Lightscape / Night Sky

The Milky Way and an endless number of stars cover the night sky that looms overhead of Clear Creek and the Lilly Bluff Overlook.

NPS Photo/Mark Leckington

 

In a world where light pollution increasingly obscures the night sky, Obed Wild & Scenic River offers night sky enthusiast of all ages a rare chance to experience the stars as they were meant to be seen.

Starry night skies are an important part of the special places the National Park Service protects. Our national parks hold some of the last remaining harbors of darkness and provide amazing opportunities to experience this critical resource. Obed Wild & Scenic River is one of these special places with a truly dark night sky.

Among Obed’s interpretive themes is the opportunity to reconnect people with the natural world through experiences of quiet, solitude, and darkness that offer a rare glimpse of landscapes much as they once were.

 

A Dark Sky Park

Obed Wild & Scenic River has retained certification as an International Dark Sky Park since securing the designation in 2017. This certification is awarded by Dark Sky International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting nighttime environments and dark skies through responsible outdoor lighting practices. Obed WSR was the second National Park Service unit east of Colorado to earn this designation, and the 17th NPS unit to do so overall.

To qualify as an International Dark Sky Park, Obed demonstrated exceptional dark-sky conditions, and a strong commitment to preserving the park’s night sky resource for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of present and future generations.

 

Park ranger with telescope.

NPS Photo

Astronomy Programs

Since the early 1990s, park staff and volunteers with the Knoxville Observers and ORION Astronomy Clubs have hosted astronomy programs beneath the dark night skies of the Obed area. These programs give visitors the opportunity to explore constellations, planets, star clusters, and distant galaxies through guided presentations and telescope viewing sessions.

The National Park Service, along with its partners, continues to offer night sky outings and special astronomy events throughout the year. Programs are designed for visitors of all ages and experience levels, from first-time stargazers to seasoned amateur astronomers. Call the park visitor center for upcoming dates, locations, and additional information.

 

Why Do Dark Skies Matter?

Light pollution affects more than just astronomers trying to see far away stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Plants, animals, and humans all have circadian rhythms, the body’s internal 24-hour clock that regulates many biological processes like sleep, hormone release, and body temperature. Excessive or poorly directed outdoor lighting can create glare, disrupt habitats, and spill into places where light is neither wanted nor needed.

 

An Obed park ranger uses a sky quality meter to measure sky brightness while standing on Nemo Bridge. The red light was used only to illuminate the photo; sky quality readings are taken in complete darkness for accuracy.

NPS Photo

How we Measure Night Sky Quality

At multiple sites around Obed Wild & Scenic River, night sky quality is measured by a handheld device called a Unihedron Sky Quality Meter. In the palm of your hand, this device measures sky brightness in astronomer units (magnitudes per square arcsecond). After a few seconds and a press of the button, the meter displays the sky brightness number, along with a temperature reading. The higher the number, the darker the night sky is around you.

Annual reports can be found on Obed's Dark Sky Park web page.

Light Pollution

Obed Wild & Scenic River has a unique advantage when it comes to reducing light pollution within the park borders. Due to the primitive nature of the site, along with having no electricity, Obed does not have a single external light present within the park.

The only nearby lights seen from outside the park are almost exclusively from homes of nearby landowners. The trees and topography of Obed act as a buffer, helping keep the majority of the park in complete darkness.

What Can You Do to Help?

Examples of what you can do at home to help keep the sky dark at night include:

• Use lighting only where and when you need it. Consider removing or reducing any lighting that can be excessive, or even unnecessary.
• Use lights that are fully shielded, lowering glare and guiding the light onto the desired area.
• Install warmer colored bulbs inside and outside your home. The warm glow mimics natural light and is less disruptive to the sleep cycle for humans and nature.
• Controls, such as timers or motion sensors, can help save money on your energy bill, while still providing light only in a specific time frame or moment.