The IDA has announced the newest Dark-Sky Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico, which is the 12th designated park.

The International Dark-Sky Association has added Chaco Culture National Historical Park to its Dark-Sky Places program, making it the 12th IDA Park across the globe.

Chaco Culture National Historic Park superintendent Larry Turk feels strongly about the designation. "Standing at one of the park's 4,000 prehistoric archeological sites, one can easily imagine another human centuries earlier gazing awestruck into the same universe while surrounded by ecosystems that have adapted to the natural rhythms of the moon and stars," said Turk.

The 34,000-acre park was established in 1907 and is home to many ancient wonders, including the remains of a civilization that thrived over 1,000 years ago.

"Once the night sky was something that was very much a part of the human experience at Chaco and around the globe," says IDA Executive Director Bob Parks. "We are delighted that Chaco is now preserving the nighttime environment alongside their historic treasures."

As a Gold-tier IDA Dark Sky Park, Chaco has shown its commitment to preserving its near-pristine night skies. The park has adopted a set of strict lighting guidelines that include the use of dark-sky friendly lighting now and in the future, ensuring that it will do its part to keep the nighttime environment natural and unspoiled for generations to come.

For more information about IDA, please visit darksky.org.

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