At last, a long-time goal of staff and volunteers at Sky Meadows State Park has been achieved after years of work and preparation. It is with great pride that we announce  our official designation by the International Dark-Sky Association as a certified IDA Dark Sky Park. This prestigious recognition is one that has been achieved by 5 parks in Virginia, including 4 other Virginia State Parks. We are proud to join this group of International Dark Sky Places which meet specific criteria for promoting conservation of the night sky and educating the public on responsible lighting practices and the effects of light pollution.

Enjoy the dark sky view over Mt. Bleak at Sky Meadows.

When you think of pollution, you may think of smog in the air or litter on the ground and floating in a waterway. But have you considered that artificial light is also a form of pollution? Animals (including humans) rely on darkness at night for their health. The widespread use of artificial lighting at night disrupts the delicate ecosystems that wildlife and humans rely on for survival. Often without realizing it, humans contribute to climate change and the reduction of safe habitats for many wildlife species by forgetting to turn off lights.

Sky Meadows State Park is an ideal destination for stargazers looking to escape the effects of light pollution.

The benefits of a natural dark sky are enjoyed by both the wildlife and the human visitors to Sky Meadows. We are uniquely situated just outside of the urban DC metro area, making the park an ideal destination for stargazers looking to escape the effects of light pollution in that area. However, keeping these night skies dark for generations to come, will take a continued concerted effort. Sky Meadows and other Dark Sky Places will face the challenge of protecting their beautiful dark skies from the impact of urban sprawl. Educational outreach to surrounding communities must continue, so that we can help each other keep Sky Meadows State Park and other Dark Sky Places as havens where we can still look to the sky and experience the beauty of our universe.

“Though a major milestone, this marks more a beginning than an end to our work in maintaining the dark skies that we and our visitors enjoy,” said Sky Meadows Park Manager Kevin Bowman. “It demonstrates that much of what visitors enjoy about Sky Meadows hinges on resources and factors beyond our boundaries, and is a sobering reminder that the designation's longevity must not be taken for granted. We hope it will inspire others to consider the impact that outdoor lighting choices at home and in their communities make on the conservation and enjoyment of our valued resources.”

Attend one of our dark sky programs such as Astronomy for Everyone.

Have you attended one of our Dark Sky programs such as the “Astronomy for Everyone?” Continuing to offer educational programs like these, is one of the ways Sky Meadows promotes dark sky conservation. Be sure to keep an eye on our online calendar of events, for future astronomy programs. We ask our visitors to “know before you go” and keep in mind that the park closes to the public at dusk, except for instances of these planned park programs.

You can do your part to preserve the dark night sky, both here and at home.

As an IDA designated park, we are excited to continue our commitment to keeping the park as free from artificial light pollution as we can. You can be a part of that mission by taking steps to preserve the dark night sky, both here and at home. In the words of Laura Greenleaf, IDA volunteer representative for Virginia: “I hope that all of Virginia’s Dark Sky Parks will inspire their surrounding communities to make responsible, quality outdoor lighting a priority so that Virginia can halt and reverse the decades’ long trend of growing light pollution.”

For further reading on volunteer opportunities for amateur astronomers, check out this previous blog by our Volunteer Coordinator, Ryan Selove. We owe much of our success as a dark sky destination to the enthusiasm and commitment of our astronomer volunteers, including members of The Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC). If you are an amateur astronomer interested in volunteering for our dark sky programs, learn more by emailing skvolunteer@dcr.virginia.gov.