How parks receive the IDA's Dark-Sky Certification

Most people don't realize that when they look up into the sky at night, they only see part of the picture.

What picture? The Universe.

As civilization has advanced, so has our tendency to attempt to light up every corner of the world.

There are a number of reasons why this is important.

However, there is one very negative side effect - light pollution.

When most people peer up into the night sky, they are not able to view the true sky as earlier inhabitants of the planet were able to do.

If you can find a place far away from the light, the view of a dark sky is spectacular.

You not only see prominent planets and stars in the foreground, you soon realize there is a mosaic of a gazillion points of light behind them that make up our incredible and infinite universe.

The stars and the expanse never ends.

Constellations pop out everywhere.

The big shocker comes when you realize you are able to view that wide strip of stars mashed together that make up our home galaxy - the Milky Way.

You can see it in a certified dark sky park. It's right there.

If you have access to a camera, just leave the shutter open for a dozen seconds, and you will really be able to see that telltale line of light produced by our neighboring stars and planets.

To protect the night sky and provide protected areas where humans can view the universe as it is meant to be, the International Dark-Sky Association was formed in 1988.

Their mission: "To preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting."

There is actual research on the harmful effects of artificial light on humans, wildlife and climate change. The group works with the public, city planners, legislators and manufacturers of lighting products to lessen that impact.

They also strive to educate the public and policymakers about conserving the night sky, promote environmentally responsible outdoor lighting and empower the public to start creating areas that bring back the true, natural night sky.

National and state parks apply for dark-sky certification

For parks, there are tremendous benefits for receiving a designation as a Certified Dark-Sky Park.

For one, the publicity it generates can be another reason for people to visit a park. The designation is a great marketing tool (and also provides ancillary revenue for areas surrounding the park in the form of expenditures at hotels, restaurants, gas stations, etc).

Secondly, a true dark-sky adds a whole new dimension for park visitors.

They can hike the trails and experience the park's amenities during the day.

But then at night, they are treated to a whole new experience exploring the nocturnal sky, in essence they become night hikers.

There are certain criteria a park has to meet to receive the certifications from the IDA.

They include:

• The park, whether private or public land, must be accessible by the public.
• The core area must provide an exceptional dark-sky space, relative to the community and cities that surround it. In other words, there must be either sizable distance or obstacles such as mountains that block the light from cities.
• The night sky brightness must be routinely equal to or darker than 20 magnitudes per square arc second. (There is actually a device called a "Sky Quality Meter" that was invented to measure the magnitude of light.)

Sky Meter Char

Applicants submit documentation about their location and that information is reviewed by a committee of people who have successfully gone through the process.

If the committee approves the application, it is then forwarded to the board of directors for final review and approval. This process can take from 1-2 years.

Look at any satellite photo of the Earth and you will see clusters of light all over the planet. The only blacked-out areas are remote locations or the oceans themselves.

But there are some smaller, accessible locations with quality views of the night sky. The goal of the IDA is to protect and preserve those places.

When you visit a Dark-Sky Park on a clear night, and see the vastness of the universe with our Milky Way cutting through it, you will understand why.

It's a rare sight. That's why we decided to publish this list of certified Dark-Sky Parks in the US. Out of the 63 International Dark Sky Places, America by far has the most certified locations in the world.

Visit these parks. Become a night hiker. Help your local parks apply and achieve this designation.

Viewing a pure dark sky on a clear, moonless night is truly an amazing experience.  And it's another way to appreciate this country's fantastic park system. And embrace our tremendous universe as it is meant to be seen.

Brought to you by The Park and Facilities Catalog which has supplied national, state and local parks with park furnishings since 2001. Our selection of outdoor products includes park benches, picnic tables, outdoor bike racks, trash receptacles and other categories. The staff is a strong advocate for parks and employees collectively have visited nearly all 59 national parks. If you haven't been to a dark-sky park - put it on your list of things to do. The view is spectacular.

Night sky at Arches National Park in Utah. Photo courtesy of NPS/Jacob W. Frank