At night it’s dark, very dark by design, in Dinosaur National Monument and the northwest Colorado monument, run by the National Park Service, has been recognized by the International Dark Sky Association for its exceptional “natural darkness.”
The monument, north of the town of Dinosaur, sprawls into northeastern Utah spanning nearly 211,000 acres.
Monument staff, officials and supporters have worked long and hard to maintain naturally dark skies.
“We are proud of this accomplishment,” Dinosaur National Monument Superintendent Paul Scolari said in a news release. “We’re committed to continuing to work with surrounding communities to uphold the high standard set by the IDA in order to protect the magnificence of the night sky in our region moving forward.”
Founded in 2001 to encourage parks and communities throughout the world to protect and promote dark sites, the IDSA recognizes the skies above the monument “as having an exceptional quality of natural darkness while efforts on the ground actively contribute to enjoyment and protection of dark skies for future generations.”
DNM joins more than 100 locations worldwide designated as an International Dark Sky Park, and the fifth such spot in Colorado. Located north of U.S. Highway 40 between Denver and Salt Lake City, the monument is “within an easy day’s drive of millions of people who can no longer see the Milky Way from their backyards because of increased light pollution.”
The locations recognized by IDSA pass specific program requirements to protect and preserve dark sites through “responsible lighting polices and public education,” the release stated.
“Visitors from around the world are finding that star-filled skies at Dinosaur are often as novel and awe-inspiring as fossil filled rocks,” said Park Ranger Sonya Popelka. “Urban residents may find a stargazing program or guided night hike in a park setting to be their first experience with true darkness.”
The monument’s 2019 public program schedule includes 35 opportunities to explore Dinosaur’s dark side, the release stated, starting with a program from 9 to 10 p.m. May 4 outside the Quarry Exhibit Hall. Further details can be found at the monuments website.