The Headlands International Dark Sky Park exists to give visitors the opportunity to explore the dark night sky in a way that few around the globe are still able to.
Park Manager Shelly House grew up in rural Northern Michigan where there wasn’t much artificial light to block out the nighttime stars. When she learned that the Headlands Park was nominated to be a Dark Sky Park, she was initially perplexed.
“I just assumed everybody saw the stars,” House said. In reality, the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) reports that due to light pollution, 99 percent of the United States and Europe cannot experience the natural nighttime sky.
The IDA defines light pollution as “the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light.” This could include outdoor safety lighting on a home, street lamps, the overhead lights of an open-air stadium, or simply the glow of a city from a distance. Light pollution has serious negative impacts on both human and wildlife. For wildlife such as migratory birds, artificial light that falls where it is not needed, otherwise known as “light trespass,” can disrupt their ability to navigate by moon and starlight, drawing them dangerously or fatally close to nearby cities.
Inefficient lighting has an impact on human life, too. Aside from unnecessary energy consumption, the disruption artificial light causes to a person’s circadian rhythm can increase the chance of obesity, sleep disorders, depression, and more.
A Dark Sky Challenge Path in the woods of Headlands Int'l Dark Sky Park. [Photo by Headlands International Dark Sky Park]
In 2001, the IDA established the International Dark Sky Places Program. Through the program, the non-profit organization “works to protect the night skies for present and future generations” by designating sites around the world as Dark Sky Places. In 2011, the Headlands was granted the designation of a Dark Sky Park for their excellence in preserving the natural resources of the night sky.
“At the time the park was designated, it was only the 6th park in U.S. and the 9th in the world to have the designation,” House said.
The Headlands International Dark Sky Park is a 550-acre woodland located on the straits of Mackinac in Emmet County, Michigan. The woodlands include more than two miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline and 5 miles of trails that can be explored day or night, as the park is open 24 hours a day every day.
Over the course of two years, the park went through a rigorous application process to secure the designation of a Dark Sky Park.
To begin, light meter readings were taken at the park at different times of the month and different times of the year. This was done by both the park staff and members of the IDA to determine the darkness level of the night sky. All the lights in the park had to be retrofitted with proper lighting that pointed downward rather than toward the sky; bollards were installed that emit only appropriate red lighting along the pathways. Special programming was created and documented to educate the public on the need for a Dark Sky Park, and the Headlands secured ongoing support from the residential and business community in Emmet County.
When drawing public attention to the need for a Dark Sky Park, the Headlands management gave many reasons, chief among them that preserving the dark night sky is about more than seeing stars—it’s about protecting common human heritage. Considering that in past centuries people have used the stars as navigation, as creative inspiration, and as an invitation to exploration, what could happen to our civilization if it completely lost literal sight of the night sky?
Additionally, there are many practical reasons for protecting the night sky from excessive, artificial light. Less use of artificial lighting saves money. More efficient use of outdoor lighting conserves energy, which has a positive impact on our planet.
The Headlands International Dark Sky Park has become a unique nighttime destination for anyone without regular access to a completely dark night sky.
“It’s on bucket lists across the nation,” House said, adding that this has increased the tourism in Emmet County.
Thousands of visitors come to the Headlands every year to experience the Dark Sky Park. Between May and October of 2019, 20,000 cars were counted entering the park. Astrotourists, a growing tourist group, travel for space-related experiences such as viewing the Northern Lights or photographing an eclipse from observation points like those available at the Headlands.
Throughout the year, different celestial bodies and stars are visible in the night sky: when the moon is full, craters can be seen on its surface. During the new moon, the stars can be seen shining brightly. During the summer months, the Milky Way is visible, though House says many visitors easily confuse it for clouds, having never experienced it before. At times, the Andromeda Galaxy, which is 2.5 million light years from Earth and the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way, can be seen. And on a few rare nights, the Northern Lights are visible. Visitors can participate in observation nights, where they can view the sky through a telescope or speak with astronomers hired to provide their expertise. Overnight accommodations at the Headlands are also available, providing an immersive experience.
In order to keep their designation and ensure the Headlands will stay dark and protected, House and her staff are dedicated to a long-term plan that will continue to include the park in partnership with the community and the IDA. Growth in tourism is encouraging the local community to stay committed, and educational programming for visitors will ensure that the Dark Sky community continues to grow, reaching new people with the important message of preserving the darkness above them and protecting the story of the stars.
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