4 minute read
A New International Dark Sky Park for New Mexico
NPS Photo/Derek Wallentinsen
When was the last time you camped under a starry night sky? If you enjoy stargazing, the night skies at El Morro National Monument are considered among the best in the country, so much so, that the monument was recently certified as an International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), an organization that works to preserve night skies for present and future generations.
In December 2019, El Morro joined a distinguished group of national parks that have received the IDSP title. Of the nation’s 419 National Park Service sites, only 30 thus far carry this noteworthy designation.
Spanning several years, the application process for IDSP certification was an arduous task. Rangers took night sky quality measurements at frequent intervals, hiking to sampling locations throughout the monument, and often braving late nights and frigid winter temperatures.
Certification also required El Morro to reach out to gateway communities, seeking advocates willing to work toward shared goals of night sky conservation. Certification does not carry any legal or regulatory authority, but rather demonstrates the park’s commitment to provide public outreach and education about the importance of responsible outdoor lighting.
“We are very happy to be able to advance the preservation of El Morro National Monument’s night skies. This certification is the perfect marriage of technology and education. National Parks are some of the best places in America to see a breathtaking array of stars, planets, and neighboring galaxies,” said Kelby Fuhrmann, park superintendent. Fuhrmann added, “We are particularly grateful for the support that we’ve gotten from the community.”
Although obtaining the IDSP certification is certainly worthy of bragging rights for the monument, El Morro’s success is possible because of the vibrant local communities and enthusiastic visitors that support the monument. Their love of the historical treasures protected within the monument strongly manifested itself in the application’s endorsements, leading to a unanimous commendation by the IDA Board of Directors who declared that El Morro “wholly addressed the committee’s requests and…should be truly proud.”
Documenting more than 2,000 historic inscriptions and petroglyphs, El Morro’s sandstone promontory brings visitors face-to-face with personal vignettes of history long past. Here you can experience the wonder of the same night sky that ancestral Puebloans and early travelers knew. El Morro’s fee-free campground, various evening programs, and summertime full moon hikes all offer the opportunity to experience El Morro’s cultural heritage under these ancient stars.
El Morro will host a night sky celebration on June 13th to honor its historic achievement. In the meantime, upcoming star party events will be held on February 1st and 13th, showcasing a constellation tour and the hidden colors of the night sky, respectively. Visit the park’s website for details and watch for our next article in the March edition of the Gallup Journey.
Call the El Morro National Monument Visitor Center at 505 / 783-4226 ext. 801, or visit us online at www.nps.gov/elmo or www. facebook.com/elmorro.nps for questions.
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