NIGHT SKY AND DARK ENVIRONMENTS: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AT NIGHT ON BLM-MANAGED LANDS TECHNICAL NOTE 457 6 This technical note focuses on two types of values— night sky values and darkness values. Night sky values are associated with the ability to view the stars and other celestial objects at night. Certain animals use the stars and other celestial bodies for navigation and other purposes (Foster et al. 2018). Darkness values are associated with naturally dark environments where the only sources of light at night are natural such as the stars, moon, Milky Way, and other celestial phenomena. 2.1 Aesthetic, Spiritual, and Wilderness Values of Night Skies Contemplation of the night sky is a highly valued pastime. Many people enjoy viewing the stars, planets, Milky Way, meteors, auroras, and other celestial objects. Those who are fortunate enough to see the night sky in a truly dark place, with thousands of stars and the faint ribbon of the Milky Way arcing across the sky, may find it to be an incredibly beautiful sight and a unique and deeply moving aesthetic experience (Bogard 2008; Henderson 2010). Gallaway (2014) suggests that interacting with the night sky can contribute to an individual’s happiness. For many, experiencing the beauty of the night sky is also a spiritual experience that leads to reflections on the vastness of the universe and our place in it. The night inspires a sense of awe and wonder. It has been described as “that most glorious and compelling and inspiring of nature’s faces” (Schaaf 1988). Artists, writers, and poets throughout history have been inspired by the night sky’s natural beauty, and it has figured prominently in art, music, and literature. The night sky contributes to a wilderness experience that many people seek when they visit wilderness areas. Seeing a dark night sky filled with stars and unobscured by artificial light at night is seeing part of the world in its natural condition, untouched, free from development, and free from evidence of human society (Duriscoe 2001). The BLM manages areas with some of the darkest night skies in the United States. Many of these areas are near millions of Americans living in light-polluted areas who do not see dark skies in their daily lives. As a result, BLM-managed public lands are frequently visited by people seeking to enjoy the beauty of the night sky in a natural setting. According to BLM Manual 6220, titled “National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, and Similar Designations,”“The BLM will protect the night sky by avoiding light spill or light pollution when designing and installing lighting and facilities within [national] Monuments and NCAs [national conservation areas].” 2.2 Historic and Cultural Values of Night Skies The dark night sky provides a direct connection to our ancestors. The night sky remains essentially unchanged, allowing current and future generations to experience a shared sense of wonder and mystery with their ancestors. Throughout history, the night sky has been intimately linked to human civilization, shaping the beliefs, traditions, and mythologies of peoples throughout the world (Romano 2002). The natural rhythms of changing day length through the seasons, the monthly cycles of the moon, and the rising and setting of particular stars or constellations throughout the year played critical roles in human events, from timing of planting and harvesting to celebrating religious festivals. Many peoples have elaborate mythologies connected to the stars, Milky Way, and other celestial objects, in some cases linked to creation myths and other religious or philosophical beliefs (Brady 2013). Historically, night skies have Experiencing the beauty of the night sky can be an aesthetic or spiritual experience and embodies wilderness values.
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