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Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area Named IDA’s 200th Certified Dark Sky Place

Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area Named IDA’s 200th Certified Dark Sky Place Thumbnail

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

The Historic Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Designated as Michigan’s Third International Dark Sky Park

The Historic Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Designated as Michigan’s Third International Dark Sky Park Thumbnail

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

Mammoth Cave National Park Certified as an International Dark Sky Park

The Milky Way as viewed from inside Mammoth Cave National Park. PC: NPS

MAMMOTH CAVE, Kentucky, USA – The National Park Service and the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) proudly announce Mammoth Cave National Park as an International Dark-Sky Park. This certification recognizes the exceptional quality of night skies… Read more

Fry Family Park is Certified as Ohio’s First Urban Night Sky Place

View of the Milky Way above Fry Family Park. PC: Terry Mann

                                              MAGNOLIA, Ohio, USA — Stark County Park’s Fry Family Park has been… Read more

Stacy Park Awarded as the World’s Newest Urban Night Sky Place

Night sky above Stacy Park.

OLIVETTE, MO, USA — On October 3, 2021, Stacy Park, located in the City of Olivette, received certification as an Urban Night Sky Place by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).  “We are pleased to announce… Read more

Palos Preserves Named the World’s Largest Urban Night Sky Place

Image depicting the Urban Night Sky Place at night overlooking Maple Lake.

CHICAGO, Illinois, USA — The Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Palos Preserves, in partnership with the Adler Planetarium, is now designated as the largest Urban Night Sky Place in the world by the International Dark-Sky… Read more

Michigan, USA Declares July 2021 “Dark Sky Awareness Month”

Dark Sky Awareness Month Michigan

Lansing, Michigan, USA – Last month, the Michigan State Senate adopted a resolution formally recognizing July 2021 as Dark Sky Awareness Month in the state. This accomplishment is the result of a six-month-long effort championed… Read more

Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, Becomes World’s Newest International Dark Sky Community

Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, Becomes World’s Newest International Dark Sky Community Thumbnail

IDA is pleased to announce the Village of Hawthorn Woods as the latest addition to its International Dark Sky Community family. Today’s designation of this small, rural municipality located just 65 kilometers (40 miles) north… Read more

Comet NEOWISE: Catch It While You Can

Comet NEOWISE: Catch It While You Can Thumbnail

If you are in the northern hemisphere, you have a once-in-6,800-year opportunity to observe Comet NEOWISE – with nothing more than your eyes. (And an alarm clock.)  To see the comet, go outside early in… Read more

Library Telescope Program Connects Communities to the Cosmos

Library Telescope Program Connects Communities to the Cosmos Thumbnail

This week (April 7–13, 2019), the American Library Association celebrates National Library Week. The theme this year is “Libraries = Strong Communities.” The Library Telescope Program, which partners astronomy groups with local libraries to provide… Read more