{"id":47,"ordinal":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:33:17","content_modified":"2026-04-17 19:33:17","featured":0,"title":"Take Back the Night: Dark Sky Places in the Intermountain West","creator":"Emma Svenson, Northern Arizona University","description":"<p>Although often romanticized as a land of rugged wilderness, the Intermountain West today has its fair share of city lights and bright urban landscapes. Such artificial light around the world has “revolutionized the way we live and work outdoors, but,” as the International Dark-Sky Association explains, “it has come at a price, When used indiscriminately, outdoor lighting can disrupt wildlife, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block our view of the universe.” \r\n\r\nSince 1988, the International Dark-Sky Association has advocated for the conservation of clear night skies, much as one might preserve other natural resources and landscapes. In addition to encouraging private civilians and public institutions to take measures for reducing nighttime light pollution, including personal frugality and community ordinances, the association also recognizes “Dark Sky Places” which by concerted efforts successfully preserve their night skies.  Cities, parks, and even nations have received “Dark Sky” designations, often the result of years of effort. This tour dives into the history behind five official Dark Sky Places in the Intermountain West, telling both how they qualified, why they sought to preserve their night skies, and what they are like today.</p>","postscript_text":"","tour_img":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/ac2b6faa24e41544e57d8b18d3228661.jpg","items":[{"id":540,"title":"Dark Sky over Flagstaff","latitude":35.19817057015337269376686890609562397003173828125,"longitude":-111.652400493621826171875,"thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/ac2b6faa24e41544e57d8b18d3228661.jpg","fullsize":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/ac2b6faa24e41544e57d8b18d3228661.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Flagstaff, AZ","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":541,"title":"Dark Sky over Arches National Park","latitude":38.61120269999999976562321535311639308929443359375,"longitude":-109.6076570000000032223397283814847469329833984375,"thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/94128d7b834b011c0b21f969610c1bc6.jpg","fullsize":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/94128d7b834b011c0b21f969610c1bc6.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Arches Entrance Road, Arches, Utah 84532","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":542,"title":"Dark Sky over Thunder Mountain Pootseev Nightsky","latitude":36.862110000000001264197635464370250701904296875,"longitude":-112.7366300000000052250470616854727268218994140625,"thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/25e28682944c04542490c757c80e7f2d.jpg","fullsize":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/25e28682944c04542490c757c80e7f2d.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"406 N Pipe Spring Road, Fredonia, Arizona 86022","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":543,"title":"Dark Sky over Hovenweep National Monument","latitude":37.38962000000000074351191869936883449554443359375,"longitude":-109.079939999999993460733094252645969390869140625,"thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/447ea0e1f4175ff2d0eb928d5ecc8b6e.jpg","fullsize":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/447ea0e1f4175ff2d0eb928d5ecc8b6e.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Hovenweep National Monument","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":544,"title":"Dark Sky over Bryce Canyon National Park","latitude":37.64041999999999887904778006486594676971435546875,"longitude":-112.1688500000000061618266045115888118743896484375,"thumbnail":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/square_thumbnails/2988e0f433f61569bc6c5beafc753df2.jpg","fullsize":"https://www.intermountainhistories.org/files/fullsize/2988e0f433f61569bc6c5beafc753df2.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Bryce Canyon National Park","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}}]}