MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • December 15, 2024
This year has been stellar for enjoying Maine’s skies. A total eclipse, Northern Lights, and the brightest comet visible in nearly 30 years. A dark night sky full of stars is a shared human heritage. Yet this resource is now increasingly rare. Nearly 80% of North Americans can no longer see the Milky Way due to light pollution. There is good news, however. East of the Mississippi River, Maine enjoys some of the darkest night skies. Both the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and the Appalachian Mountain Club’s forestland in Piscataquis County have been recognized by Dark Sky International for the quality of their night skies. Our organizations and partners are committed to conserving the night skies that Mainers and visitors love and that nature needs. ~ Eliza Townsend, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Francesca Gundrum, Maine Audubon