International Dark Sky Week happens this year from April 21-28 – falling squarely on a “new moon phase” when night skies will be their inky blackest, making it the perfect time for a hike with an astronomy guru in one of Arizona’s darkest places.
Before gaining prominence in the dark sky community, Michael Weasner cycled through careers as an astrophysicist, U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and Space Shuttle official. Post-retirement, he’s retooled his skill set to help preserve and protect Arizona’s oldest natural resource – the night sky. “If you think about it, starlight was here before there was copper, water or air,” says Weasner, who also serves as an astrotourism advocate for Oracle State Park north of Tucson.
“Astrotourism got its start several years ago, when a USA Today article pointed out that 80 percent of the world can no longer see the Milky Way,” he says. “That raised awareness about the problem of light pollution.”
Determined to call attention to the deleterious effects of nighttime artificial light, Weasner partnered with local business owners, citizens and land managers to apply for International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) designation for Oracle State Park. The certifying entity, Tucson-based DarkSky International, defines a dark sky site as one that possesses exceptional dark, starry nights and healthy nocturnal environments. The organization also promotes education and offers resources for mitigating light pollution.
The benefits of reducing the effects of artificial light go way beyond stargazing. Many species, including humans, need darkness cycles for survival and health. “We now know that bad night lighting is connected to human health problems like some cancers, depression, diabetes and sleep disorders,” Weasner says. “Artificial light is killing people.”
Light pollution also negatively affects migratory birds, nocturnal pollinators (like bats) and sea turtles. “We know birds use stars to navigate. They may not be able to find their nesting places or migration routes. Efforts are underway to get land managers and governments to understand that dark skies are essential to the natural environment and should be part of the same policy conversations as air and water pollution.”
Oracle State Park was granted Dark Sky status in 2014. Weasner, who holds the title Dark Sky Defender, organizes star parties at the park that draw visitors from all over Arizona and the world. “We have astronomy talks in the afternoon and local musicians playing along the hiking trails – which is a big hit with the public,” he says. “At sunset, the telescopes get set up and Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association members show visitors galaxies, double stars, clusters and planets.”
Oracle State Park
3820 Wildlife Dr., Oracle
azstateparks.com/oracle/dark-skies/about-dark-skies
DarkSky International
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