Sisters is taking the lead in protecting Central Oregon’s dark skies
Tracee Tuesday
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert boasts some of the darkest night skies in the continental United States.
However, increasing light pollution emanating from developed areas, threatens the health of both nocturnal wildlife and humans.
One community is taking the lead in protecting Central Oregon’s dark skies – the City of Sisters.
Tuesday evening, at McMenamins in Bend, I attended the “Natural History Pub – How Sisters is Protecting Central Oregon’s Dark Skies.”
The event, hosted by the High Desert Museum, celebrated the city of Sisters, as it’s passed an outdoor lighting ordinance and established itself as a Dark Sky International community.
The presentation discussed the many splendid planets, stars and galaxies you can clearly see in the dark skies.
What exactly makes Central Oregon cities like Sisters so recognized as a Dark Sky community and so perfect for taking in the vibrancy of the universe?
“There are a couple of factors. One is the elevation. Two is, the transparency of the sky is based on the low humidity,” said Dark Skies board member Christopher Hill.
Hill added: “And three, because of that, some of the communities are so small, the actual light dome is much smaller than when you have a larger city, like on the west side of Oregon, around Portland and Eugene. And so therefore, the skies here (are) that much more transparent for being able to see the Milky Way and the stars.”
As Sisters continues its five-year plan to ensure all outdoor lighting meets Dark Sky standards, the city stands as a shining example of how communities can unite to protect the natural beauty of the night sky.
For more information on Sisters’ Dark Sky designation and upcoming stargazing events, visit the city’s official website or Dark Sky International.