Thursday, May 29, 2025

New Initiative Promotes Dark Sky Preservation and Boosts Night Sky Tourism

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On May 27, 2025, the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation and Travel Nevada launched the Nevada Dark Skies Toolkit, aimed at promoting the reduction of artificial lighting to protect the state’s night skies. This comprehensive digital resource, designed for homeowners and municipal governments, aligns with the Starry Skies Certification Program established by Senate Bill 52 in 2021. Chelsea Kincheloe, a program officer, emphasized the toolkit as an invitation for Nevadans to participate in night sky conservation. Nevada’s vast public lands and notable DarkSky sites, such as Massacre Rim and Great Basin National Park, offer ideal conditions for stargazing. The toolkit provides guidelines for certification, responsible lighting practices, and ideas for dark sky tourism, encouraging communities like Pahrump and Boulder City to pursue DarkSky International designation. By alleviating light pollution, Nevada aims to attract more visitors interested in stargazing and astro-tourism.

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