Davis, WV— Many people in modern times will go a lifetime without ever seeing the Milky Way in the night sky. Tucker County is fortunate to have some of the darkest skies of anywhere in the Eastern seaboard. Dark skies can be a big draw for stargazing tourists as it is at Cherry Springs State Park, an officially recognized Dark Sky Park in Potter County, Pennsylvania.
From April 22 through the 28, astronomers and enthusiasts everywhere will commemorate International Dark Sky Week 2017, which promotes awareness of the negative effects of light pollution. International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), the entity that promotes International Dark Sky Week, wants to bring awareness to light pollution’s effects on our view of the stars, human sleep habits, energy waste, and wildlife.
Both the Tucker County Planning Commission (TCPC) and the Tucker County Cultural District Authority (TCCDA) recognize Tucker County’s dark skies as an asset.
Brad Moore of TCCDA says that the Authority “has established as one of its priorities the enhancement of Tucker County’s cultural resources. Enhancement implies improving or building upon something, but in this case, remember that some things can’t be improved upon, such as a night-sky view from a canoe on the Cheat River—that should be protected.”
You can celebrate International Dark Skies week by going to one of Tucker County’s parks, where you can view the band of the Milky Way across the sky and even see the Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye. On May 27, Ted Hodson from Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge will be hosting a stargazing event on A Frame Road at the overlook of the valley. This event will start at 8:45 p.m. and is open to the public. Cloud cover or rain may cause the event to be rescheduled.
