How Does the Dark Sky Passport Work?
- Go to a Dark Sky Place or any special place where the stars shine bright
- Enjoy the great outdoors at night and connect with the cosmos
- Learn more by completing the activities in the Passport
- For each Dark Sky Place you visit:
- Describe your experience (enter on the pages in the back of the Passport)
- Stamp your Passport with the Dark Sky Passport Stamps
- Share your dark sky experience with us and receive your:
Need a Dark Sky Passport? Email us at DarkSkyPassport@usu.edu, include your mailing address and the number of passports you would like sent to you.
Family viewing the Neowise Comet over Antelope Island State Park
Photo Credit: Ryan Andreasen
Milky Way over Capitol Reel National Park
Photo Credit: Ryan Andreasen
What Is a Dark Sky Place?
Dark Sky Places are parks, communities, and other areas committed to keeping night skies naturally dark by using “night-friendly” outdoor lighting that is only used when and where needed, the lights are not too bright, they are warmer in color, are pointed down, and shielded to keep the light away from the sky and their neighbors.
Utah has more certified Dark Sky Places than any other state as recognized by DarkSky International, including 11 National Park units, 10 State Parks, 2 Communities, and 1 County Park designation, with even more places currently working towards achieving this designation.
Utah is famous for spectacular landscapes, an abundance of public land, and amazing dark skies. With good weather, dark night skies can cover you in a blanket of stars. Many National and State Parks have astronomy programs for people of any age to learn about the wonders of the night sky.
Dark Sky Places of Utah
STATE PARKS
Antelope Island SP
East Canyon SP
Rockport SP
Jordanelle SP
Steinaker SP
Goblin Valley SP
Dead Horse Point SP
Fremont Indian SP
Kodachrome Basin SP
Goosenecks SP
NATIONAL PARKS
Arches NP
Bryce Canyon NP
Canyonlands NP
Capitol Reef NP
Zion NP
NATIONAL MONUMENTS
Timpanogos Cave NM
Dinosaur NM
Hovenweep NM
Cedar Breaks NM
Rainbow Bridge NM
Natural Bridges NM
COMMUNITIES & LOCAL PARKS
Helper, UT
Torrey, UT
North Fork Park
How Dark is Your Night Sky?
Use the Bortle Scale to find out! Night skies can range from excellent dark skies where there is no human-made (“artificial”) light, or Bortle Scale 1 sites, to skies full of light as seen in inner cities, or Bortle Scale 8/9 sites. The darker the night, the more stars can be seen.
Bortle Scale Photo credit: Skyglowproject.com
Phases of the Moon
As the moon orbits the Earth on its 28-day cycle, we can only see the part of the moon that is lit up by the sun. When the moon sits between the sun and Earth, from our perspective, the moon is dark because it sits in its own shadow, appearing as a “new moon.”
When the moon moves away from the sun, the moon begins to reflect more sunlight, these are the “waxing phases.” When the moon sits on the opposite side of Earth from the sun it reflects the greatest amount of sunlight, as a “full moon.” Then, as the moon continues its path back towards the sun, the sunlight hitting the moon’s surface starts to wane, and enters the “waning phases.”
Constellation Connections
Constellations are groups of stars, such as those that form the Big Dipper or Orion. Some constellations can be seen year-round. You may find the Big Dipper, a large spoon-shaped constellation, the Little Dipper, and Cassiopeia any time of the year. These “circumpolar constellations” sit just north of the Earth's axis which points directly to Polaris, the North Star. The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east, which causes the constellations to appear to move around Polaris from east to west, or "backwards" from the real rotation of the earth.
The Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, and Cassiopeia are all circumpolar constellations that rotate around the North Star.
Star trails over La Sal Mountains, Moab, Utah, looking north
Photo Credit: Bettymaya Foott
The constellations you see throughout the seasons depend on where you are on Earth, and where the Earth is along its orbital path around the sun. As the Earth orbits the Sun, only the stars on the dark side can be seen.
An observer on Earth will only see the stars on the dark side opposite the sun
Night Animals
Naturally dark skies are critical for
many animals including humans!
If the night sky is lit up by artificial
light, this can interrupt animal
migration patterns, feeding behaviors,
reproduction, and normal
sleep cycles.
Planning your Dark Sky Trip
Dark Sky Program at Cedar Breaks National Monument
Photo Credit: Matthias Schmitt
Stargazing Tips
Astro-photography event at Antelope Island State Park
Photo Credit: Bettymaya Foott
Finding a Star Party
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Utah State Parks: Utah State Park Sky Events & Programs
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National Parks: the events page on any National Park’s website
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At Public Observatories or Planetariums
Petroglyph Site at Freemont Indian State Park
Photo Credit: Ryan Andreasen
Timelapse video at a Star Party on Antelope Island State Park, Utah
Photo Credit: Ryan Andreasen
Timelapse video taken at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Photo Credit: Ryan Andreasen
Activities To Do At Home
Fuller Barn Mural, Eden, Utah Photo Credit: Janet Muir
Have you Ever Wondered?
Why do stars twinkle, but planets don’t?
How do you find the North Star?
Does the North Star ever move?
What is the closest star to Earth?
How many stars make up the Milky Way galaxy?
The Milky Way is estimated to have
200,000,000,000 stars!
Milky Way over Boulder Mountain, Dixie National Forest, UT
Photo Credit: Ryan Andreasen
Why Should We Care about Dark Night Skies?
Stars over a new street light
5 Reasons Dark Skies are Important:
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Reducing wasteful light saves energy
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Reducing artificial light at light supports human health
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Most natural ecosystems and wildlife depend on dark skies to maintain life-sustaining behaviors
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Poorly designed outdoor lighting such as glaring lights can negatively affect public safety
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Stargazing is a fun activity for people of all ages to explore the natural wonders of the universe
Learn more about Light Pollution
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Losing the Dark: planetarium show produced by DarkSky International and Loch Ness Productions
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Lost in Light: comparing night sky quality by Bortle Scale (Sriram Murali)
What can you do to protect dark skies?
Milky Way over the Dixie National Forest, Utah
Photo Credit: Ryan Andreasen
Credits:
Funding for the Dark Sky Passport Program: USU Extension, Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Program Partners: National Park Service, DarkSky International, State Parks, Utah Office of Tourism, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation
Scientific Illustrator: Rob Soto (www.rob-soto.com/)
Photographers & Videographers: Ryan Andreasen, Bettymaya Foott, Matthias Schmitt, Abhishek Tanwar, Sriram Murali, Janet Muir