Grand Canyon Works Toward Dimming Its 5,000 Lights

Sunset at Yavapai Point, along the Grand Canyon's South Rim.

By Melissa Sevigny, Arizona Science Desk

Grand Canyon National Park has earned provisional status as an International Dark Sky Park.

The designation is awarded by the International Dark Sky Association to places that combat light pollution. Officials have three years to retrofit Grand Canyon National Park’s light fixtures. It will then join 5 other dark sky parks in the state.

Jane Rodgers, deputy chief for science at the Grand Canyon National Park, said the designation is an opportunity to educate 5 million visitors annually about dark skies.

"Much of our wildlife at Grand Canyon is nocturnal, and really relies on clear and high quality night skies for navigating and pollinating and foraging," Rodgers said. "And in addition to that we’re also looking at energy efficiency and cost saving through better and more improved smart lighting."

Currently less than half of the Grand Canyon’s 5,000 light fixtures meet the criteria for dark sky-friendly lighting. The National Park Service plans to bring that number to two-thirds by 2019.