Stars shine bright over Cape Lookout Seashore

Cape Lookout National Seashore could be just the fourth national park site east of the Mississippi River to qualify as an (IDA) Dark Sky Park. 

The three eastern U.S. national park sites that are already certified are: Big Cypress National Preserve at Ochopee, Fla.; Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument at Millinocket, Maine; and Obed National Wild & Scenic River at Wartburg, Tenn.

 

There are 26 National Park Service (NPS) sites west of the Mississippi River that have earned IDA Dark Sky accreditation. All IDA sites “possess an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural/heritage resources and public enjoyment.” 

The NPS is seeking to up its count of IDA parks, both east and west. 

NPS employs teams of night sky specialists to work with individual parks as “preserves of biotic diversity and natural processes as well as the ‘crown jewels’ of America’s most scenic lands. Humans have gazed awe-struck into the universe for millennia, and ecosystems have adapted to the natural rhythms of the moon and stars.” 

“In recent years,” however, the NPS scientists said, “light pollution has encroached upon lands that were once remote from large cities, such as national parks. Keeping such treasures unimpaired for future generations relies on science, reliable data and sound judgment.”

 

“Light pollution from human development has a wide range of impacts. Artificial light at night affects the health of animals and plants that rely on natural cues visible only in the dark. Illuminating the night uses large amounts of energy.” 

Del Mar Fans & Lighting of Daytona Beach, Fla., a family-owned business, is an online ceiling fan and lighting retailer. The company believes that “unshielded light fixtures emit about 60% of their light skyward or sideways.” As such, “only 40% of the light emitted actually illuminates the ground.” 

The Design Lights Consortium in Medford, Mass., is working on standards and specifications for outdoor lighting that both protects the night sky and saves electricity. Its CEO Christina Halfpenny says “wasted lighting” costs U.S. building owners $3.3 billion a year in electricity. 

“Adhering to the principle of the ‘triple bottom line,’ companies of all kinds are looking at not just financial profit, but also benefits to people and the planet when measuring their success,” Halfpenny wrote. 

Research shows a 2.2% annual growth in artificially lit outdoor areas worldwide, she added. 

The consortium urges state and local governments to establish ordinances and policies for outdoor artificial lighting that are based on common sense. 

Light beams should be directed downward. Lights should be no brighter than necessary. Lights should be controlled with timers, motion detectors and other technology. 

“As lighting project designers, architects and facility owners and managers weigh the economic pros and cons of transitioning to more dark sky friendly lighting, it may be helpful to put this decision-making in context,” Halfpenny said. 

More than 80% of people worldwide – and 99% of Americans and Europeans – live under “sky glow,” a condition that “reduces the contrast of stars or other celestial objects against the dark sky background,” making them appear dimmer. 

Halfpenny says sky glow profoundly alters “a fundamental human experience – the opportunity for each person to ponder the night sky.” 

My mind is drawn to the slow-dancing classic tune “A Thousand Stars.” 

That’s the cue for the DJ to put the 1960 recording by Kathy Young and the Innocents on the turntable.

 

“Each night I count the stars in the sky.”