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.

Certified IDSPs In Colorado

Dark Sky Parks

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Dinosaur National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Hovenweep National Monument
Jackson Lake State Park
Mesa Verde National Park
Slumgullion Center
Top of the Pines

Dark Sky Communities

Crestone, Colorado
Norwood, Colorado
Nucla/Naturita, Colorado
Ridgway, Colorado
Westcliffe/Silver Cliff, Colorado

Places in the IDSP 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

Certification Guide

Our Leaders

Board of Directors for 2024

John Garvey

Chair, Board of Directors

Some of the defining experiences of John Garvey’s childhood included summer vacations in Colorado and looking up at the Milky Way from his backyard in Wichita, KS. That eerily beautiful sight was far too easy to take for granted and disappeared from view over the years. John wants it back. Some time after realizing that being a ninja was not a viable career, he became a writer and marketer. John is a father, long-time resident of Northern Colorado, copywriter, illustrator, and marketing consultant at Garvington Creative.

Julia Puester

Vice Chair, Board of Directors

Julia joined the Dark Sky Colorado Board in 2024 and previous Board experience. 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.

George Wolf

Treasurer, 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.

Deborah Price

Board of Directors

Deborah Price is a retired environmental educator who still volunteers her education program skills in the northern Colorado community with a variety of organizations. She has been teaching basic astronomy to children and adults for 20 years, and became involved with DarkSky Colorado through her work with Boulder County Parks & Open Space, and also her desire in general to protect the night skies for people, wildlife, and astronomical viewing. She lives in Pinewood Springs, between Lyons and Estes Park, and enjoys the beautiful views available there. She also enjoys engaging people in the DarkSky mission, and loves seeing people get excited about the simple things they can do to protect our dark skies in Colorado.

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.

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

John Garvey, Board Chair
Julia Puester, Board Vice Chair
George Wolf, Treasurer
Mike Pach, Secretary
Sarah Tober, Executive Director

DarkSky Colorado Regions

Western Colorado Region
Martie Semmer, Blue River

Southeastern Colorado Region
Doug Barrett, Colorado Springs

Denver-Central Colorado Region
Ryan Parker, Castle Pines

Northeastern Colorado Region
Richard OBrien, Boulder

2025 Mentors

Aaron Watson
Bobby Tober
Irving Antonio Tinoco Guevara
Mark Laurin
Benjamin Banet
Lori Young
Ben Katz

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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