Grand Canyon-Parashant Designated Flawless Skies
The Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument has been awarded international "Night Sky Province" status for its unspoiled quality of its pristine and breathtaking night skies.
The Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument has been awarded international “Night Sky Province” status by the International Dark Sky Association. It received this award for its unspoiled quality of its pristine and breathtaking night skies, the BLM office in St. George, Utah announced in a news release.
“We celebrate this prestigious designation which recognizes what visitors to the Monument have known and treasured since its inception – that the Parashant’s flawless night skies represent another portion of the impeccable, cherished, cultural and natural resources tied directly to the management of these public lands,” Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument Manager Pam McAlpin said of IDA’s announcement.
“The Monument’s new ‘International Night Sky Province’ status could also prove to be a boost to local economies which rely heavily on tourism dollars by attracting a more diverse group of low-impact visitors to the remote Monument, including the scientific community, eco-tourists, and astronomy enthusiasts.”
Also watch our event calendar for the Annual Star Party in June at the Grand Canyon South and North Rims.
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/info/newsroom/2014/march/gcp-ida.html