Just in time for International Dark Sky Week, 2-8 April 2024, a 2.5-million-acre area of southeastern Oregon has been certified as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association), making it the world’s largest Dark Sky Sanctuary to date. Located within an area commonly referred to as the Oregon Outback, the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary has committed to protect its starry night skies for the benefit of residents, visitors and wildlife.
The area is located within the largest, contiguous, pristine dark sky zone in the Lower 48 U.S. states, and this certification helps to protect a large portion of the designated zone. The sanctuary is very remote and sparsely populated, providing stargazing opportunities and other adventures for astro-tourists open to visiting.
