Time for city to OK dark sky park is now
larry buege
One and a half years ago, the Marquette Astronomical Society proposed a Dark Sky Park on the west side of Presque Isle. We asked for no money. We had overwhelming community support. If the proposal did not live up to expectations, it was totally reversible. This should have been an easy decision.
Unfortunately, people have a natural fear of the dark, and city officials expressed concern that the dark of night would encourage vandalism and beer parties. The Marquette Astronomical Society reached out to five downstate dark sky parks, some with decades of experience. They informed us that inappropriate activities were not a problem in their dark sky parks. Some suggested the dark environment reduced such behavior. Who wants a beer party conducted by flashlight? It is also difficult to spray-paint a sign that can’t be found in the dark.
But Presque Isle is different, city officials claimed. To test this hypothesis last summer the city commission unanimously authorized a three-month trial period that extended the weekend hours and extinguished the streetlights. The west end of Presque Isle became dark. The results of the trial period revealed that the Dark Sky Park was the only section of Presque Isle that did not experience property damage! Presque Isle is no different than downstate parks. Three months is a short trial period, but the darkness may have reduced unwanted behavior as predicted by experience from downstate dark sky parks.
The Presque Isle Park Advisory Committee and the city recently voted to establish another dark sky park at Presque Isle this summer. The park curfew will be extended to 1 a.m. on weekends like it was last year, but they will not “shut off lights due to operational and safety concerns.” This proposal will be heading to the city commission for final approval.
A fully illuminated park is not a dark sky park. Our beautiful northern lights will be obscured by the light pollution. Only the most brilliant meteors will be visible during August’s Perseids meteor shower. Our black sky with its thousands of twinkling stars will be replaced by a film of gray that only the brightest stars can penetrate. The Milky Way will be a distant memory.
If or when this proposal reaches the city commission, it will not come with an endorsement from the Marquette Astronomical Society. We will also ask the commission not to call it a “Dark Sky Park” out of respect for the real dark sky parks downstate and across the nation. When people visit a dark sky park, they come with the expectation that the park will be dark. Marquette should not advertise a dark sky park that is illuminated with streetlights.
It seems clear to me that no amount of logic, downstate experience or favorable trial periods will convince the city of the virtues and safety of a dark sky park. Although we are disappointed in our city officials, we feel our campaign has created a better awareness of light pollution and the beauty of a dark sky. According to CNN, 80 percent of North Americans, and that includes Canadians, cannot see the Milky Way. Even though the U.P. has some great skies, it is sometimes difficult to find an open area that is not illuminated by floodlights. We do have a planetarium which I fully support, but going to a planetarium to see the Milky Way is like going to the zoo to see a moose–it is not the same. We need open areas designated as dark sky reserves.
The Dark Sky Initiative is a progressive movement that is gaining momentum across the nation and throughout the world. People are beginning to realize that a truly dark sky is a vanishing resource that must be protected. Marquette may squander this opportunity to be a leader, but I firmly believe Presque Isle will have a dark sky park within the next 10 years.
This summer will be an exciting time for those who can find a darkened sky. On Wednesday, Jupiter will make a close approach. Its four Galilean moons should be visible with binoculars or the loanable telescope from the library. On June 27, Mars will be the second closest it has been in 60,000 years. The grand finale for the summer will be the Perseids meteor shower around Aug. 12. This should be particularly spectacular, since there will be a new moon (no moon), but any light pollution will obscure fainter meteors.
If you can find an open area this summer that is devoid of lights, take time to look up. Such opportunities are rapidly vanishing.
Editor’s note: Larry Buege is a member of the Marquette Astronomical Society.