Celebrate International Dark Sky Week at Port Crescent State Park

In celebration of International Dark Sky Week 2017, April 22-28, twenty-two Michigan State parks will stay open later than usual to welcome stargazers to bring a blanket, relax and enjoy the night sky. One of the places will be Port Crescent State Park in Port Austin.

Named a dark sky preserve in 2012, Port Crescent State Park is just the eighth dark sky preserve in the nation and third in the state.

Held during the week of April's New Moon, International Dark Sky Week was started by a high school student named Jennifer Barlow in 2003 with goals to encourage light users to take precautions against outdoor light pollution.

Light pollution has been said to have adverse effects on nocturnal animals, human circadian rhythm and sleep patterns, growth patterns of plants and trees and an overuse of energy resources.

Port Crescent State Park provides a place for stargazers to get an unobstructed view of beautiful, naturally-dark skies as well as bringing awareness to the concerns of light pollution. For more info on the park give them a call at 989-738-8663 or visit them on the web here.