Dark Sky Parks are specifically protected for their scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment. Northumberland National Park is part of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park – England’s first and Europe’s second largest International Dark Sky Park – which incorporates the National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park, and covers 1,483 square kilometres. This distinction recognizes “an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment,” according to the International Dark-Sky Association. In May 2016 the South Downs National Park became the world’s newest International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR). It is hoped that gaining dark sky reserve status will enable the two national parks to further develop and capitalise on astrotourism. The Quarry Exhibit Hall under a starry sky at Dinosaur National Monument. Learn more about how you can fight light pollution and support dark skies on the International Dark-Sky Association website. National parks are some of the best places in the world to appreciate dark night skies because the National Park Service works to protect these places from the increasingly prevalent effects of light pollution. Pry House Farm sits amid spectacular scenery and under wide skies. international dark sky park in Northumberland. It’s drier out there and lots of places have great seeing conditions. The night sky at a June 2017 star party at Capulin Volcano National Monument. Minninglow, off the A515 at Pikehall (nearest postcode DE4 2PN) The Arbor Low and Min… Milky Way composite image, Norber Ridge and stone barn in Yorkshire Dales national park. A colorful night sky over Glacier National Park. After sunset, an all-enveloping darkness grips the surrounding hay meadows and high fells, and the owners provide folding chairs, rugs, flasks of hot drinks, special red-light torches, astronomy guidebooks and binoculars so guests can marvel at it.• £72 B&B, upperswaledaleholidays.co.uk, The next Dark Skies festival runs across the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks 12-28 February 2021. In inclement weather, the company puts on a pop-up planetarium for virtual space explorations.• £15pp, hiddenhorizons.co.uk, The stark escarpment of Sutton Bank is one of the North York Moors’ best lookout points, and at night it is just as impressive as a balcony on to the stars. On a clear night here in Mayo, you can see over 4,500 twinkling stars, along with other planets in our solar system, The Milky Way and even meteor showers all with the naked eye. America's national parks need protection like never before and YOU can help! The park must commit to public education on the importance of dark skies. This year, the owners have added transparent dining pods with heating and music, where guests can eat dinner while drinking in the soupy night skies.• £130 B&B, tanhillinn.com, In the sleepy folds of upper Swaledale, Pry House Farm B&B is one of the newest members of the Yorkshire Dales national park’s dark-sky friendly scheme. The 12 National Parks Most Threatened by Oil and Gas Development, A Century of Impact is a 192-page hardbound treasure celebrating NPCA’s first 100 years of protecting America’s national parks. Under a dark sky we can see over 1,000 stars. Northumberland International Dark Sky Park was unveiled in December 2013. It was produced by photographer Michael Sinclair, who has spent countless hours under the night sky in the Brecon Beacons National Park capturing time lapse footage to put this stunning short film together. Washington DC 20001-3723. We can even see our own galaxy, the Milky Way, stretching across the sky. There are now 3 dark sky sites at national park car parks located at: 1. The Milky Way over the Racetrack at Death Valley National Park. Volunteers prepare for a night of stargazing at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. A five-year campaign for designation has resulted in the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors parks forming the largest dark-sky area in the UK, Last modified on Wed 9 Dec 2020 14.14 GMT. The Milky Way over Cedar Breaks National Monument. Preserving Our Past. Not only are the skies dark, but you can drive up Wheeler Peak to over 9500 feet and see more stars than you've ever seen. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. (and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada; together, these two parks make up Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, the first International Dark-Sky Park spanning an international border). The Milky Way rises over Ancestral Puebloan masonry ruins of the Square Tower Group at Hovenweep National Monument. Photo © Michael Ver Sprill/iStockphoto. Starry skies over Death Valley National Park, which holds an annual astronomy festival in winter. GLACIER NATIONAL PARK DARK SKIES. Pair your visit with a visit to Torrey, a ce… Stars over Hoodoo Ridge at Petrified Forest National Park. An International Dark Sky Reserve is a designated area of public/private land possessing exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage and/or public enjoyment. You must be logged in to post a comment. Exmoor Dark Skies Festival Friday 22nd October to Sunday 7th November 2021. Surprise View, off the A6187 near Hathersage 2. The festival comprises more than 100 events over 17 days, including dine-and-gaze events, after-dark runs and stargazing safaris. International Dark Sky Parks are publicly or privately-owned spaces that have exceptional starry nights and a nocturnal environment. We are so proud of our night time skies that we are due to hold our sixth Dark Skies Festival in February 2021, running from 12 February to 28 February. National parks are some of the best places in the world to appreciate dark night skies because the National Park Service works to protect these places from the increasingly prevalent effects of light pollution. Log in to Reply. The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks have been named international dark sky reserves, creating the largest dark sky area in the … Thanks to the International Dark Sky Association, both Glacier National Park and its sister park, Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada, have been designated as an International Dark Sky Park. In 2021 Bell is also running six North York Moors special weekends (£125pp), covering day and night photography across the moors. NPS photo by Jacob W. Frank. Taking back the night The Glenlivet and Tomintoul area is one of the best places in the Cairngorms National Park to discover the wonders of the night sky. Arrive at twilight and you’ll quickly be able to step out to areas unpolluted by light, where the horizon opens up.• northyorkmoors.org.uk, Try astrophotography on the moorsHelmsley-based photographer Steve Bell’s astro workshops offer stargazers the opportunity to freeze the night skies rather than just watch them flicker. Learn more about the park’s efforts in this radio interview. An IDA International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) is a land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment. Dark skies are found in rural areas that are free of urban light pollution. Now in its fifth year, this annual festival comprises a series of stargazing events all over the National Park From a city centre location we might see fewer than 100 stars with our naked eyes. Voyageurs National Park is now officially one of best places anywhere to see the night sky. The Glenlivet and Tomintoul area is one of the best places in the Cairngorms National Park to discover the wonders of the night sky and is the most northerly Dark Sky Park in the world and among the darkest skies in the UK! Stars over Owachomo Bridge at National Bridges National Monument. Vicky said: “Achieving dark sky reserve status is fantastic news. The Milky Way seen over a volcanic cone at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Stars over the dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. There are two observatories at Dalby (accessible by arrangement) as well as regular child-friendly stargazing safaris run by Hidden Horizons. A view up above at the beautiful starry nights across the North York Moors - an International Dark Sky Reserve. Dark Skies. Thanks to its pristine dark skies and a joint commitment to conserve them, the whole of Northumberland National Park and most of Kielder Water & Forest Park became England’s first International Dark Sky Park in 2013, a designation awarded by the International Dark Sky Association, which is committed to tackling light pollution. The night sky over the Lower Cliff Dwelling at Tonto National Monument. These 27 national parks have been recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association for their dark night skies. You’ll get a great view from any of our three visitor centres at Glentrool, Kirroughtree and particularly at Clatteringshaws which overlooks the unlit heart of the Forest Park.There are Dark Sky information points at the visitor centres and at a series of sites across the Forest Park to help you identify the constellations and planets you can see. For stargazers, there are night torches, binoculars and sky maps on hand: then they can simply stumble out into the grassy pastures surrounding the inn and look up to the inky canopy.• From £83 B&B, foxandhoundsainthorpe.com, Dine under the stars in a remote pub podAt the top of the Yorkshire Dales, down spindly roads you wouldn’t want to drive at night (book a room) lies the Tan Hill Inn – Britain’s most remote and highest pub. They are taking part in the Dark Skies Festival in February focusing on the need for unpolluted skies to protect nocturnal wildlife. The Fox and Hounds in Ainthorpe near Danby. This is an updated version of a previously published story. © John Meader/Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. To be designated, an area must undergo a rigorous process to prove the exceptional quality of its nocturnal environment as well as showing strong community support, encouraging the take-up of dark-sky-friendly lighting and facilitating educational activities. Parsley Hay, off the A515 near Hartington (nearest postcode SK17 0DG) 3. Shot of the Milky Way, Ravenscar, North York Moors. 777 6th Street NW Subscribe to National Parks Magazine now ›, © 2020 National Parks Conservation Association, Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, International Dark-Sky Association website, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park, Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Our Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The area has some of the darkest skies in the Midwest, which makes the night sky more visible to people on the ground. Lay out a blanket after the sun goes down and see a clearer view of the universe at these designated dark-sky parks. Nighttime views and environments are among the critical park features the National Park Service (NPS) protects. 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