Latest news with #DarkSkyInternational
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
These are the best stargazing sites in North America
Travelers are increasingly lifting their eyes to nighttime skies in search of impressive celestial phenomena and, perhaps, more. 'Looking up at the night sky is sort of what makes us human,' says Ruskin Hartley, the executive director of DarkSky International, a nonprofit group based in Tucson, Arizona. 'We have done it for millennia. Every single culture has told their first stories in the stars overhead, and they found meaning in the stars. Today, the vast majority of people are robbed of that.' On a clear night last November, I spent over two hours in a dome atop nearly 7,000-foot-tall Kitt Peak, an hour outside of Tucson, peering through one of their 20-plus telescopes. The moonless night along with the high and dry climate enabled our guide to share bright and clear highlights, including the Andromeda galaxy, the ringed planet Saturn with several of its moons, and a globular cluster. Outside the dome, we simply marveled at the stunning clarity of our galaxy home, the Milky Way. In the United States, 99 percent of us live in areas impacted by artificial light pollution. While dark skies are essential for many nocturnal creatures and ecosystems, recent studies have also touted the health benefits of darkness for humans. To help preserve and better connect us with this at-risk natural resource, DarkSky International has designated 155 dark sky places across the United States, six in Canada, and two in Mexico for stellar stargazing and efforts to preserve darkness. Among the five categories of dark sky certification, sanctuaries meet the most stringent requirements, says Amber Harrison, DarkSky Places program manager, and many are in the western part of the continent in less populated areas. Designated in 2024, the world's largest international sanctuary—half the size of New Jersey—is in the high desert of the Oregon Outback. This 2.5-million-acre sanctuary includes broad and flat basins, mountain ranges with elevations from 4,700 to 8,000 feet, and alkali lakes, says Dawn Nilson, a DarkSky delegate who consulted on the process. 'With little or no light pollution, you see these celestial objects against an inky black, smooth canvas,' says Nilson. 'What's particularly special about the Outback is you get to see all those stars reflected on flat, calm, alkali lakes.' Nilson usually doesn't take her telescope along because there's no need. 'With your naked eye, you can see the many colors of the stars and star-making factories, like the Orion Nebula and the Lagoon Nebula.' In this pristine darkness, you might even spy your shadow cast by starlight. (9 must-see night sky events to look forward to in 2025) Astro adventurers should be experienced 'remote travelers,' cautions Nilson, because there may be no cell service or facilities nearby. 'Always bring more layers for warmth than you think are necessary,' she advises. Outfitters, such as Bend's Wanderlust Tours, offer guided excursions, and Rose City Astronomers (partnered with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) hosts star parties. Oregon Astronomy will team you with telescopes and a NASA ambassador. Other U.S. sanctuaries include Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Maine's Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the only one east of the Mississippi. In the southwest, the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve spreads 15,000 square miles across southwestern Texas and Mexico and is the largest Dark Sky reserve. You'll find a constellation of guided options, from public telescope viewing at the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin to ranger-led night walks in Big Bend National Park to starry nights with DarkSky Texas. On any dark sky-focused adventures, we all carry 'a superpower,' says Nilson: The human capacity for night vision. However, that scotopic, or low-level light vision, takes at least 30 minutes to activate fully and can be negated by a white flashlight or a glance at an illuminated screen. Seasoned stargazers recommend using red-light flashlights and scheduling your excursion during the new moon phase for optimal darkness. (A practical guide to stargazing) With 28 certified dark sky communities and parks, Utah has the highest concentration of certified skygazing options in North America. That includes Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the world's largest natural bridges and also a sanctuary. The catch: Getting there requires a two-hour boat ride on Lake Powell followed by a one-hour hike. The site is considered sacred by many indigenous cultures, including the Pueblo of Zuni and the Hopi Tribe. Straddling the Canadian border, the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is the first binational international Dark Sky Park and includes Montana's Glacier National Park and Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park. Known for its mountainous scenery and rich biodiversity, the area is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, and both parks are UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Dark Sky Guides in Waterton Lakes will maximize your viewing, and you can join Glacier's summertime ranger-led astronomy programs. In Quebec's Eastern Townships, guided astronomy activities abound at Parc National du Mont Mégantic, including an aurora borealis show in the AstroLab museum and guided stargazing with telescopes. (Activities are in French.) To achieve reserve status, local municipalities replaced 2,500 light fixtures and reduced local light pollution by 25 percent. In the park, you can hike to three mountain summits and explore diverse forest ecosystems. In Alberta, Jasper National Park is designated a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, one of 17 in the country. The town is actually within the preserve's limits. Every October the Jasper Dark Sky Festival takes place, and features a planetarium and telescope viewing, Indigenous music and storytelling, and guided night hikes. Lately, both urban and rural areas are darkening their skies to boost astrotourism. New Brunswick offers 'easy access to dark skies,' says Stéphane Picard of Cliff Valley Astronomy. 'Even in our cities, you're no more than 15 minutes away from a very dark sky.' The province has three dark-sky preserves designated by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, including Fundy National Park, known for the highest tides in the world. Other parks and towns are applying for designations to create a coastal stargazing corridor. 'When you're looking towards the Bay of Fundy from the New Brunswick coast, you're facing the southern half of the sky which is where mostly everything arises,' says Picard. 'We call that the rising tides and rising stars region.' The province hosts star parties with telescopes throughout the year. Several jurisdictions have designed stargazing trails, including Tucson's Astro Trail with 11 dark sky experiences and Montana's Trail to the Stars with 45 recommended sites. With 12 Dark Sky Parks and another dozen working toward certification, Colorado has a self-guided 'Experience the Night' itinerary, chock full of daytime activities and night-gazing sites, including Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Mexico's first urban night sky place, Joya-La Barreta Ecological Park, between Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende, focuses on educating the public about the value of darkness. (Why Tucson is one of the best places in the world to see the night sky) East Coast residents seeking closer options can head to Pennsylvania's Cherry Springs State Park, which is within the larger Susquehannock State Forest and has laser-guided night sky tours. West Virginia's Watoga State Park's name derives from the Cherokee name for 'starry waters,' and travelers may spy abundant constellations here. As stargazing gains in popularity, DarkSky International has developed its principles of responsible astrotourism, which emphasizes respect for local cultures and environmental health, along with sustainable growth. Hartley hopes that immersive dark sky experiences will inspire people to 'make some simple steps in and around your house and your neighborhood and your city to reclaim a little natural darkness.' (Big Sky, brighter stars: Why Montana is 2025's ultimate stargazing destination) Amy Brecount White is a Virginia-based writer with work seen in National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, National Parks Traveler, Sierra Magazine, and more. She focuses on travel, particularly immersive outdoor adventures and moments full of wonder. See more at -
National Geographic
5 days ago
- National Geographic
These are the best stargazing sites in North America
Travelers are increasingly lifting their eyes to nighttime skies in search of impressive celestial phenomena and, perhaps, more. 'Looking up at the night sky is sort of what makes us human,' says Ruskin Hartley, the executive director of DarkSky International, a nonprofit group based in Tucson, Arizona. 'We have done it for millennia. Every single culture has told their first stories in the stars overhead, and they found meaning in the stars. Today, the vast majority of people are robbed of that.' On a clear night last November, I spent over two hours in a dome atop nearly 7,000-foot-tall Kitt Peak, an hour outside of Tucson, peering through one of their 20-plus telescopes. The moonless night along with the high and dry climate enabled our guide to share bright and clear highlights, including the Andromeda galaxy, the ringed planet Saturn with several of its moons, and a globular cluster. Outside the dome, we simply marveled at the stunning clarity of our galaxy home, the Milky Way. In the United States, 99 percent of us live in areas impacted by artificial light pollution. While dark skies are essential for many nocturnal creatures and ecosystems, recent studies have also touted the health benefits of darkness for humans. To help preserve and better connect us with this at-risk natural resource, DarkSky International has designated 155 dark sky places across the United States, six in Canada, and two in Mexico for stellar stargazing and efforts to preserve darkness. The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is the first binational international Dark Sky Park. Photograph by Alan Dyer, VWPics/Alamy Stock Photo In search of the darkest sanctuaries Among the five categories of dark sky certification, sanctuaries meet the most stringent requirements, says Amber Harrison, DarkSky Places program manager, and many are in the western part of the continent in less populated areas. Designated in 2024, the world's largest international sanctuary—half the size of New Jersey—is in the high desert of the Oregon Outback. This 2.5-million-acre sanctuary includes broad and flat basins, mountain ranges with elevations from 4,700 to 8,000 feet, and alkali lakes, says Dawn Nilson, a DarkSky delegate who consulted on the process. 'With little or no light pollution, you see these celestial objects against an inky black, smooth canvas,' says Nilson. 'What's particularly special about the Outback is you get to see all those stars reflected on flat, calm, alkali lakes.' Nilson usually doesn't take her telescope along because there's no need. 'With your naked eye, you can see the many colors of the stars and star-making factories, like the Orion Nebula and the Lagoon Nebula.' In this pristine darkness, you might even spy your shadow cast by starlight. (9 must-see night sky events to look forward to in 2025) Astro adventurers should be experienced 'remote travelers,' cautions Nilson, because there may be no cell service or facilities nearby. 'Always bring more layers for warmth than you think are necessary,' she advises. Outfitters, such as Bend's Wanderlust Tours, offer guided excursions, and Rose City Astronomers (partnered with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) hosts star parties. Oregon Astronomy will team you with telescopes and a NASA ambassador. Other U.S. sanctuaries include Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Maine's Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the only one east of the Mississippi. Rainbow Bridge National Monument is one of Utah's 28 certified dark sky communities and parks. Photograph by Ralph Ehoff, Getty Images Southwest stargazing options In the southwest, the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve spreads 15,000 square miles across southwestern Texas and Mexico and is the largest Dark Sky reserve. You'll find a constellation of guided options, from public telescope viewing at the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin to ranger-led night walks in Big Bend National Park to starry nights with DarkSky Texas. On any dark sky-focused adventures, we all carry 'a superpower,' says Nilson: The human capacity for night vision. However, that scotopic, or low-level light vision, takes at least 30 minutes to activate fully and can be negated by a white flashlight or a glance at an illuminated screen. Seasoned stargazers recommend using red-light flashlights and scheduling your excursion during the new moon phase for optimal darkness. (A practical guide to stargazing) With 28 certified dark sky communities and parks, Utah has the highest concentration of certified skygazing options in North America. That includes Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the world's largest natural bridges and also a sanctuary. The catch: Getting there requires a two-hour boat ride on Lake Powell followed by a one-hour hike. The site is considered sacred by many indigenous cultures, including the Pueblo of Zuni and the Hopi Tribe. The Pleiades star cluster and the other stars of Taurus rising above Mount Kerkeslin in Jasper National Park. Composite Photograph by Alan Dyer, VWPics/Redux Look to northern skies Straddling the Canadian border, the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is the first binational international Dark Sky Park and includes Montana's Glacier National Park and Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park. Known for its mountainous scenery and rich biodiversity, the area is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, and both parks are UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Dark Sky Guides in Waterton Lakes will maximize your viewing, and you can join Glacier's summertime ranger-led astronomy programs. In Quebec's Eastern Townships, guided astronomy activities abound at Parc National du Mont Mégantic, including an aurora borealis show in the AstroLab museum and guided stargazing with telescopes. (Activities are in French.) To achieve reserve status, local municipalities replaced 2,500 light fixtures and reduced local light pollution by 25 percent. In the park, you can hike to three mountain summits and explore diverse forest ecosystems. In Alberta, Jasper National Park is designated a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, one of 17 in the country. The town is actually within the preserve's limits. Every October the Jasper Dark Sky Festival takes place, and features a planetarium and telescope viewing, Indigenous music and storytelling, and guided night hikes. The night sky viewing program at Kitt Peak National Observatory. Photograph by Greg Dale, Nat Geo Image Collection The Milky Way over the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. Photograph by Babak Tafreshi, Nat Geo Image Collection More easily accessed starry skies Lately, both urban and rural areas are darkening their skies to boost astrotourism. New Brunswick offers 'easy access to dark skies,' says Stéphane Picard of Cliff Valley Astronomy. 'Even in our cities, you're no more than 15 minutes away from a very dark sky.' The province has three dark-sky preserves designated by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, including Fundy National Park, known for the highest tides in the world. Other parks and towns are applying for designations to create a coastal stargazing corridor. 'When you're looking towards the Bay of Fundy from the New Brunswick coast, you're facing the southern half of the sky which is where mostly everything arises,' says Picard. 'We call that the rising tides and rising stars region.' The province hosts star parties with telescopes throughout the year. Several jurisdictions have designed stargazing trails, including Tucson's Astro Trail with 11 dark sky experiences and Montana's Trail to the Stars with 45 recommended sites. With 12 Dark Sky Parks and another dozen working toward certification, Colorado has a self-guided 'Experience the Night' itinerary, chock full of daytime activities and night-gazing sites, including Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Mexico's first urban night sky place, Joya-La Barreta Ecological Park, between Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende, focuses on educating the public about the value of darkness. (Why Tucson is one of the best places in the world to see the night sky) East Coast residents seeking closer options can head to Pennsylvania's Cherry Springs State Park, which is within the larger Susquehannock State Forest and has laser-guided night sky tours. West Virginia's Watoga State Park's name derives from the Cherokee name for 'starry waters,' and travelers may spy abundant constellations here. As stargazing gains in popularity, DarkSky International has developed its principles of responsible astrotourism, which emphasizes respect for local cultures and environmental health, along with sustainable growth. Hartley hopes that immersive dark sky experiences will inspire people to 'make some simple steps in and around your house and your neighborhood and your city to reclaim a little natural darkness.' (Big Sky, brighter stars: Why Montana is 2025's ultimate stargazing destination) Amy Brecount White is a Virginia-based writer with work seen in National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, National Parks Traveler, Sierra Magazine, and more. She focuses on travel, particularly immersive outdoor adventures and moments full of wonder. See more at -
Economic Times
23-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Milky Way on Memorial Day weekend
Understanding the Milky Way Galaxy Milky Way's Best Viewing Period: May 20–30 Live Events How and Where to See the Milky Way FAQs Why is the Milky Way especially visible at the end of May 2025? When is the best time to view the Milky Way? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The night skies across the United States are set to host a breathtaking natural event as the Milky Way, our home galaxy, will be especially visible during the final days of May, coinciding with the Memorial Day weekend, as mentioned in a report by USA Today. Astronomers suggest that a combination of moon phases and atmospheric clarity will allow for remarkable views of the galaxy's luminous arc stretching across the heavens. For space enthusiasts and casual stargazers alike, this period offers an ideal window to observe the galactic core — a rare sight under perfect conditions, away from city lights and during moonless Milky Way, classified as a barred spiral galaxy, spans over 100,000 light-years and houses billions of stars, including our Sun. Earth is situated in one of the galaxy's spiral arms, about halfway between the dense central bulge and the outer edge. From our perspective, the galaxy appears as a soft, glowing band of light sweeping from horizon to horizon, giving it the name "Milky Way."As part of a galactic neighborhood known as the Local Group — which also includes the Andromeda Galaxy — the Milky Way is a major structure in our visible universe. Though omnipresent in the night sky, seasonal and lunar variations influence how clearly it can be to astronomical sources, the most favorable period to witness the Milky Way in all its glory will be between May 20 and May 30, 2025, as per the USA Today report. This timeframe spans the days between the last quarter moon and the new moon, when lunar brightness is at its lowest, allowing starlight to stand out more upcoming new moon on Tuesday, May 27 — just after Memorial Day — will mark the peak of these optimal stargazing conditions. Skies will be darkest between midnight and 5 a.m., creating a perfect window for the Northern Hemisphere, including all of the continental United States, the Milky Way rises in the southeast, traverses the southern sky, and sets in the southwest. Stargazers are encouraged to seek locations far from artificial light sources. Resources such as DarkSky International provide listings of designated dark sky areas — with over 150 certified sites across the locate the galaxy more easily, observers can use the 'Summer Triangle,' a celestial feature made up of three bright stars that align with the Milky Way's arc. Astronomy guides recommend checking weather forecasts and choosing cloud-free nights to improve visibility.A combination of favorable moon phases (leading up to a new moon on May 27) and generally clear atmospheric conditions will make the Milky Way's galactic core more visible during the nights of May 20 to May 30, darkest and clearest viewing window is between midnight and 5 a.m., especially on moonless nights near the new moon (May 27). These hours offer the highest contrast against light pollution and moonlight.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Milky Way to shine brightly over Memorial Day weekend across US: When and where to witness it
Stargazers are in for a celestial treat as our galaxy becomes more visible in late May skies. The increased visibility of the Milky Way coinciding with the Memorial Day weekend provides a unique opportunity for holiday campers and nature lovers. Those planning to spend the long weekend in rural areas or national parks could be ideally positioned to enjoy the celestial display. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Understanding the Milky Way Galaxy Milky Way's Best Viewing Period: May 20–30 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How and Where to See the Milky Way FAQs Why is the Milky Way especially visible at the end of May 2025? When is the best time to view the Milky Way? The night skies across the United States are set to host a breathtaking natural event as the Milky Way, our home galaxy, will be especially visible during the final days of May, coinciding with the Memorial Day weekend, as mentioned in a report by USA Today. Astronomers suggest that a combination of moon phases and atmospheric clarity will allow for remarkable views of the galaxy's luminous arc stretching across the heavens. For space enthusiasts and casual stargazers alike, this period offers an ideal window to observe the galactic core — a rare sight under perfect conditions, away from city lights and during moonless Milky Way, classified as a barred spiral galaxy, spans over 100,000 light-years and houses billions of stars, including our Sun. Earth is situated in one of the galaxy's spiral arms, about halfway between the dense central bulge and the outer edge. From our perspective, the galaxy appears as a soft, glowing band of light sweeping from horizon to horizon, giving it the name "Milky Way."As part of a galactic neighborhood known as the Local Group — which also includes the Andromeda Galaxy — the Milky Way is a major structure in our visible universe. Though omnipresent in the night sky, seasonal and lunar variations influence how clearly it can be to astronomical sources, the most favorable period to witness the Milky Way in all its glory will be between May 20 and May 30, 2025, as per the USA Today report. This timeframe spans the days between the last quarter moon and the new moon, when lunar brightness is at its lowest, allowing starlight to stand out more upcoming new moon on Tuesday, May 27 — just after Memorial Day — will mark the peak of these optimal stargazing conditions. Skies will be darkest between midnight and 5 a.m., creating a perfect window for the Northern Hemisphere, including all of the continental United States, the Milky Way rises in the southeast, traverses the southern sky, and sets in the southwest. Stargazers are encouraged to seek locations far from artificial light sources. Resources such as DarkSky International provide listings of designated dark sky areas — with over 150 certified sites across the locate the galaxy more easily, observers can use the 'Summer Triangle,' a celestial feature made up of three bright stars that align with the Milky Way's arc. Astronomy guides recommend checking weather forecasts and choosing cloud-free nights to improve visibility.A combination of favorable moon phases (leading up to a new moon on May 27) and generally clear atmospheric conditions will make the Milky Way's galactic core more visible during the nights of May 20 to May 30, darkest and clearest viewing window is between midnight and 5 a.m., especially on moonless nights near the new moon (May 27). These hours offer the highest contrast against light pollution and moonlight.
CBC
19-05-2025
- CBC
Could much of eastern Ontario become a dark-sky preserve? One group hopes so
It's a massive undertaking, but two men are hoping to turn much of eastern Ontario into a dark-sky preserve — and they're leaning into astrotourism, something they say has been a growing trend since the pandemic. Dark-sky preserves are considered protected areas that try to reduce light pollution and preserve the night sky for animals, insects and plants that rely on it. With that comes astrotourism, where people venture to those areas to see objects in the night sky that aren't visible in cities. "I call it covert environmentalism, but under the hood, it does wonders for people, wilderness, butterflies, bats," said John Criswick, who started the NWNC Dark-Sky Project (which stands for Narrows Lock, Westport, Newboro and Chaffeys Lock) and has been working to get that smaller region declared a preserve through Dark Sky International. They feel that going with that organization, versus the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada — which has certified numerous other preserves in the country — would provide more tourism attention internationally. It also wouldn't be the first in the region to be certfied by DarkSky International, as Mont Tremblant in western Quebec became certified a few years ago. Their undertaking doesn't stop there, however. Within the next few years, they hope to expand the project to cover a roughly 42,000 square-kilometre area that includes about 75 towns and townships and more than half a million residents in eastern Ontario. "It would make it one of the largest dark-sky preserves in Canada," said Criswick. That area would stretch from Cornwall to Hawkesbury, through to Petawawa, Bancroft, Algonquin Provincial Park and down Highway 401. It would exclude municipalities with populations greater than about seven thousand people. While Criswick said it's more of an educational campaign, they'd like to see regulations brought in by municipalities that would cover the types of lights used outside — for instance, a more yellow-red hue for street lamps rather than bright white. That's part of the challenge, Criswick said, as they're up against a growing problem in Canada and around the world — light pollution. 2% of night sky lost every year "One of the biggest things is the cheapness of LED lights," said Bernie Hasselman, part of the light pollution abatement committee with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. "Bright white gives off a lot of blue light and blue light is ... a serotonin inhibitor. So it prevents a lot of the ability for people to get the rest that they need." It's also a growing problem. The world, Hasselman said, is losing about two per cent of the night sky every year to light pollution, a problem that didn't really exist much more than 100 years ago. People who live in urban centres, he said, likely have never seen a truly dark sky unless they've ventured into the country at night. "They've never seen the Milky Way unless they've gone out camping," he said. "It's amazing how fast your eyes can be adjusted to darkness in about 10 minutes," Hasselman added. "But one flash of a flashlight and boom, you're back to starting all over." How to reduce light pollution Part of the initiative involves helping eastern Ontarians understand what light pollution is, and how to reduce it. "If you need some lights to be able to get safely down your steps or get out to your dock, great. If you want to have some lights in your garden, that's great," said Dustin Johnston, who's working with Criswick on the dark-sky project. There are small tweaks, however, that anyone can do, he added. "You can have [those lights] shielded or facing down or have them not super bright. You can have them on the amber spectrum." Before labelling much of the eastern Ontario region a dark-sky preserve, they're aiming toward holding a "dark week" in May 2026 — the 200th anniversary of the start of the construction of the Rideau Canal. "It's interesting to live here and be in eastern Ontario, in this region. It's pristine, it's beautiful. It's dark. It has all those attributes," said Criswick. "We're not really asking anyone to do anything, it's just going forward." Criswick and Johnston are holding a festival in Perth, Ont., on Saturday.
