Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Monday 18 SepteMber 2017
Idaho hopes to bring stargazers to first U.S. dark sky reserve

taking darkness readings
By KEITH RIDLER throughout the region.
Associated Press Those readings, com-
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — bined with satellite mea-
Tourists heading to cen- surements, will be some
tral Idaho will be in the of the information used
dark if local officials get by the International Dark
their way. Sky-Association in its de-
The first International cision.
Dark Sky Reserve in the International Dark Sky
United States would fill Reserves have two main
a chunk of the state’s components, Barentine
sparsely populated re- said. The first is a core
gion that contains night area dark enough to
skies so pristine that in- meet the association’s
terstellar dust clouds are standards. The second
visible in the Milky Way. is a buffer area with
“We know the night communities that dem-
sky has inspired people onstrate support in pro-
for many thousands of This June 4, 2016 photo provided by Nils Ribi Photography shows the Milky Way in the night sky at tecting the core by lim-
years,” said John Bar- the foot of the Boulder Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho. iting light pollution.The
entine, program man- Associated Press proposed Idaho reserve
ager at the Tucson, The association also ping Springs, Texas, and miles (19 kilometers) to is mainly land managed
Arizona-based Interna- designates International Beverly Shores, Indiana. the south. by the U.S. Forest Service
tional Dark-Sky Associa- Dark Sky Parks, with near- The Idaho city approved “It’s nice to look up and and contains the wilder-
tion. “When they are in ly 40 in the U.S. Craters a dark sky ordinance re- see something greater ness of the Sawtooth Na-
a space where they can of the Moon National quiring residents to install than ourselves,” Jonas tional Recreation Area.
see it, it’s often a very Monument and Preserve shields on exterior light said. “We have a preserva-
profound experience.” in central Idaho, known fixtures to block light The Idaho Conserva- tion and protection mis-
Supporters say excess as a prime destination from going upward and tion League has joined sion, and preserving the
artificial light causes among avid stargazers, mandating holiday light- the effort, noting light dark sky and mitigating
sleeping problems for became one earlier this ing by businesses and pollution can adversely light pollution is a really
people and disrupts year. residents be turned off affect nocturnal wild- good fit for the Saw-
nocturnal wildlife and “There is some astro at night. life and people’s sleep tooth National Recre-
that a dark sky can solve tourism,” said Ketchum Becoming a dark sky rhythms.“Out of all the ation Area,” said ranger
those problems, boost Mayor Nina Jonas, a community could help types of pollution that ICL Kirk Flannigan.
home values and draw point driven home last with the larger reserve is engaged in, I see this He said a survey of land-
tourists. Opposition to month when thousands status and even lift as one we can combat owners, livestock graz-
dark sky measures else- descended on the town ing permit holders, rec-
where in the U.S. have reation outfitters, lodges
come from the outdoor and cabin owners found
advertising industry and almost universal support
those against additional for creating the reserve.
government regulations. The Forest Service will
Researchers say 80 per- contribute by putting
cent of North Americans up informational signs
live in areas where light about the dark sky re-
pollution blots out the serve and reducing light
night sky. Central Ida- pollution from its build-
ho contains one of the ings, Flannigan said. The
few places in the con- agency would not man-
tiguous United States date actions, and any
large enough and dark light mitigation by others
enough to attain reserve in the recreation area
status, Barentine said. would be voluntary.
Only 11 such reserves ex- Stanley, a tiny mountain
ist in the world. town within the Saw-
Leaders in the cities of tooth recreation area,
Ketchum and Sun Val- runs mostly on tourism
ley, the tiny mountain money. Its light pollution
town of Stanley, other measures are voluntary
local and federal offi- but have been effec-
cials, and a conserva- This Nov. 5, 2016 photo provided by Nils Ribi Photography shows the Milky Way in the night sky at tive, not only because
tion group have been the foot of the Boulder Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho. they could mean more
working for several years Associated Press tourism, but because
to apply this fall to desig- locals themselves like to
nate 1,400 square miles in the path of the total property values in the in an easier way,” said see the night sky, said
(3,600 square kilometers) solar eclipse. already pricey area by Dani Mazzota, whose Steve Botti, city council
as a reserve. A final de- Ketchum officials have keeping the night sky vis- group is coordinating ef- president.
cision by the association applied to become an ible. Nearby Sun Valley, forts among federal and “I go out most every
would come about 10 International Dark Sky a ski resort city, also has local entities. night and look at it be-
weeks after the applica- Community and join a dark sky ordinance, That includes an inten- cause it’s so dramatic,”
tion is submitted. Flagstaff, Arizona, Drip- as does Hailey about 12 sive effort by volunteers he said.q