Posted on 09/16/2017 5:48:44 PM PDT by LibWhacker
Idaho is moving forward with plans to establish the first International Dark Sky Reserve in the United States, a designation for a location so remote from light pollution that you can even see the "interstellar dust clouds" of the Milky Way in the night sky, The Associated Press reports.
Proponents of the reserve plan to file an application this fall to designate 1,400 square miles of central Idaho as part of the dark sky territory. Locals, who would voluntarily take measures to reduce light pollution, are almost unanimously behind the decision in part because they enjoy the celestial splendor as well. "I go out most every night and look at it because it's so dramatic," said Steve Botti, the city council president of Stanley, Idaho.
There are only 11 other Dark Sky Reserves in the world, with the only other in the Americas being Mont-Mégantic in Québec, Canada. The International Dark-Sky Association will take an estimated 10 weeks to decide if the central Idaho region meets its standards after the application is filed.
"It's nice to look up and see something greater than ourselves," said Ketchum, Idaho, Mayor Nina Jonas. Read the full report at the Idaho Statesman.
I used to live in SE Idaho. The night sky out in the desert is one of the hidden wonders there.
Cool! We were in Ketchum and Stanley in July. It is a magnificent place.
I’m very surprised to see that Mont Meganticmin Quebec is the only other recognized dark place in the Americas. That spot was made famous by Arnold’s march on Quebec that ultimately foiled the British plans to cut the New England colonies off from their brethren to the south.
Maybe it’s dark in Megantic because the sun never shines there.
Or they could just travel to North Korea.
North Korea LOL. I’ve seen those satellite photos of night over Korea. North Korea is virtually blacked out.
If Kim Jong Un wanted to get some hard currency, and deal with more of the world, he could rent out space in his dark country for telescopes.
“Proponents of the reserve plan to file an application this fall to designate 1,400 square miles of central Idaho as part of the dark sky territory.”
“Proponents” = two stoned hippies and one drunk democrat mayor.
This article is typical Nazi propaganda from the vile and discredited AP.
The sky in the Eastern Sierra of California extending eastward to Tonopah, Nevada is also one of the darkest places in America. Apparently unrecognized as such by the powers that be, I can see "interstellar dust clouds" of the Milky Way from here easily.
I came here to say that. LOL
Uh, no. The Week is a British publication.
I was traveling through Needles, Arizona, one night and finally had to pull over and get out of the car. The celestial sky was riveting. I noticed other people pulled over, too.
They don’t seem to be associated with the UN or any other corrupt organization, so I’m good with it.
Can you see the dust clouds with the naked eye or are you using a telescope?
“Dark sky” reservation?
Is this part of some reparations for slavery scheme? Or are they looking to get all of the dark sky and ghettoize it one place so that the rest of the sky doesn’t have to see the dark sky? Sure sounds racist to me!
There’s also a small town (I don’t recall the name) in southeast Arizona that goes to great lengths to avoid outside artifical light.
Sandrat - do you recall what it is?
We live in rural Kansas, and one can see the milky way quiet nicely from our front yard. There is a observatory less then 30 miles from our house if you want the big telescopes. It is dark out here in the prairie.
One of those outstanding plans I can heartily endorse. I was in Stanley last fall just before they rolled up the streets. What a wonderful place that needs to remain just like it is and require someone to die for anyone new to move in.
So I take it you oppose this?
I was in Idaho Falls for a few nights not too long ago. Had no idea world-class stargazing was possible 40 or 50 miles away, or I would’ve been out there checking it out! Been looking for a place with good seeing where my wife and I could retire and I could build a little observatory. Sounds like I should start my search there.
The oly problem would be the prevailing winds from Russia and China, you know, those bastions of ecological activism.
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