Protecting and Restoring Night Skies

National Parks are home to some of the last remaining harbors of starlit skies and provide unparalleled opportunities for the public to experience the grandeur of the cosmos. The National Park Service protects and restores natural night skies and nocturnal environments in national parks as part of the natural resources, processes, systems, and values protected under the NPS Organic Act. Ecosystems rely on natural cycles of light and dark, and natural night skies are also a key component of wilderness quality and are integral to many cultural and historic traditions and practices.