth certification, as the first International Dark Sky Park accreditation outside of the United States.

Certified Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park preserves northern Europe’s largest manmade woodland and reservoir. The International Dark-Sky Association describes the United Kingdom's northernmost park as one of England’s darkest locations.

On Tuesday, July 21, 2015, the International Dark-Sky Association announced certification of Elan Valley Estate in central Wales as the first privately-owned International Dark Sky Park. Owned by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, the park offers public access to its land- and sky-based natural resources.

On Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, Eifel National Park in southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia state became Germany’s first International Dark Sky Park. The west central park maintains darkened skies as a fragile resource in one of Western Europe’s most densely populated areas.

On Friday, June 26, 2015, De Boschplaat, on the east side of Terschelling Island in the North and Wadden Seas, became the first International Dark Sky Park in the low-lying Netherlands. The park allows 24/7 public access, except for conservation closures. On Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, Lauwersmeer National Park in the northern Netherlands became the Netherlands’ second International Dark Sky Park. Lauwersmeer expressly aims for primitivity as a major migratory bird stopover point.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, besides sharing co-designation with Scotland's Galloway Forest Park as the first European International Dark Sky Parks, Zselic National Landscape Protection Area became Hungary’s first International Dark Sky Park. Super dark skies over the park in southwestern Hungary allow unaided-eye viewing of the Triangulum Galaxy, one of the most distant naked-eye viewable galaxies. On Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, Hortobágy National Park became Hungary’s second International Dark Sky Park. The park encompasses Europe’s largest continuous native grassland and maintains a pristine state dating back to the last ice age (ca. 110,000 to 12,000 years ago).

The takeaway for International Dark-Sky Association's certification of 11 International Dark Sky Parks in Australia and Eurasia is the global availability of naturally dark skies, intentionally preserved for enjoyable skyward staring.

See the Milky Way @SeeTheMilkyWay, via Twitter June 15, 2016

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

"Zselic park of stars.": See the Milky Way @SeeTheMilkyWay, via Twitter June 15, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/SeeTheMilkyWay/status/742997744965582848

For further information:

"21st Annual General Meeting and Conference: Sustainable Skies." International Dark-Sky Association > Events > Event Archive > 2009 Annual General Meeting.
Available @ http://www.ida.darksky.org/events/event-archives/38-ida/resources/198-2009-annual-general-meeting

“Ballycroy National Park and Wild Nephin Wilderness (Ireland).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/mayo/

"De Boschplaat Named First IDA International Dark Sky Park in Netherlands." International Dark-Sky Association > Dark Sky Places. June 26, 2015.
Available @ http://darksky.org/de-boschplaat-named-first-ida-international-dark-sky-park-in-netherlands/

“De Boschplaat (Netherlands).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/deboschplaat/

“Eifel National Park (Germany).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/eifel/

“Eifel National Park Designated the First International Dark Sky Park in Germany.” International Dark-Sky Association > Dark Sky Places. Feb. 17, 2014.
Available @ http://darksky.org/eifel-national-park-designated-the-first-international-dark-sky-park-in-germany/

“Elan Valley Estate (Wales).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/elanvalley/

“Elan Valley Estate, Wales, Becomes First Privately-Owned International Dark Sky Park.” International Dark-Sky Association > Dark Sky Places. July 21, 2015.
Available @ http://darksky.org/elan-valley-estate-wales-becomes-first-privately-owned-international-dark-sky-park/

“First Dark Sky Park in Australia Designated.” International Dark-Sky Association > Dark Sky Places. July 4, 2016.
Available @ http://darksky.org/first-dark-sky-park-in-australia-designated/

“First International Dark Sky Park in Ireland Receives Accreditation.” International Dark-Sky Association > Dark Sky Places. May 5, 2016.
Available @ http://darksky.org/first-international-dark-sky-park-in-ireland-receives-accreditation/

“Galloway Forest Park and the Zselic National Landscape Protection Area Simultaneously Become the First European Dark Sky Parks.” International Dark-Sky Association > Night Sky Conservation > Parks > Press Release. Nov. 15, 2009.
Available @ http://www.ida.darksky.org/assets/Night_Sky_Conservation/Parks/Zselic/Zselic_Press_Release.pdf

“Galloway Forest Park (Scotland).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/gallowayforest/

“Hortobágy National Park (Hungary).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/hortobagy/

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

“International Dark Sky Parks.” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places. International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/

“Lauwersmeer National Park Becomes Second Dark Sky Park Named in The Netherlands.” International Dark-Sky Association > Dark Sky Places. Oct. 7, 2016.
Available @ http://darksky.org/lauwersmeer-national-park-becomes-second-dark-sky-park-named-in-the-netherlands/

“Lauwersmeer National Park (Netherlands).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/lauwersmeer/

Marriner, Derdriu. "Star-Filled Four Corners States Claim 16 International Dark Sky Parks." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016.
Available @ https://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." Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2016/11/united-states-has-30-international-dark.html

"Naming of Two International Dark Sky Places Highlights UK Commitment to Dark Night Skies." International Dark-Sky Association > Night Sky Conservation > Press Release. Dec. 9, 2013.
Available @ http://www.ida.darksky.org/assets/Night_Sky_Conservation/UK_DSP_Press_Release_Dec13_FINAL.pdf

“Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park (England).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/northumberland/

“Sark Island and Hortobgy National Park Earn Dark Sky Status From the International Dark-Sky Association.” International Dark-Sky Association > Night Sky Conservation > Parks > Press Release. Jan. 31, 2011.
Available @ http://www.ida.darksky.org/assets/Night_Sky_Conservation/Parks/Hortobagy/Hortobagy_Press_Release.pdf

See the Milky Way @SeeTheMilkyWay. "Zselic park of stars." Twitter. June 15, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/SeeTheMilkyWay/status/742997744965582848

“South Korean Eco Park Named First Dark Sky Park in Asia.” International Dark-Sky Association > Dark Sky Places. Sept. 30, 2015.
Available @ http://darksky.org/south-korean-eco-park-named-first-dark-sky-park-in-asia/

“Warrumbungle National Park (Australia).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/warrumbungle/

“Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park (South Korea).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/yeongyang/

“Zselic National Landscape Protection Area (Hungary).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/zselic/

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

United States Has 30 International Dark Sky Parks as of October 2016

Summary: As of October 2016, the United States has 30 International Dark Sky Parks certified by the International Dark-Sky Association.

As of October 2016, the United States has 30 International Dark Sky Parks, accounting for 75 percent of the total of 41 International Dark Sky Parks certified by the International Dark-Sky Association.

International Dark Sky Parks celebrate the wonders of nighttime skies. All levels of stargazers, from novice to amateur to expert, enjoy exploring darkened skies that are undiminished by light pollution.

Co-founded in 1988 by astronomer David Livingstone Crawford and radiologist Timothy “Tim” B. Hunter, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) aims to protect nightscapes worldwide by way of the association's dark sky place certification programs. Certification serves to identify worldwide parks committed to promoting an outstanding quality of starry nights via dark sky preservation.

International Dark Sky Parks emphasize public access and outreach as well as proper stewardship of nocturnal environments. Certification requires usage of eco-friendly outdoor lighting fixtures as effective remedies for reducing or eliminating light pollution.

The first-ever certification of an International Dark Sky Park dates to March 6, 2007, with accreditation of Natural Bridges National Monument in southwestern Utah. The most recent U.S. park certification, occurring Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, for New Mexico’s Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument (U.S.), brings the total to 30 for International Dark Sky Parks sited in the United States.

International Dark Sky Parks in the western United States, currently tallied at 23, represent 75 percent of the U.S. certification total of 30. The star-filled Four Corners States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah account for 16 of the western United States’ 23 International Dark Sky Parks.

In addition to the star-filled Four Corners States, four other western states participate in the International Dark-Sky Association’s certification. Their combined tally of successful certifications accounts for seven International Dark Sky Parks.

Texas has four International Dark Sky Parks. Big Bend National Park in far west Texas offers backpacking and hiking trails and super dark skies. Copper Breaks State Park in northern Texas emphasizes its exceptional night skies amid a landscape of fractures and faults, known as breaks, two small lakes and trails. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in central Texas features star parties along with caving, hiking and picnicking. UBarU Camp and Retreat Center in west central Texas encompasses publicly-available, privately-owned land in a part of the scenic Hill Country.

Death Valley National Park in California and Great Basin National Park in Nevada contribute to the southwest’s dominant holdings of western United States’ International Dark Sky Parks. Solitary certification in the Pacific Northwest goes to southwestern Washington’s Goldendale Observatory State Park.

Seven states in the eastern United States account for seven International Dark Sky Parks. Four Eastern Seaboard states have International Dark Sky Parks: central Florida’s Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park; western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Observatory and Star Park; north central Pennsylvania’s Cherry Springs State Park; south central Virginia’s Staunton River State Park.

Two east north central states have International Dark Sky Parks: northwestern Michigan’s Headlands Park; northeastern Ohio’s Geauga Observatory Park. The eastern south central United States holds one International Dark Sky Park: northeastern middle Tennessee’s Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area.

The takeaway for the United States’ 30 International Dark Sky Parks is that proper stewardship of the nighttime skies expands appreciation of the nightly spectacle, naturally available to skywatchers and stargazers, that breaks up darkness with recognizable sparkles.

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

On Wednesday, June 11, 2008, Cherry Springs State Park became the United States’ second International Dark Sky Park but also the first such certified park in the eastern United States; night sky, with Milky War and stars, over Cherry Springs State Park, Potter County, Pennsylvania; Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010, 22:07:44: Nicholas A. Tonelli from Pennsylvania, USA, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_Nicholas_T_-_Sky_Rift.jpg;
Nicholas_T, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholas_t/5073271013/

On Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument became the United States' 30th International Dark Sky Park; annular eclipse visible Sunday, May 20, 2012, from Gran Quivira Ruins, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Mountainair, New Mexico; although formally closed at night, the park was opened as a special program for visitor viewing: National Park Service, Public Domain, via Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument New Mexico @ https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=CA5A00D2-155D-451F-67204EB2E4464DEE; (image URL @ https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery-item.htm?pg=0&id=ca781617-155d-451f-67c3-9672221ab9e3&gid=CA5A00D2-155D-451F-67204EB2E4464DEE

For further information:

“Big Bend National Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/bigbend/

“Blue Ridge Observatory and Star Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/blueridge/

“Cherry Springs State Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/cherrysprings/

“Copper Breaks State Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/copperbreaks/

“Death Valley National Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/deathvalley/

“Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/enchantedrock/

“Geauga Observatory Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/geauga/

“Goldendale Observatory Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/goldendale/

“Great Basin National Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/greatbasin/

“Headlands (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/headlands/

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

“International Dark Sky Parks.” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/

“Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/kissimmeeprairie/

“Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/pickettpogue/

“Staunton River State Park (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/stauntonriver/

“UBarU Camp and Retreat Center (U.S.).” International Dark-Sky Association > International Dark Sky Places > International Dark Sky Parks.
Available @ http://darksky.org/idsp/parks/ubaru/