Dark Sky Parks - Does Australia need one?

[glend]

There was a story on BBC news today about the UK Dark SKy Park at Galloway being the best venue for viewing of the Perseid Meteor event coming up. The link is here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-23638972

Canada has a very large Dark SKy Reserve, near my former home in Alberta and the North West Territories:

http://globalnews.ca/news/766576/largest-dark-sky-preserve/

The BBC article claims there are only four designated Dark Sky Parks (maybe that was in the UK or europe), but the Canadian article says there are 14 in Canada alone.

The International Dark Sky organisation is located here:
http://www.darksky.org/

A list of International Dark Sky Parks is here and does not include any reference to a site in Australia :

http://www.darksky.org/night-sky-conservation/36-ida/night-sky-conservation/86-international-dark-sky-parks

the list of Reserves show one in NZ:

http://www.darksky.org/night-sky-conservation/36-ida/night-sky-conservation/87-international-dark-sky-reserves

but none here.

How about it IIS? Or do we enjoy such great access to dark skies that we don't need to formalise areas?

[gary]

Hi Glen,

See this June thread -
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=109132

[glend]

Ok sorry, obviously I should have searched first.

Consider it closed.

[pgc hunter]

Looking at a light pollution map, I'd say about 95% of the country could be considered a dark sky park :D

[solissydney]

There are presently 37 dark sky parks around the world.
A dark sky park needs to be located close enough for the public to be able to reach and to return back home the same day. No over-night camping. Such park may not be dark enough for astronomy but this is where the most people live. It is to the public we need to promote the idea of night sky protection. At the same time better lighting practices must be also initiated in urban ares close by.

Ken
Sydney Outdoor Lighting Improvement Soc. (SOLIS)
w: solis.org.au