David Blanchard Photography
http://www.dblanchard.net/blog/2016/04/milky-way-rises-moonlit-cathedral-rock/
Arizona is too. If you want to see some world class, spectacular night skies, head To Arizona.
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.
East of Mosquite, NV is like that too.
Oh well...
With the naked eye, in my case with my glasses on. The sky is especially spectacular as seen from 8,000 to 10,000 feet up in the White and Inyo range of mountains east of High Sierra and the Owens Valley. We have night sky photographers from all over come here to photograph the night sky. I have even seen some of their photos posted here on FR in the past.
I have seen amazing things out in the NM desert at night :-)
Great place to have a nice Celestron telescope.
Just another excuse to take more land away from us in Idaho.
Parks are created for any number of reasons. So long as the current owners of the land are fairly compensated and then some, I see no problem with it. The outer suburbs surrounding me all have dark skies ordinances, street lights and retail lights have to be shielded to project light downward to avoid light pollution. I miss seeing the Milky Way, I don’t object at all. I went on vacation to the northern Outer Banks last month, pretty remote to the point that cell reception is questionable, and it was glorious at night. I’d forgotten how awesome it is.
Yes, it is. I have seen it there too. My parents were from Nebraska.
Thanks. I’d love to see that.
There certainly spots on the big island Hawaii, where there are no surrounding lights to distract from the dark sky.
If you get the chance, drive up SR168 east out of Big Pine, California in the Owens Valley up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (oldest trees in the World) in the White Mountains, and stay there untill it gets dark. You’ll be at 11,000 feet and the night sky is unreal from there. Paved road all the way up.
Like most everything else, the sky around S. CA has been completely washed out. Only a few bright stars are visible.
And I agree, desert skies are some of the best.
agreed - very likely another gov’t land grab
No one ought to be compensated for NOT wastefully shining lights UP into the sky.
There is always some fool bringing North Korea into these discussions. I wasn not aware that wasting energy by shiningg lights into the sky is the sign of an advanced society. Seems that putting light only where needed is smarter. And results in smaller electric bills.
BS. Not a land grab. Yes it most likely would meaw rules prohibiting certain cheap and wasteful lights. Just as there are rules against dumping trash and garbage into water.
There is expense involved in retrofitting. Offering relief to anyone experiencing demonstrable hardship is the way to overcome objections and resistance fairly. With new projects, there’s little to no added expense, it’s just existing outdoor lighting not built to the standards of the dark skies ordinance that is an issue.
Dunno, but Camp Bullis in north San Antonio is federally protected from “light pollution” and I’d join up again if they’d let me on at night! Well, and if I hadn’t already done my 30...
Colonel, USAFR (ret)
The view is certainly marketable.
I think this needs a fleshed out plan though. Maybe combine windowless casinos, infrared ‘play’ areas... some ‘kicker’ to make it pay.
David Blanchard Photography
http://www.dblanchard.net/blog/2016/04/milky-way-rises-moonlit-cathedral-rock/
Arizona is too. If you want to see some world class, spectacular night skies, head To Arizona.
Oracle
Me too, and then someone suggested going to North Korea, and I thought that was indeed a better idea.
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