The International Dark-Sky Association approved the nation’s first dark sky reserve in December of 2018. The 1,416-square-mile reserve includes the communities of Stanley, Ketchum and Sun Valley. It is the 12th such reserve worldwide, and the third largest!
80 Percent of Americans can’t even see the milky way anymore. And yes, pollution is to blame. Our skies are so clouded now that most people will live their entire lives without getting a good look at our amazing galaxy.
The International Dark-Sky Association’s designation requires public and private lands to “possess an exceptional or distinguished quality of night sky, view of the stars and nocturnal environment". The association gave the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve “Gold Tier” status, its highest ranking of the quality of the night sky.
Tamarack Lodge offers all the comforts of a traditional ski lodge at an unparalleled location in the heart of Ketchum, Idaho. For more information or to book your room today, call 208-726-3344.
Upcoming Celestial and Lunar Events:
March:
25: Full Moon + Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
April:
8: New Moon + Total Solar Eclipse across parts of Central and North America (viewable in a 70-mile-wide path from Texas to Canada)
22+23: Lyrids Meteor Shower (up to 18 meteors per hour)
23: Full Moon
May:
6+7: Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower (up to 60 meteors per hour)
8: New Moon
9: Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
23: Full Moon
June:
6: New Moon
20: June Solstice
22: Full Moon
July:
5: New Moon
21: Full Moon
22: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation
28+29: Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower
August:
4: New Moon
12+13: Perseids Meteor Shower
19: Full Moon, Blue Moon
September:
3: New Moon
5: Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
8: Saturn at Opposition
18: Full Moon, Supermoon, Partial Lunar Eclipse
20: Neptune at Opposition
22: September Equinox
October:
2: New Moon, Annular Solar Eclipse
7: Draconid Meteor Shower
17: Full Moon, Supermoon
21+22: Orionid Meteor Shower Peak (up to 20 meteors per hour)
November:
1: New Moon
4+5: Taurid Meteor Shower
15: FullMoon, Supermoon
16: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation
17: Uranus at Opposition
17+18: Leonid Meteor Shower
December:
1: New Moon
7: Jupiter at Opposition
13+14: Geminid Meteor Shower Peak (up to 120 meteors per hour)
15: Full Moon
21: Winter Solstice
21+22: Ursid Meteor Shower
25: Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
30: New Moon