Stargaze on landing: This US airport was just Dark Sky certified
Stargaze on landing: This US airport was just Dark Sky certified
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Astronomy events to mark on your May calendar
One of the most exciting stargazing events for the month of May include the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which will peak on May 5-6.
Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is the first airport to be named an International Dark Sky Place.
The airport replaced over 250 light fixtures to reduce light pollution, benefiting both stargazing and wildlife.
The change supports Grand Teton National Park's efforts to preserve its naturally dark skies.
The next time you fly into or out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, you might want to book a window seat.
The Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) became a certified International Dark Sky Place earlier this month, the first airport to receive the designation, according to a news release. The facility's staff created a lighting management plan, upgrading and replacing exterior lighting – more than 250 fixtures so far – and working to reduce light spill from its terminal building.
Along with enhanced stargazing in the surrounding Grand Teton National Park, the efforts will benefit wildlife that 'rely on the nocturnal environment to thrive,' per the release. JAC is the only commercial airport located in a U.S. national park.
'Grand Teton National Park is a place where people can still see planets, stars and be mesmerized by the Milky Way just by stepping outside,' Chip Jenkins, the national park's superintendent, said in the release. 'A night sky is a resource as valuable and awe-inspiring as seeing a grizzly bear or catching a fish in the Snake River. Protecting the night sky requires effort from all of us and we appreciate how the Jackson Hole Airport has embraced this work.'
What is astrotourism? Why travelers are exploring dark skies
While exterior landside and airside lighting is covered in the plan, lights on the airfield and ramp must comply with Federal Aviation Administration rules and are exempt from DarkSky requirements. In addition to establishing lighting guidelines for the airport, the plan complies with the International Energy Conservation Code and local ordinances.
'The (lighting management plan) also embraces DarkSky's five principles for responsible outdoor lighting: useful; targeted; low level; controlled; and warm-colored,' the release said. The International Dark Sky Places Program is voluntary and non-regulatory.
The news comes after Teton County became the first county certified as an International Dark Sky Community in April.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
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