Maharashtra’s Pench Tiger Reserve became India’s first Dark Sky Park.
Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra has been marked as India’s first dark sky park and the fifth such park in Asia.
It has been designated as Dark Sky Park to protect the night sky and prevent light pollution, making the facility ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) emphasizes the recognition of the intrinsic value of the night sky as a natural, cultural, and historical resource.
The growing global threat of light pollution poses a major threat to this invaluable resource.
A dark-sky preserve is an area, usually around a park or observatory, that restricts artificial light pollution.
The dark-sky generally aims to promote astronomy.
The International Astronomical Union-led Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society Working Group has recommended that national and local governments create “Dark Sky Oases.”
Dark Sky Place certification focuses on lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and night sky monitoring.
Established in 1977, Pench Tiger Reserve is one of the major tiger reserves of India and the first sanctuary spread across two states, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
