Preserving the night skies in Floyd: Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, universities partner to conduct dark skies survey
Representatives will also host community meetings to share information about the importance of dark skies and the role local communities can play in protecting them. One is set to take place at the Hotel Floyd Conference Room (300 Rick Lewis Way) from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17.
Students and faculty from Colgate University and Wellesley College are gearing up to travel the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia to conduct a comprehensive dark skies survey, collecting data that will help evaluate and protect the national park’s nighttime environment.
Beginning at milepost 0, the team will work its way south along the Parkway from March 14-20, stopping at roadside overlooks to measure the darkness of the night sky. In addition, the students will visit park facilities to record the brightnesses and colors emitted by light fixtures.
They will be joined along the way by colleagues and students from Radford University and astronomy graduate students from the University of Virginia. During the same week, partners from UNC-Asheville, Appalachian State, and Western Carolina University will be conducting similar dark sky and light fixture surveys along the Parkway in North Carolina.
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“The effort will measure the brightness of the sky above the entire length of the Parkway and identify opportunities to reduce light pollution with the goal of preserving and improving Parkway’s night skies,” said Jeff Bary, Sweet Family chair and professor of Physics and Astronomy at Colgate University. “As a kid who discovered the stars while growing up in the Central Appalachian mountains, it’s such a pleasure to be involved in a project that seeks to preserve our exceptional view of the night sky for future generations of kids like me.”
The Parkway is recognized for its natural beauty and serves as an important corridor for wildlife and outdoor recreation. With a majority of animals being nocturnal and dependent on natural darkness to thrive, efforts to understand and improve night sky quality support broader conservation goals, while strengthening community connections to the national park.
“Protecting dark skies along the Blue Ridge Parkway requires both good science and community engagement,” said Jason Urroz, vice president of Education for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. “This project combines hands-on research with public education to help ensure future generations can experience the Parkway’s night skies.”
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Representatives will also host community meetings, which are free and open to the public, to share information about the importance of dark skies and the role local communities can play in protecting them. One is set to take place at the Hotel Floyd Conference Room (300 Rick Lewis Way) from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17.
Each meeting will focus on:
- Why dark skies matter for wildlife, human health, and astronomy
- Practical steps homeowners and neighborhoods can take to reduce light pollution
- How communities can pursue certification as a DarkSky International community
Floyd County Ambassador for the Blue Ridge Rising initiative John McEnhill said, "I’m excited about the possibility of becoming a Dark Sky Certified Community — preserving our rural character, supporting economic benefits for our community, and encouraging dark sky friendly outdoor lighting so that our dark sky oases along the parkway are protected."
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The Blue Ridge Rising initiative focuses on uniting and serving the 29 counties that host the Blue Ridge Parkway and its 16 million annual visitors. The Foundation is working closely with the Blue Ridge Parkway’s natural resource and maintenance staff to facilitate access to Parkway facilities and overlooks. They are also providing partner institutions with dark sky survey equipment, sponsoring the community meetings, and helping connect students and faculty with local community ambassadors in neighboring communities along the Parkway.
For more information about the dark skies survey or to attend a community meeting, contact Urroz at jurroz@brpfoundation.org or (866) 308-2773, ext. 384. Learn more about the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and its efforts at www.BRPFoundation.org.
