Dark Skies

More than 80 places in the Mountain West have been certified by the nonprofit DarkSky, including over two dozen in Utah. Colorado hopes to draw tourists to its own clear night skies with a new map.

As stars twinkle less and less in this rapidly growing part of northern Utah, a new group is working to restore their dark sky.

When one has the opportunity to experience the grandeur of the Milky Way, witness a shooting star, or identify a new constellation, such moments can spark curiosity, a sense of awe, and provide memories that last a lifetime.

During her lifetime May Swenson wrote her way into fame by recording memories riding her willow horse, enjoying strawberry juice dripping down her chin, and describing the relationships that develop when a baseball bat, ball, and mitt meet.

Utah is home to over two dozen certified Dark Sky places. The latest is in the southeastern corner of the state.

Against all odds, fireflies find love here in Utah. Out at places like Firefly Park in Nibley, you can watch these dazzling lanterns dance and bounce, starting around early June.

The Jackson Hole Airport in Grand Teton National Park joins more than 80 other internationally recognized dark sky places in our region.

Sites with bird feeders attract more birds over time than those without feeders, and the birds are in overall greater health than birds at sites without feeders.

Did you know that World Migratory Bird Day is celebrated in May and October? Those are the peak months for spring and fall migrations, and the magnitudes of those flocks are considerable. Two thirds of songbirds migrate at night.

As your summer progresses and perhaps you find yourself in need of a sigh of relief from woe, leave your flashlights, glowing rectangles and worries inside.