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Dark Sky Sanctuaries

Bruny Island

“The sky grew darker, painted blue on blue, one stroke at a time, into deeper and deeper shades of night” - Haruki Murakami

042 A9652 — Without any artificial light even dwarf galaxies like the Magellanic Clouds can be seen in remote Tasmania Credit: Dan Broun

As the Earth has become more populated and as industry and technological advancements have increased humanity has lost something we've always had, and the loss has been slow, almost beyond perception.

We have lost our stars. We have lost the darkness of the night sky.

More acurately, we have lost the ability to see the stars in many heavily populated parts of the world. Indeed, millions of people will live most of their lives with no knowledge of the majesty of a star filled sky.

This is a terribly sad truth for residents of medium to large cities in Europe, Asia, the Indian sub-continent and the Americas. Billions of humans that can't witness the wonder of the universe that surrounds our pale blue dot.

Pale Dlue Dot NASA — The Earth from our moon. Credit: NASA

"Starry, starry night Flaming flowers that brightly blaze Swirling clouds in violet haze Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue" - Don McLean, Starry, Starry Night

In 1888 when Vincent Van Gough sat on the banks of the Rhône in the town of Arles he contemplated how to paint the stars that mesmerised him, to the point of madness. But, in 1888 he could see them brilliantly - the artificial lighting produced by the gas lanterns on the streets of Arles could not compete. Today however, they are virtually imperceptible due to the light pollution that engulfs the industrialised European continent - a creeping technology driven madness that over the decades has severed the connection of humanity from the wonders of the cosmos.

1654 jpg — Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night over the Rhône, 1888. Photograph: Musée d’Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais

A new conservation movement has emerged, one to protect our night sky.

Dark sky sanctuaries are now being inscribed across the globe in order to preserve some places that humans can visit in order to witness the wonder of the night sky as our ancestors once witnessed it.

What is a Dark Sky Sanctuary?

A dark sky sanctuary is public or private land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural or educational value, its cultural heritage and its public enjoyment.

This movement to preserve darkness is a revolution in the world of environmental conservation.

Despite it being a new frontier in environmental conservation, the night sky has been a source of deep spirituality for aboriginal cultures across the globe - an intrinsic part of their cultures. From before the invention of paper, and long before the light globe the stars have been telling stories of creation and wonder.

042 A8304 Enhanced NR — The Dark Emu. Image: Dan Broun

According to Australian Aboriginal legend, emus were creator spirits that flew from Earth to look over the land - different Aboriginal nations within Australia place similar but differing meaning to the Dark Emu formation that stretches through the Milky Way.

“You - you alone will have the stars as no one else has them ... In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

And so the wonder of the night sky continues.

Today, humans all over the world seek out experiences of the night sky, devoid of light pollution - hence the movement for dark sky sanctuaries.

DarkSky International has drawn up criteria on how a place can qualify as a Dark Sky Sanctuary and what needs to be done to ensure that area is conserved in such a way that those criteria are not eroded.

Down in Lutruwita / Tasmania, home to the palawa people for the last 60,000, years some of the darkest skies on the planet still exist in the wild places that were not just their home for all that time, but where the night skies contain their entire creation story. It's also where Dark Sky Tasmania are seeking to have the latest Dark Sky Sanctuary declared.

Some imagery from the Tasmanian night sky, below.

A tent, a hiker, a fishing boat and the Southern Ocean. Image: Dan Broun

A small country town doesn't produce enough light pollution to dull the dancing aurora australis. Image: Dan Broun

Dark Emu hovers above the Southwest wilderness. Image: Dan Broun

A full moon lights up a mountainous landscape but the stars still shine through. Image: Dan Broun

The Southern Lights mesmerise. Only viewable in remote areas free of light pollution. Image: Dan Broun

The Dark Emu formation held within the Milky Way, alongside the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds and an aurora australis. All visible from the dark sky haven of Tasmania. Image: Dan Broun.

Moonlight casts natural light on the stags of long dead trees in Tasmania's Central Highlands. Image: Dan Broun

The Miena Cider Gum or 'Weeping Tree' with the light of the moon and stars. Image: Dan Broun

A lone tent in the Tasmanian wilderness with the Orion constellation above. Image: Dan Broun

View from near Hobart, the capital of Tasmania where light pollution has not yet dulled the starry skies. Image: Dan Broun

The candy colours of the Southern Lights play above the Huon River in Tasmania. Image: Dan Broun

Water falling in the moonlight. Tasmanian wilderness. Image: Dan Broun

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars” - Martin Luther King Jr

Dan Broun

Kuno Earth Media Centre Manager

Dan Broun is an experienced photo-journalist and passionate advocate for wild nature

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