News Highlight
Ladakh to have India’s first ‘Dark Sky Reserve’ to promote astronomy tourism.
Key Takeaways
- Scientists and experts will identify locals and train them to use particular telescopes for the purpose of basic night sky gazing, identification of constellations, and locating the pole star, among others.
What is a Dark Sky Reserve?
- A Dark Sky Reserve is public or private land with a distinguished nocturnal environment and starry nights that has been developed responsibly to prevent light pollution.
- According to the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA) website, these reserves “consist of a central area that meets minimum criteria for sky quality and natural darkness, and a peripheral area that supports the preservation of dark skies at the core.”
How does a site become a ‘Dark Sky Reserve’?
- Individuals or groups can nominate a site for certification to the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA).
- There are five designated categories, namely
- International Dark Sky parks
- Communities
- Reserves
- Sanctuaries
- Urban Night Sky Places.
- The certification process is similar to that of a site being awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag or getting recognised as a Biosphere Reserve.
- Between 2001 and January 2022, there have been 195 sites recognised as International Dark Sky Places globally.
- The IDSA considers a piece of land suitable for dark sky place only if it is
- either publicly or privately owned;
- is accessible to the public partially or entirely during the year;
- the land is legally protected for scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage and/or public enjoyment purposes;
- the core area of the land provides an exceptional dark sky resource relative to the communities and cities that surround it and
- the land offers prescribed night sky brightness either for a reserve, park or sanctuary.
Pic Courtesy: freepik
Content Source: Indian Express