Big Bend National Park in Texas (United States) has just become part of the largest dark sky reserve in the world. It crosses the border between the United States and Mexico with around 40,000 square kilometers. It is the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve whose goal is to minimize the spread of light pollution by adopting night sky friendly practices.
“This preserve protects both the scientific research and public education missions of the McDonald Observatory,” said Taft Armandroff, director of the UT Austin McDonald Observatory. “Since 1939, the observatory has enabled the study of the cosmos by faculty, students and researchers at UT Austin and other Texas institutions of higher education, with topics ranging from planets orbiting nearby stars to the accelerating expansion of the universe.”
It is the only reserve of its kind that crosses an international border
This new dark sky zone has been made possible through a partnership between the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin, The Nature Conservancy, the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), and many others. The designation, granted by the IDA, recognizes the commitment of organizations, governments, companies and inhabitants of the region to keep the skies dark.
IDA is a non-profit organization that strives to recognize public parks and reserves around the world with minimal light pollution , that is, without excessive artificial light. All this to meet the necessary criteria to observe a starry night sky.
The adoption of the world’s largest dark sky reserve will benefit not only astronomical research, but also wildlife, ecology and tourism.
Having official “dark sky” certification has many advantages. The lighting practices employed increase safety and reduce energy.
“The certification of this reserve is truly a historic moment for the dark sky movement,” says Ashley Wilson, IDA’s director of conservation. “ We recognize decades of hard work , nighttime environmental stewardship, stellar outreach programs, and multiple local incentives to provide tangible, actionable solutions that limit the spread of excessive and wasteful artificial light. This demonstrates that landscape-scale dark sky efforts and partnerships can become a reality with the dedication of a team of key stakeholders and passionate communities.”
Reference: University of Texas at Austin (United States)
