Cape Lookout National Seashore has been certified as a dark sky park/NPS file

The secret is out about the dark night skies and great star gazing available at Cape Lookout National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The seashore has been certified as an International Dark Sky Park.

With the designation Cape Lookout becomes the first Atlantic coastal Dark Sky Place in the National Park Service to receive this certification.

“We are proud to include Cape Lookout National Seashore into our International Dark Sky Places Program. Not only do they serve as another exceptional National Park Service unit that understands and is fully committing to dark-sky efforts, but they also visibly demonstrate the balance between using light efficiently and coexisting with the natural, nocturnal environment with their lighting decisions. While the majority of the Park's lighting is dark-sky friendly, the demonstration is most notable with the IDA Fixture Seal of Approval fixtures using adaptive controls at the Core Sound Museum and Heritage Center,” said Ashley Wilson, director of conservation with the International Dark-Sky Association.

“This certification is both an honor for our community and recognition of the uniqueness of the place we call home. I remember as a child looking at the stars and being amazed at the possibilities they seemed to present. As an adult, with life's demands and never enough time to meet them all, I have forgotten,” said Jeff West, the seashore's superintendent. “When we started this project, I went up to North Core and Portsmouth village to take night sky readings... and was amazed again. As I looked up at our amazing night sky, I realized the possibilities are still there, and the demands of life were small when put in perspective. Maybe we all need a little star gazing right now.”

Cape Lookout received the certification after a rigorous application process that took two years and required the support of partners like Crystal Coast Stargazers, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center and the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce. The certification required an evaluation of the light fixtures within the park and surrounding area. In some cases, light fixtures were retrofitted, or replaced altogether to meet dark-sky-friendly lighting requirements. Finally, the certification required the development of a plan to maintain outdoor lighting into the future, to protect the park’s dark skies for the benefit of the next generation of night sky enthusiasts.

“The International Dark Skies project has been a learning process for all of us and we are very honored to be part of bringing this new appreciation for our natural world to locals, visitors, and students,” said Karen Amspacher, executive director of the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center. “Congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard to make this a reality for Down East Carteret County, the first on the East Coast!”

In support of dark sky conservation and education, Cape Lookout National Seashore, in partnership with Crystal Coast Stargazers, regularly presents astronomy programs throughout the year for the public to experience the beautiful night skies in eastern Carteret County and the southern Outer Banks area. These public programs include presentations designed to educate the public on the effect of light pollution and ways to minimize those effects. Park staff and members of the Crystal Coast Stargazers continue to provide outreach presentations on limiting light pollution to community agencies and groups.

“Partnering with Cape Lookout National Seashore in their application process has been a way to give back to the park that has provided so many enjoyable hours of stargazing for our club members,” said David Heflin, Club Coordinator for the Crystal Coast Stargazers. “Now, everyone will be aware of the nighttime treasure we have here on the North Carolina coast.”

The International Dark Sky Places Program was founded in 2001 as a non-regulatory and voluntary program to encourage communities, parks, and protected areas around the world to preserve and protect dark sites through effective lighting policies, environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and public education. When used indiscriminately, artificial light can disrupt ecosystems, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block views and connection to the universe. Cape Lookout National Seashore now joins more than 190 places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution.