DarkSky Oregon
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New Dark Sky Advocates In the Columbia River Gorge
Lighting the Way: DarkSkyGorge Preserves Columbia River Gorge's Night Sky
A new group of dark sky lovers is now protecting the night in the Columbia River Gorge. Appropriately named DarkSkyGorge (DSG), this group began this past February with two persons – Mike Hendricks of Hood River and Mike McKeag of Mosier – and now has almost 80 members. Many of the new members join as a result of hearing from friends.
Even though the group is new, DarkSkyGorge is working hard on two important fronts. First, a new bridge is being designed to cross the Columbia River from Hood River to White Salmon, and DSG is urging the Bridge Commission and its Aesthetic Committee to keep any bridge lighting within dark sky principles. An important design document will appear this summer, but it’s encouraging that dark sky language has already appeared on official bridge materials and in a public forum. DarkSkyGorge’s second activity involves the city of Hood River, which is beginning a year-long update of its city development codes. The city planning department recognizes that the current codes say very little about outdoor lighting, and they – along with some elected Hood River officials – are inviting DSG to participate in the code review and to offer suggestions. Thanks goes to dark sky advocates in Sisters for providing a powerful model and
motivator.
It’s early on each of these fronts, but DarkSkyGorge is staying in touch with the decision makers on each project and actively monitoring next steps. If you would like to join their efforts – or perhaps start a local group in your area .
To learn more- email: DarkSkyGorge@gmail.com
A new group of dark sky lovers is protecting the night in the Columbia River Gorge. Appropriately named DarkSkyGorge (DSG), this group began this past February with two members—Mike Hendricks of Hood River and Michael McKeag of Mosier—and now has almost 80 members. Many of the new members joined after hearing from friends.
Even though the group is new, DarkSkyGorge is working hard on two important fronts. First, a new bridge is being designed to cross the Columbia River from Hood River to White Salmon. DSG is urging the Bridge Commission and its Aesthetic Committee to keep any bridge lighting within dark sky principles. An important design document will appear this summer, but it’s encouraging that dark sky language has already appeared on official bridge materials and in a public forum.
DarkSkyGorge’s second activity involves the city of Hood River, beginning a year-long update of its city development codes. The city planning department recognizes that the current codes say very little about outdoor lighting, and they – along with some elected Hood River officials – are inviting DSG to participate in the code review and to offer suggestions. Thanks to the Dark Sky advocates in Sisters, who provide a powerful model and motivator,
It’s early on each of these fronts, but DarkSkyGorge is staying in touch with the decision-makers on each project and actively monitoring the next steps. If you would like to join their efforts—or perhaps start a local group in your area—contact them at DarkSkyGorge@gmail.com.
Mike Hendricks, Hood River
Michael McKeag, Mosier
Tetherow Resort Launches its New Summer Programming with a Focus on Celestial Events
Resort guests are invited to join local astronomer Grant Tandy on a journey into Central Oregon’s vast Dark Skies with close-up views of the closest star, the sun
As interest in astronomy and celestial events grows, Tetherow Resort is excited to announce its new summer Summer Skies Series. Held every other Thursday beginning on June 13, the series is designed to captivate curious minds with the complexities of outer space, covering concepts like scale, time, distance, and speed within and beyond our solar system.
With 80% of the U.S. population unable to view the Milky Way from their homes because of light pollution, Oregon’s dark skies are an increasingly rare treasure. Tetherow’s new onsite programming allows guests to appreciate these natural wonders without traveling far.
Exclusively for guests of Tetherow’s multi-bedroom vacation homes, nighttime stargazing sessions offer a deeper dive into the cosmos. Starting at $450, this package accommodates groups or families of up to 10 people in the intimacy of their own home with direct access to Grant Tandy and a telescope led experience.
To learn more-Summer Skies Series
