About DarkSky Colorado

Thanks to DarkSky Colorado’s donors, partners, volunteers and leadership, Colorado has more DarkSky certified communities and open spaces than almost any other state. Learn More

Mission

We are the only statewide nonprofit organization based in Colorado devoted entirely to restoring the nighttime environment and protecting communities and wildlife from light pollution.

DarkSky Colorado is a chapter of DarkSky International and we work toward a time when natural darkness at night is protected worldwide as essential for people and nature.

Vision

Vision is that the night sky, filled with stars, is celebrated and protected around the world as a shared heritage benefitting all living things.

DarkSky Colorado fulfills the mission of DarkSky International within the geographical area of the State of Colorado.

Background

Since 1988, DarkSky International (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has led a movement to protect the night from light pollution.

We certify and help conserve starry sky parks, communities, and places around the world

The world-renowned and award-winning International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) Certification Program is the Gold Standard in dark sky protection.

It was founded in 2001 to encourage communities, parks and protected areas around the world to preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education.

Places in the DarkSky Certification Pipeline

Dark Sky Communities

Dark Sky Reserves

Southern San Juan
San Miguel County
Sangre de Cristo

Dark Sky Parks

Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain
Orient Land Trust
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Browns Canyon National Monument
Chimney Rock National Monument
State Forest State Park
Ridgway State Park
Rifle Gap State Park Complex
Eleven Mile State Park
Elkhead Reservoir State Park

Our Leaders

Board of Directors for 2026

Julia Puester

Chair, Board of Directors

Julia became the volunteer Board Chair for DarkSky Colorado in January 2026 after being further educated in the benefits of dark skies by DarkSky Colorado and DarkSky International staff during the application process for the designation of a Dark Sky Certified community. With over 25 years of experience in local government, Julia has dedicated her career to collaborating with citizen organizations, individuals, governmental bodies, and private entities on a multitude of issues including urban planning, affordable housing, economic development, sustainability and historic preservation. Since 2006, she has been involved in crafting exterior lighting regulations and education around responsible outdoor lighting.

Mike Pach

Secretary, Board of Directors

Mike Pach, owner of 3 Peaks Photography & Design, is an internationally known, award-winning photographer, speaker and author with more than 40 years of experience in photography. He is the founder of the Colorado Photography Learning Group and has been teaching photography and Photoshop classes since 2007. Mike is the author of Colorado Springs Then and Now, and he conducts night-sky photography workshops. He is also a former aerospace engineer with a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Louis University and an MBA from Maryville University.

Derek Sorkin

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Currently retired, Sorkin previously held a number of executive leadership roles in sales and business operations for a number of tech companies focused on developer tooling (GitHub, Sentry.io, and Abstract). He is also the President of the Board of Directors for Colorado Music Bridge, a 501(c)3 focused on providing modern music education to underserved school districts and after school programs in Colorado.

George Wolf

Board of Directors

George Wolf is a retired professor of astronomy. He has done research at, or visited, many of the best dark-sky places on the planet. Recently he volunteered to work with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to help identify some of the best Colorado state parks for viewing the night sky.

Dr. Jimmy Negus

Board of Directors

Dr. Negus completed his Ph.D. in astrophysics at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023, and is currently a Solar Physics Research Scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder (CIRES/ NOAA affiliate). In his spare time, he enjoys stargazing with his 8” Dobsonian Telescope in the Rockies and participating in astronomy outreach. He has authored two books with Enslow Publishing – Mysteries of Space: Black Holes Explained and Mysteries of Space: Supernovas Explained.

Weylin Ryan

Board of Directors

Weylin is an advocate for sustainable tourism and the environment. He has a Masters of Sustainable Tourism from the University of Arizona. His thesis was “Light Pollution, Dark Skies and Certifications, The New Tourism Resource”. He currently works for The City of Durango Destination Management & Sustainability Strategist where he looks at the visitor impact on La Plata County Colorado.

Our Staff

Aaron Watson

Dark Sky Certification Specialist

Aaron is DarkSky Colorado’s Dark Sky Certification Specialist and leads the Colorado Dark Sky Certification Mentor Program. Residing in Paonia, Aaron was instrumental in Paonia becoming a certified International Dark Sky Community, and loves experiencing the natural night sky through observing and night photography.

Administrative Leaders

Julia Puester, Board Chair
Derek Sorkin, Treasurer
Mike Pach, Secretary

2026 Dark Sky Certification Program Mentors

Aaron Watson
Mark Laurin
Benjamin Banet

The Colorado Dark Sky Certification Mentor Program

DarkSky Colorado and the Colorado Tourism Office seek to partner with prospective dark sky locations and tourism destinations across the state that are interested in advancing strategies that help achieve International Dark Sky Place (IDSP) certification and enhance Colorado’s visitor experience.

Learn more about the program here

See the below links for available Dark Sky Mentor Program tools and resources:

Certification Guide

Certification Toolkit

Technical Webinars

Thank You!

Thanks to DarkSky Colorado’s donors, partners, volunteers and leadership, Colorado has more DarkSky certified communities and open spaces than almost any other state. Our collaborative efforts towards humane, sensible outdoor lighting practices have made a tremendous difference in preserving the well-being of Colorado’s people, wildlife and ecosystems.

This website update was made possible by the Colorado Tourism Office’s Tourism Destination Management Grant. We are grateful for the CTO’s partnership and support.

Advocating for DarkSky standards in Colorado has taken on greater urgency in past few years, and we need your help. The noxious effects of light pollution in our beautiful state are spreading at an alarming rate. Every year you look up to the night sky in this country, there are seven- to 10-percent fewer stars visible. Light pollution in Colorado kills droves of migratory birds, disrupts the behavior of nocturnal wildlife, and negatively impacts our quality of life in various, well-documented ways.

Fortunately, while most problems this large require complex solutions with painful tradeoffs, this one doesn’t. Light pollution is technically easy to reverse, but it is much more easily dealt with before it becomes a problem.

Join us in our efforts to conserve and restore the beauty of the Colorado night sky.

Sign Up to Become a Member

Become a member of Dark Sky Colorado and join a community dedicated to preserving our beautiful night skies by reducing light pollution. Your membership supports education, advocacy, and local initiatives that make a lasting impact on the environment, wildlife, and our ability to enjoy the stars. Not ready to join? You can still make a difference by donating—every contribution helps us protect the night sky. Stay connected by joining our mailing list to receive updates on events, workshops, and news about dark sky conservation efforts across Colorado.

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