Date of Award

12-2019

Degree Type

Report

Degree Name

Master of Natural Resources (MNR)

Department

Natural Resources

Committee Chair(s)

Mark Brunson

Committee

Mark Brunson

Committee

Mark Larese-Casanova

Committee

Melanie Conrad

Abstract

Light pollution is causing the disappearance of dark night skies around the world. In the United States alone, 1/3 of people are unable to see the Milky Way where they live (Ramlagan, 2016). National Park Service sites contain some of the darkest skies in the country. Here at El Morro National Monument, these dark skies are a beautiful and healthy benefit to people in the local community and visitors traveling from afar. El Morro’s current park legislation does not include specific measures of protection for the night sky. This capstone project will create a baseline data set of night sky measurements, produce an interpretive program and webpage, implement stronger night sky protection and preservation standards into park management documents, and help El Morro become an International Dark Sky Park.

Share

COinS