Look Up: The Significance of Dark Sky Places

Light pollution is precisely as it sounds. The artificial lighting in our buildings, streetlights and homes brightens the sky and stops the stars from being visible. While this seems harmless, it can adversely affect people and wildlife. That is why Dark Sky Places exist.

According to Cade Freels, Observatory Specialist at Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory in Sunriver, Oregon, there are five types of Dark Sky Places in the U.S.: sanctuaries, reserves, parks, communities, and urban Dark Sky Places. “Sanctuaries are typically the most remote and thus focus more on long-term conservation of the natural night sky, while urban dark sky places typically focus more on public education of outdoor lighting that protects the natural night sky,” he explains. “The goals these places share are reducing light pollution, preserving the natural beauty of the night sky, and providing public education about the benefits of minimizing light pollution and protecting our night sky.”

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Central Oregon has four international Dark Sky Places, one of which is the world’s biggest international dark sky sanctuary spanning 2.5 million acres.

These Dark Sky Places help protect wildlife and can even benefit our lives. “Dark Sky Places protect ecosystems and wild species whose survival depends on the natural day/night cycle,” Freels points out. Disruptions to migration patterns, mating rituals, nocturnal behavior and circadian rhythms are some of the detrimental effects light pollution can have.”

Not only are the Dark Sky Places helping animals maintain their regular cycles, but they are also utilized to continue cultural history. “The night sky has been a source of storytelling myths and legends, guided navigation, and have inspired wonder and introspection for centuries, and Dark Sky Places ensure people in the future can connect with that history,” Freels says.

Light pollution has robbed us of much of the wonder and magnificence of the night, according to Freels. While it’s virtually impossible to completely stop light pollution in large urban spaces, becoming conscious of light pollution and taking measures—such as utilizing warm-color LED lightbulbs and motion-sensor lights in outdoor areas—are small gestures that can help limit the amount of light emitted.

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Without light pollution, we can see the Milky Way galaxy; stellar nurseries; our closest large galactic neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy, which is approximately 2.5 million light-years away; and a beautiful sky loaded with illustrious stars.

“Bringing more attention to Dark Sky Places can enhance public awareness of the importance of minimizing light pollution,” Freels says. “Not only for us to view the wondrous view of the natural night sky, but also for protecting wild species adapted to a natural day/night cycle. Many people may not live in a Dark Sky Place, but by learning about and visiting these places, people can understand the importance of minimizing light pollution where they live and the benefits that come from that.”