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Have you ever really looked at the nights sky? Like really looked, miles from nowhere, away from all the light pollution? If you do you'll certainly start looking at and considering the sky and the universe in a new light. Now don't get me wrong I know nothing about the sky, stars or the planets aside from the basics we all learn in school but even I have come to truly appreciate the wonders of the sky.
If you have your nose to the ground when it comes to science or even rethinking public space and how it comes to be lit you might have heard discussions about light pollution and it's effects not only on the world around us but upon nocturnal creatures. Living in Metro Detroit there is a constant orange haze to the nights sky and it's rare that you ever spot more then a couple of stars or even a planet on any given night and this is increasingly true in many of the places - cities to towns that we live in. This is why Dark Sky Parks are having a growing and important presence.
As I previously mentioned last week we drove up to Mackinaw City to visit the Headlands - Michigan's Intentional Dark Sky Park one of only 11 in the world (you'll find the others in Utah, Pennsylvania, Washington, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, California, Scotland and Hungry) - places which are protected, mitigate light pollution, build awareness of the value of true dark skies both culturally and within science while offering the most incredible skies you'll ever experience.
While open all day, the Headlands comes to life at night, as you approach you start to realise just how incredibly dark real darkness is - there's no street lights to guide you or your car down to the viewing area and with your own torch you slowly make your way through the bush to the waters edge. You gaze up and you just see star after star after star, the sky - the universe above you just seems endless, you realise just how small we all are in the greater scheme of things. This place, this tiny insight into the universe above us, truly made me appreciate the need to understand it.
I could not recommend enough visiting any of the International Dark Sky Parks, or if you don't live close, just getting out into the countryside, you don't need fancy equipment, just darkness and the time to stare up and look. I wouldn't even suggest taking a camera - while a powerful DSRL might be able to capture it, this isn't a time for looking at something through a screen/lens. It's time to experience in the right now.
It'll be an experience that will really stay with you.
Have you ever been to a Dark Sky Park? Have any star gazing tips?
I could not recommend enough visiting any of the International Dark Sky Parks, or if you don't live close, just getting out into the countryside, you don't need fancy equipment, just darkness and the time to stare up and look. I wouldn't even suggest taking a camera - while a powerful DSRL might be able to capture it, this isn't a time for looking at something through a screen/lens. It's time to experience in the right now.
It'll be an experience that will really stay with you.
Have you ever been to a Dark Sky Park? Have any star gazing tips?
I would love love love to go. Just my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteOne of the many reasons I get so excited to go home and visit my parents is that it's so much more likely that the starts will be visible in the countryside. I've never even heard of a Dark Sky Park but the name alone sounds kind of magical. I wanna go!
ReplyDeleteSorcha x Bright Field Notes
I'm actually surprised in myself that I never really paid too much attention to the night sky prior to visiting. I do remember on nights when we'd drive to Hull to go to the cinema on the way back looking at the stars, and that's about it. It's odd because I grew up in the countryside, and I have no memory of how good or bad the light pollution was. I've noticed it now since moving to Metro Detroit and the difference between here and rural Michigan is shocking!
DeleteI've never even heard of these dark sky parks, but it sounds incredible. Since moving from the country I really miss being able to look up and seeing thousands of stars in the sky. I love trying to pick out constellations but can never see the shapes they are meant to be haha.
ReplyDeleteThe Google Sky app is really good for being able to see which constellations are which the virtual sky lines up with the direction your looking in too. Plus it points out the planets if they are around - it's really handy.
DeleteI've not heard of these parks but they sound like such a good idea - I love being able to see the stars at night!
ReplyDeleteJess xo
You might all be interested (if you're UK based) in finding similar dark sky sites in the UK - this website looks really helpful. www.darkskiesawareness.org/dark-skies-uk.php I know Northumbia Park Area was award dark sky status at the end of 2013.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen the sky like this but it has been something that we have been wanting to do for a while. Sometimes if you get somewhere dark enough you can see a little more and it just makes you want to see how much more you can see with more darkness. I actually didn't know there was one of these parks in the UK and Hungry... hmm have to look into that.
ReplyDeleteI'm not crazy on space science but space in a simplistic way is fascinating. I love the feeling of being so small compared to the vast universe and, well, stars and just awesome to look at and very beautiful!
Took me longer than necessary to write this comment as I was distracted googling the night skies haha!
~K
I'm the same, although we've since found the Carl Sagan book Cosmos which I intend to read and learn a little more. The Dark Sky has sparked a curiosity in me. I remember at one of the Forest Parks in North Yorkshire having special star watching nights but I can't say I ever heard of the parks I will be honest.
DeleteHopefully if we're ever back up in the area of the Headlands in a summer month we'll spend a little longer there - that or visit one of the other parks in Ohio or Pennsylvania and spend a some proper time star grazing, wasn't the warmest night in October I will admit!