Celebrate International Dark Sky Week

International Dark Sky Week 2024 will take from April 2 – April 8

The milky way above Devil's Tower National Monument.

NPS / Damon Joyce

International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration of the night. It’s an annual event spearheaded by DarkSky International, that usually takes place in April. It’s a time to discover the wonder and awe of night and recognize the crucial importance of natural night to the health and well-being of our planet. It’s also a time to learn about the harmful effects of light pollution and what we can do to protect our dark night skies.

The National Park Service preserves and protects places with some of the most spectacular night skies in the country. In fact, over 30 parks have been certified as International Dark Sky Parks by DarkSky International. Join the celebration by exploring the resources below to discover night skies, find out what you can do to help protect night skies, and what we do in parks to keep our night skies dark.

Discover Night Skies

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  Night Skies: A Resource & Value

  Night skies are not only beautiful, but they're also important natural, cultural, and economic resources. Find out why.

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  Explore Night Skies

  Find out where and how to explore night skies in parks.

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  Stargazing Events

  Find out what stargazing and night sky events are happening in parks across the country.

Protect Night Skies

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  Protect Night Skies at Home

  Protecting the night sky is a job for all of us. Find out what you can do at home and in your community to help reduce light pollution.

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  Junior Ranger Night Explorer

  Junior Ranger Night Explorer program encourages visitors to keep exploring the parks after dark. Available in English and Spanish!

I Didn't Know That!: Night Skies

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  I Didn't Know That! Shooting Stars

  Seeing a shooting star is a magical experience, but what is a shooting star? Discover share the science behind the magic.

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  I Didn't Know That!: Light Pollution

  Light pollution affects our ability to see the stars and it's harmful to nocturnal animals. Find out how you can dim your lights to help!

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  I Didn't Know That! Stargazing 101

  Get the most out of your next stargazing adventure with these night sky friendly tips!

I Didn't Know That!

Solar Eclipse

What We Do

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  Dark Skies in Park Science Magazine

  Dark night skies are increasingly rare on Planet Earth yet crucial to life. Find articles about the science and stewardship of night skies.

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  Managing Lightscapes

  The National Park Service works to maintain dark night sky above our national parks. Find out how we manage lightscapes.

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  Night Sky Data

  The National Park Service has been measuring night skies brightness in parks since 2001. Explore the data from across the U.S..