Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park

Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park
View of the Milky Way rising over a mountain ridge
Milky Way rising over Nevis Bluff, from Antimony Observatory
Map
LocationQueenstown-Lakes District, New Zealand
Nearest townQueenstown
Coordinates45°01′32″S 168°57′23″E / 45.02556°S 168.95639°E / -45.02556; 168.95639
Area25 km2 (9.7 sq mi)
Designated2024
OperatorGibbston Community Association
Websitegibbstondarksky.com

The Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park is a dark-sky preserve located between Cromwell and Queenstown in the Queenstown-Lakes District in the South Island of New Zealand. It covers an area of 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi) along a section of the Kawarau River, and is centred on the small community of Gibbston. The Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park was accredited as an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International in May 2024.[1][2] It is the first dark sky preserve to be accredited in the Otago Region,[3] the seventh dark sky preserve in New Zealand,[2] and the third International Dark Sky Park in the country (after Wai-iti Dark Sky Park and Oxford Forest Conservation Area).

The Kawarau Gibbston Dark Sky Park is located in a valley and shielded from light pollution by high mountains, leading to a particularly dark night sky. Central regions of the Magellanic Clouds and the Milky Way galaxy can be readily viewed and photographed, as well as the Aurora Australis.[4]

The application for the dark sky park accreditation was prepared by a volunteer group, the Gibbston Community Association. The lead author for the application was Brian Boyle, an astrophysicist who moved to the Queenstown-Lakes District at the end of 2019.[5][6] The application reports that night sky luminance in the park is 21.75 mag/arcsec2 (corresponding to Bortle scale 2 and on the threshold of Bortle scale 1).[6]

The Gibbston Community Association is a registered charity in New Zealand.[7][8] The association advocates for the protection of the dark sky, promotes good lighting practices and is introducing a voluntary certification code for lighting of homes and businesses.[9] The association hopes to work with nearby communities at Lowburn, Bannockburn and Cardrona to expand the dark sky preserve to include the Remarkables and Pisa conservation areas.[1][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b Roxburgh, Tracey (9 May 2024). "Dark sky park gains international certification". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b Regan, Drew (8 May 2024). "Kawarau Gibbston becomes the seventh International Dark Sky Place in Aotearoa/New Zealand". DarkSky International. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Astronomer hopes New Zealand can achieve dark sky nationhood". 1News. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  4. ^ Regan, Drew (8 May 2024). "New Zealand Certified for 9th International Dark Sky Place – lightED". lightedmag.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  5. ^ Roxburgh, Tracey (8 March 2021). "Retired astrophysicist takes his work home". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b Gibbston Community Association (16 April 2024). "An Application to Dark Sky International for the recognition of the recognition of the Kawarau Gibbston region, South Island, Aotearoa/New Zealand as a Dark Sky Park". Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Charity Summary: The Gibbston Community Association Incorporated". Charities Services. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Gibbston Community Association". Queenstown-Lakes District Council. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Certification". Gibbston Dark Sky. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Kawarau Gibbston becomes the world's newest internationally-certified Dark Sky Park". Lakes Weekly Bulletin. 9 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
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