June 5, 2019

Grand Canyon named International Dark Sky Park

Park workers have retrofitted more than 1,500 light fixtures with LED bulbs and shields focusing light on the ground.

Grand Canyon South Visitors to the Grand Canyon's South Rim snap photos as the sun goes down, September 2018.
Nick O'Gara/AZPM

PHOENIX — Grand Canyon National Park has been recognized for its work in reducing light pollution of the night sky.

The Arizona Republic reported Wednesday that the International Dark-Sky Association has named the Grand Canyon an International Dark Sky Park.

The park and the Grand Canyon Conservancy started retrofitting more than 1,500 light fixtures after it was given provisional dark-sky status in June 2016.

Workers put in lower-wattage LED bulbs and shields to focus the light on the ground.

The park says 67% of its lighting complies with association guidelines.

The park and conservancy aim to have 90% of the lighting meet standards by 2022.

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