See the light at six locations around the state

By Steve Graham

This week, Mesa Verde National Park became the 100th International Dark Sky Park, adding to a list of Colorado spots with exceptional night sky visibility.

The International Dark-Sky Association recognized the 52,000-acre archaeological wonderland on the high mesa, noting the remote location, dry climate and high elevation. The designation allows the park to provide more night-sky programming and may attract more visitors.

The announcement also coincides with International Dark Sky Week, which runs through April 12. According to the Dark Sky Week website, “The dark sky movement is working to bring better lighting to communities around the world so that all life can thrive. Light pollution is increasing at two times the rate of population growth and 83 percent of the global population lives under a light-polluted sky.”

The theme of the event is “Discover the night,” and it highlights the wide-ranging threats of light pollution and ways to encourage better lighting for night sky visibility.

In addition to Mesa Verde, Colorado has five other designated dark sky places. These towns and parks actively minimize light pollution and regularly offer night sky education programs. The International Dark-Sky Association lists three other dark sky parks in Colorado: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the small Slumgullion Center in Lake City. The Centennial State also has two official dark sky communities in Colorado: Norwood and Westcliffe.

On Monday, April 26, the full moon will peak. It is one of an unusual string of three consecutive supermoons, ending on June 24.

Also, a supermoon lunar eclipse should be visible from Colorado on May 26, and the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will peak in early May.