International Dark Sky Places
Start here if you interested in having your park or community certified and internationally recognized under the International Dark-Sky Places Program
International Dark Sky Places Program
The "International Dark Sky Places" (IDSP) is an award-winning program founded in 2001 to encourage communities, parks and protected areas around the world to preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education. IDSP offers five types of designations.
International Dark Sky Place Designations
International Dark Sky
Communities
Communities are legally organized cities and towns that adopt quality outdoor lighting ordinances and undertake efforts to educate residents about the importance of dark skies.
International Dark Sky
Parks
Parks are publicly- or privately-owned spaces protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors.
International Dark Sky
Reserves
Reserves consist of a dark “core” zone surrounded by a populated periphery where policy controls are enacted to protect the darkness of the core.
International Dark Sky
Sanctuaries
Sanctuaries are the most remote (and often darkest) places in the world whose conservation state is most fragile.
Urban Night Sky
Places
UNSPs are sites near or surrounded by large urban environs whose planning and design actively promote an authentic nighttime experience in the midst of significant artificial light at night, and that otherwise do not qualify for designation within any other International Dark Sky Places category.
Interested?
Find Out More
Visit DarkSky International's website for more information about each designation to see if your Applicants must meet minimum qualifications based on the type of certification desired.
If your park or community is located in Missouri and you want to learn more about the IDSP program, we can help. Click here to submit an inquiry and tell us about your project. Once received, we will contact you to learn more about your goals and answer your questions.
Mission
The mission of DarkSky Missouri is to raise awareness about light pollution issues in Missouri, promote quality outdoor lighting, protect our natural environment and our beautiful night sky, and educate the public how reducing light pollution can lower energy costs.