Arches National Park In Utah Now An International Dark Sky Park

The Night Sky In Arches National Park - Credit: National Park Service
The National Park Service and the International Dark Sky Association have announced that Arches National Park in Moab, Utah has been certified as an International Dark Sky Park.

“I am grateful that the International Dark-Sky Association has recognized the southeast Utah parks’ efforts to share spectacular dark skies with the public,” said Kate Cannon, Southeast Utah Group superintendent. “The certification for Arches is the culmination of more than 10 years’ effort to preserve and share dark night skies in southeast Utah.”

This certification is a demonstration of the commitment of parks to improve night skies through the use of energy efficient lighting that also allows for better night sky viewing through less light pollution. 

Arches National Park is one of the four parks in the National Park Service's Southeast Utah Group. These parks include Canyonlands National Park, and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments. All four areas are dark sky park certified, with Natural Bridges being the world's first international dark sky park in 2007.

To celebrate receiving this certification, a ceremony will be held along with a star party on Sept. 21, 2019. This celebration will be held at the newly completed Panorama Point stargazing area in the park. More details on the event will be available from the park soon.

This comes almost a month after Grand Canyon National Park received the same certification.

Comments

Please check out the Ski Rex Media sponsors and partners. I love these folks and I think you would, too.