CITY OF ROCKS NATIONAL RESERVE, Almo, Idaho, U.S. – City of Rocks National Reserve (henceforth “City”) is proud to announce that it has received full certification as an International Dark Sky Park by the International… Read more
Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve Becomes New Zealand’s Second International Dark Sky Reserve

SOUTH WAIRARAPA and CARTERTON DISTRICTS, New Zealand – The Districts of South Wairarapa and Carterton of New Zealand’s North Island named Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve, the newest International Dark Sky Reserve certified by the International… Read more
Lost Trail NWR Named Montana’s Newest International Dark Sky Sanctuary

LOST TRAIL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, Flathead County, Montana, U.S. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced today that Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) has received certification as… Read more
Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area Named IDA’s 200th Certified Dark Sky Place

MERRITT RESERVOIR STATE RECREATION AREA, Cherry County, Nebraska, U.S. – Nebraska Tourism, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) proudly announce Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area (SRA) is certified as an… Read more
Parc du Mont-Bellevue Becomes Canada’s First Urban Night Sky Place

SHERBROOKE, Québec, Canada – The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has certified the parc du Mont-Bellevue as Canada’s first Urban Night Sky Place (UNSP). The park is the fifth International Dark Sky Place in Canada, joining… Read more
The Historic Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Designated as Michigan’s Third International Dark Sky Park

COPPER HARBOR, Michigan, U.S. — The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has named Keweenaw Dark Sky Park the newest addition to the International Dark Sky Places Program. The headquarters for the Dark Sky Park is located… Read more
International Dark Sky Places Program Advocacy – A Review of 2020-2021 Annual Reports

One of the primary goals of an International Dark Sky Place is to encourage communities and protected areas to become environmental leaders by communicating the importance of dark skies to the general public and providing… Read more
Dark Sky Preservation and Environment/Conservation Organizations: A Case Study

The following is a guest post by IDA Advocate Douglas Arion, PhD. He is also the Executive Director of Mountains of Stars, an IAU Dark Sky Ambassador, and a member of the AAS Light Pollution… Read more
City of Blanco, Texas (U.S.) Becomes Sixth International Dark Sky Community in Texas

BLANCO, Texas, U.S. – The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) officially approved the City of Blanco as an International Dark Sky Community (IDSC). Culminating a grassroots effort that began in 2007, the certification validated the work of… Read more
World’s Newest International Dark Sky Reserve Spans U.S./Mexico International Border

FORT DAVIS, Texas, U.S. and Coahuila, Mexico — The University of Texas at Austin’s McDonald Observatory, The Nature Conservancy – Davis Mountain Preserve, and the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) are pleased to announce the certification… Read more