Moab is now a Dark Sky Community

The Milky Way with Balanced Rock in Arches National Park, with the green glow from the headlamp of a passerby.

Finally, the city of Moab has been designated a dark sky community! This might come as a surprise to some who thought that it had already long held that title.  That’s understandable, seeing as both neighboring Canyonlands and Arches National Parks have been certified dark sky parks for over 5 years, but it wasn’t until earlier this month that it was official for Moab. So what is a dark sky community anyway?  Well, first we should know about DarkSky International, a non-profit organization which since 2001 has certified over 200 “communities, parks, and protected areas around the world that preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education.” 

This photo, taken in the Arizona desert, shows that even a small town can affect your astrophotos. The glow emitted from towns and cities can be seen from miles away, and while it can add an interesting effect to some photos, it can also wash out large portions of the night sky and ruin images.

If you’ve ever been in a rural area and observed the the diffuse illumination of the night sky above the horizon above a city, you’ve seen some of the effects of light pollution.  This is caused by misdirected and excessive use of artificial light.  Light pollution can have a significant impact on astrophotography and nighttime photography as the presence of skyglow diminishes the contrast between celestial objects and the background sky, making it challenging for astrophotographers to capture detailed images of the stars, galaxies, and other celestial phenomena. Additionally, glare from nearby light sources can cause unwanted reflections and lens flares in photographs, further compromising image quality. As a result, many photographers seek out dark sky locations, far from the sources of light pollution, to capture stunning images of the night sky.

In a rare spectacle, the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) were visible in Arches National Park on the night of May 10th, 2024.

On the path to being a certified dark sky community, the city of Moab passed an outdoor lighting ordinance in 2019 which outlined rules for new and existing developments, and the ordinance was updated in 2023. The city audited properties, updated streetlights and fixtures, and worked with volunteers to measure the darkness of the sky on a quarterly basis. Residents were incentivized to update non-compliant fixtures with the help of the local nonprofit Moab Dark Skies.

When I lived in Phoenix, I remember noticing a difference in how many stars I could see even from my parents neighborhood to my own, which was less densely populated and on the edge of town in a neighborhood with very few street lights.  As both a photographer and Moab resident, I’m happy to be in a place where I can step outside and see countless stars, without the need to travel far away.  If ever you are visiting the area and would like to go out for nighttime photography, I’d love for you to join me for an adventure into Arches National Park for a Milky Way photography adventure.

The Milky Way with one of the many natural arches found in Arches National Park.
Note: Light painting is not allowed in Arches National Park. Here, the arch happened to be illuminated by hikers’ headlamps.