JACKSON, Wyo. — The Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) has announced that it has achieved DarkSky certified status, becoming the world’s first airport to do so.
JAC shared that its staff has “dedicated hundreds of hours to updating lighting fixtures and programming to adhere to responsible lighting practices” in an effort to improve local stargazing and to protect wildlife in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), given the airport’s status as the only commercial service airport located within a national park.
“The staff and Board at the Airport are mindful of the special obligation we have to Grand Teton National Park and our surrounding community,” Airport Board President Rob Wallace said in the announcement. “This DarkSky certification furthers our commitment to being a good neighbor. I thank our team of dedicated professionals for shepherding this landmark designation to completion.”
JAC noted that it still must meet Federal Aviation Administration lighting standards, leading to a specific lighting management plan for its outdoor areas, including the replacement and upgrading of more than 250 outdoor fixtures. To minimize light spill from the terminal building, staff turns off screens and lighting in the ticketing area in the evening.
“Grand Teton National Park is a place where people can still see planets, stars and be mesmerized by the Milky Way just by stepping outside,” GTNP Superintendent Chip Jenkins said in the announcement. “A night sky is a resource as valuable and awe-inspiring as seeing a grizzly bear or catching a fish in the Snake River. Protecting the night sky requires effort from all of us, and we appreciate how the Jackson Hole Airport has embraced this work. Congratulations on becoming the first airport to receive this certification, setting a shining example for preserving our night skies for future generations.”
DarkSky International, the nonprofit behind these certifications, also promotes International Dark Sky Week, running from April 21 through April 28 this year. To celebrate, Wyoming Stargazing plans to set up its planetarium in the JAC terminal on Monday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
