Latest news with #darksky
CBC
21-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Astronomers want to preserve stargazing in eastern Ontario
Two men hope to turn much of eastern Ontario into a dark-sky preserve and they're inviting others to help save the starry skies.
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.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Why 'Noctourism' Is the Hottest Travel Trend of 2025
'There's something about being in nature at night that enlivens all the senses,' says Vicky Derksen. She's the creator of Night Sky Tourist, an Arizona company that organizes stargazing trips. In recent years, demand has been booming, Derksen says. 'The global dark-sky movement is making people aware of what they're missing at night.' Leading the charge is the nonprofit DarkSky International, which has to date certified more than 200 destinations worldwide as being well suited for stargazing and comet-spotting because of their low levels of light pollution. The demand for 'noctourism' continues to grow. In January, for example, the city of Tucson, Arizona, introduced its Astro Trail, a network of 11 sky-watching spots that includes the impressive 32-inch public telescope at Mount Lemmon SkyCenter and the pristine Saguaro National Park, which earned DarkSky certification in 2023. This fall, Phoenix will welcome a first-of-its-kind International Dark Sky Discovery Center, a 23,000-square-foot astronomy hub with an observatory, planetarium, and immersive exhibits. Another astronomical display, the northern lights, is drawing growing numbers to high latitudes. Canada's Yukon Territory, which borders Alaska, has seen a spike in aurora-season visits, and local outfitters have developed out-of-the-box ways to enjoy the phenomenon. North Country Outdoor Adventures, for example, runs nighttime ice-fishing tours near the city of Whitehorse that combine angling with night-sky viewing, while the new Yukon Spa in Dawson City has a rooftop barrel sauna and a whirlpool from which guests can admire the lights. Interest in eclipse tourism is also booming, particularly after the most recent show in April 2024. Similar solar spectacles will be visible in Spain in 2026 and in Egypt in 2027; demand to see them is so high that some trips are already sold out. 'Whether it's stargazing, night markets, the northern lights, or nighttime safaris, guests are looking for adventures after dark,' says Jim Lutz, the founder of Vaya Adventures, an outfitter. 'Long gone are the days when travelers expect to turn in by nine and turn out the lights.' Stephanie Vermillion's new book, '100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Adventures After Dark' (National Geographic), is available now. Wildlife Watchers See Kangaroo Island's nocturnal koalas, echidnas, and wallabies on a night safari with Australia's Southern Ocean Lodge. Hiking Enthusiasts Desert walks illuminated by the moon are one draw at Under Canvas Lake Powell–Grand Staircase, a Utah glamping getaway that also offers guided sky-viewing programs. Aurora Chasers Iceland's Hotel Rangá has long delighted aurora hunters with its on-site observatory; last year, it added private astronomer-led stargazing sessions for those who want to geek out. Forest Bathers In the woods of Alta, Norway, Holmen Husky Lodge has new 'Forest Suite' A-frames with views of the northern lights through large skylights. Safari Fans A new lodge in northern Kenya, Basecamp Samburu has night game drives and suites with alfresco starbeds. Duck the Crowds 'National parks are getting more crowded year after year, and stargazing programs are a great way to enjoy them with fewer people,' says Vicky Derksen, a noctourism pioneer. Enjoy Cooler Conditions Overwhelming heat has become an unfortunate reality of summertime trips to European cities. One solution is sightseeing after dark, with an after-hours tour of spots like Rome's Colosseum or the Acropolis Museum, in Athens. Skip the Hangover Drinking less, or not at all? Nighttime tours are an active alternative to bars and clubs. Many resorts are alsoadding astronomy-meets-wellness experiences, such as full-moon sound baths and starlit meditations. Do Something Different Noctourism can deliver a fresh point of view, whether you're hot-air ballooning in the predawn hours or hiking after dark. Millions of visitors see China's Great Wall every year, for example, but few go after sunset—something the outfitter Great Wall Adventure Club offers travelers looking for a new perspective. A version of this story first appeared in the June 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline 'The Dawn of 'Noctourism.'' Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
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Travel + Leisure
08-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Why 'Noctourism' Is the Hottest Travel Trend of 2025
'There's something about being in nature at night that enlivens all the senses,' says Vicky Derksen. She's the creator of Night Sky Tourist, an Arizona company that organizes stargazing trips. In recent years, demand has been booming, Derksen says. 'The global dark-sky movement is making people aware of what they're missing at night.' Leading the charge is the nonprofit DarkSky International, which has to date certified more than 200 destinations worldwide as being well suited for stargazing and comet-spotting because of their low levels of light pollution. From Left: Nightime in the Makgadikgadi Pans of Botswana; Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The demand for 'noctourism' continues to grow. In January, for example, the city of Tucson, Arizona, introduced its Astro Trail, a network of 11 sky-watching spots that includes the impressive 32-inch public telescope at Mount Lemmon SkyCenter and the pristine Saguaro National Park, which earned DarkSky certification in 2023. This fall, Phoenix will welcome a first-of-its-kind International Dark Sky Discovery Center, a 23,000-square-foot astronomy hub with an observatory, planetarium, and immersive exhibits. Rome's Colosseum at astronomical display, the northern lights, is drawing growing numbers to high latitudes. Canada's Yukon Territory, which borders Alaska, has seen a spike in aurora-season visits, and local outfitters have developed out-of-the-box ways to enjoy the phenomenon. North Country Outdoor Adventures, for example, runs nighttime ice-fishing tours near the city of Whitehorse that combine angling with night-sky viewing, while the new Yukon Spa in Dawson City has a rooftop barrel sauna and a whirlpool from which guests can admire the lights. Interest in eclipse tourism is also booming, particularly after the most recent show in April 2024. Similar solar spectacles will be visible in Spain in 2026 and in Egypt in 2027; demand to see them is so high that some trips are already sold out. 'Whether it's stargazing, night markets, the northern lights, or nighttime safaris, guests are looking for adventures after dark,' says Jim Lutz, the founder of Vaya Adventures, an outfitter. 'Long gone are the days when travelers expect to turn in by nine and turn out the lights.' Stephanie Vermillion's new book, '100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Adventures After Dark' (National Geographic), is available now. Wildlife Watchers See Kangaroo Island's nocturnal koalas, echidnas, and wallabies on a night safari with Australia's Southern Ocean Lodge. Hiking Enthusiasts Desert walks illuminated by the moon are one draw at Under Canvas Lake Powell–Grand Staircase, a Utah glamping getaway that also offers guided sky-viewing programs. Aurora Chasers Iceland's Hotel Rangá has long delighted aurora hunters with its on-site observatory; last year, it added private astronomer-led stargazing sessions for those who want to geek out. Forest Bathers In the woods of Alta, Norway, Holmen Husky Lodge has new 'Forest Suite' A-frames with views of the northern lights through large skylights. Safari Fans A new lodge in northern Kenya, Basecamp Samburu has night game drives and suites with alfresco starbeds. Duck the Crowds 'National parks are getting more crowded year after year, and stargazing programs are a great way to enjoy them with fewer people,' says Vicky Derksen, a noctourism pioneer. Enjoy Cooler Conditions Overwhelming heat has become an unfortunate reality of summertime trips to European cities. One solution is sightseeing after dark, with an after-hours tour of spots like Rome's Colosseum or the Acropolis Museum, in Athens. Skip the Hangover Drinking less, or not at all? Nighttime tours are an active alternative to bars and clubs. Many resorts are alsoadding astronomy-meets-wellness experiences, such as full-moon sound baths and starlit meditations. Do Something Different Noctourism can deliver a fresh point of view, whether you're hot-air ballooning in the predawn hours or hiking after dark. Millions of visitors see China's Great Wall every year, for example, but few go after sunset—something the outfitter Great Wall Adventure Club offers travelers looking for a new perspective. A version of this story first appeared in the June 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline 'The Dawn of 'Noctourism.''
