Its dark, no street lights. Its cold, I can see my breath by headlamp. Im on a path surrounding Sawtooth National Recreation Area near Sun Valley, Idaho. Even during the night with minimal sight, I can l feel the large wild around me.
Im looking straight ahead when eyes looking back at me show off the glow on my forehead. I turn off my light as the bird raises. I look for its wings in the sky then see something even more special above my head.
This comet, Leonard, is more impressive due to the fact that Im not in a crowd when I see it. Its my own sighting and its almost impossible to see unless youre where I am. A Dark Sky Reserve.
The Leonard comet against the night sky. © Eddie Yip/ Flickr
What Are Dark Sky Designations?
For Leonard, I was lucky enough to be looking up at the correct time while also in the right place, the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. Its the nations very first designated reserve. There are 19 Dark Sky Reserves worldwide.
Reserves are the top-tier designation by the International Dark-Sky Association. Reserves are huge and include public and private lands providing extraordinary nocturnal environments that are currently protected for their natural resource worth. Idahos uncommon reserve, designated in 2017, hangs over 906,000 acres including Sawtooth National Recreation Area which commemorates its 50th anniversary this year.
Reserves have a core zone with a supportive buffer surrounding the safeguarded core. Sun Valley, Idaho belongs to the encouraging buffer for the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. Is Ketchum, which is officially designated a Dark Sky Community.
Other dark sky designations cover smaller sized areas and consist of parks, like the brand-new U.S. classification in West Virginia, Watoga State Park. Park designation requires location personnel to use dark sky programs for the general public.
Campgrounds and neighborhoods are granted classifications too. They earn neighborhood or location classifications. Outdoor lighting needs to be thought about, development design is likewise a factor as is residential education. Texas likes community classifications. The Lone Star State has four Dark Sky Communities consisting of Horseshoe Bay. Its about 50 miles from Austin, however its population of 3,500 prefers a natural setting for its lake homes so there arent any street lights.
The night sky near the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. © silent7seven/ Flickr
Why Do Dark Skies Matter?
Much like undeveloped land matters with the fast encroaching speed of humankind, dark sky matters too. It means there are still puts on our planet dominated by a black ink canvas pocked with bright white specks at night instead of the frustrating, manufactured light pollution found most everywhere else.
Dark Sky Sanctuaries are not sizeable like Reserves, but they are still significant. Theyre light on light, and light on traffic. No requirement to offer dark sky programming for the public if most of the public does not check out.
Arches National Park is an official Dark Sky Park. © Bernd Thaller/ Flickr
Border Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a Dark Sky Sanctuary. Farther away and even more difficult to get to is Stewart Island/Rakiura in the southern idea of New Zealand. Its also a Dark Sky Sanctuary.
Worldwide, there are 15 Dark Sky Sanctuaries. The majority of them remain in the U.S. (unlike Reserves where of the 19, theres only one in the U.S. The one I met Leonard in).
I wanted to be sure there wasnt a random reflection from powerline, snow rake or aircraft where Leonard had been. The slow-sliding, shimmering streak from the night prior to shown greater than the Sawtooth Mountain Range and well away from the airport with no powerlines or rakes in sight. Thank you Dark Sky.
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A Dark Sky Reserve.
For Leonard, I was lucky sufficient to be looking up at the ideal time while likewise in the best location, the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. There are 19 Dark Sky Reserves worldwide.
Sun Valley, Idaho is part of the encouraging buffer for the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. Dark Sky Sanctuaries are not large like Reserves, but they are still substantial.