Africa's First Night Sky 'Reserve' Is Stargazing Haven

Namibia Dark Sky
The Milky Way, photographed from NamibRand reserve. (Image credit: George Tucker)

The NamibRand Nature Reserve, a private nature reserve in southern Namibia, has gotten the stamp of approval to become an official night sky reserve — a spot supremely suited for some of the best stargazing on Earth.

The sprawling park, which covers more than 600 square miles (1,500 square kilometers) of the southern African country, is home to some of the darkest skies yet measured, according to a statement from the International Dark-Sky Association, an organization that certifies "starlight reserves" around the world.

Park staff have made an effort to modify any lighting on the grounds to preserve the natural darkness for the sake of the region's wildlife and human visitors — and to enhance the views of the glittering night sky overhead.

"Viewing the pristine night sky over the NamibRand is an unforgettable experience," George Tucker, a retired physics professor who first identified the area as a candidate for reserve status, said in a statement.

The closest communities lie at least 60 miles (97 km) away from the nature reserve, creating a vast pool of darkness that allows the splendor of the Milky Way to blaze overhead without interference from light pollution.

And a local organization, the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET), is teaching visitors to the park about astronomy and the importance of preserving dark skies. Overnight guests, including local school children, can sleep out under the stars at an education center in the park.

"Prior to the NaDEET astronomy activity, even the most basic knowledge about the night sky and the threats posed by light pollution were completely unknown to most Namibian children," said Viktoria Keding, NaDEET's director.

"This recognition therefore makes our participants aware of just how unique it is to have a dark night sky," she said in a statement.

This article was provided by OurAmazingPlanet, a sister site of SPACE.com. Follow OurAmazingPlanet for the latest in Earth science and exploration news on Twitter @OAPlanet and on Facebook.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Partner website

For the science geek in everyone, Live Science breaks down the stories behind the most interesting news and photos on the Internet, while also digging up fascinating discoveries that hit on a broad range of fields, from dinosaurs and archaeology to wacky physics and astronomy to health and human behavior. If you want to learn something interesting every day, Live Science is the place for you.