Dark Sky Parks in Tennessee are the best way to see the cosmos in its true wonder.
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK IS APRIL 2-8, 2024
A worldwide celebration of the dark and natural night.
Ever since our species roamed the wilds of the Earth and lived as one with Nature, we have looked out at the skies above us. What we were looking for was a way of connecting, of understanding where we came from, what the celestial bodies were, and what role they played in our lives. For millennia our ancestors lived and died by what they learned from the heavens. It informed their spiritual beliefs, explained natural events, directed their ability to grow food, and created inspiration for art. The mysteries of the dark can be frightful, but it can also be a time for greater understanding of our place among the stars. Maybe this is why the last five thousand years of modern human history has dedicated itself to disciplines around the stars such as astronomy, astrology and astrophysics to name a few. Or why so many of our movies and television shows explore space to answer once and for all, are we alone? This Sacred search for connection is innate for us, and we understand on the most fundamental level that we come from the stars, that we ARE the stars, and that the mysteries of the Universe that live within/without are there to help us grow and live lives of meaning.
If we were to look up at the skies at night tonight, what would we see? Perhaps a dozen stars and a few planets, a dreamy moon in one of its many phases. But because most of us live in cities, the nocturnal landscape is a limited one, and this is due to the electric light that we have learned to live and depend on. This light pollution, also called skyglow, keeps us from more closely appreciating the true wonders of the night sky. Today, it is estimated that in the US 99% of the public cannot experience a natural night due to light pollution! And in the eastern US, finding dark places are becoming increasingly harder to find.
Thankfully for stargazers, the International Dark-Sky Association is committed to identifying potential dark sky areas in the US and around the world, and also spreading the importance of the sites. This organization certifies ecologically sensitive areas and works with communities all over the world to protect these sites by using dark sky-friendly outdoor lighting. Here in Tennessee, we are lucky to have two IDSA designated dark sky parks, Obed Wild and Scenic River in Wartburg, and Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area in Jamestown (ok, so technically three). The rugged wilderness of the Obed River discourages industrial development, and so there are no large cities or sources of light. (The park also protects one of the only wild river systems in the eastern US, and its free-flowing river is a fabulous place for rafting, canoeing and kayaking.) Pickett State Park in the upper Cumberland Mountains is home to the Pickett-Pogue Astronomy Field, a perfect place to see the constellations above. Take a look at this Light Pollution map and you'll begin to see why it's an amazing thing to have any dark sky parks in our state at all!
In addition, there are more than a dozen other areas in the Tennessee State Park system that partner with regional and local astronomy clubs. They offer programs to allow stargazers to take part in dark sky and astronomy programs, learn star trail photography and join star parties. Go Astronomy and other sources add with other dark sky park recommendations to the list.
In West Tennessee:
1. Big Hill Pond State Park, Pocahontas
2. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Millington
3. Mousetail Landing State Park, Linden
4. Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park, Eva
In Middle Tennessee:
5. Bledsoe Creek State Park, Gallatin
6. Edgar Evins State Park, Silver Point
7. Fall Creek Falls State Park, Spencer
8. Henry Horton State Park, Chapel Hill
9. Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, Pickett County
10. Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area, Jamestown
11. Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historical Area, Pall Mall
In East Tennessee:
12. Cherokee National Forest
13. Frozen Head State Park, Wartburg
14. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
15. Harrison Bay State Park, Harrison
16. Indian Mountain State Park, Jellico
17. Norris Dam State Park, Rocky Top
18. Obed Wild and Scenic River, Wartburg
19. Roan Mountain State Park, Roan Mountain
Here are some tips from the IDSA and Tennessee State Parks to make the most of your Dark Sky trips:
· Look for sites with wide expansive views and clear horizons.
· Go out on moonless nights – the darker the better!
· Get comfy, with folding chairs, blankets and warm clothing.
· If you must use lights, use red, low-light flashlights that work better with night vision and are less disruptive to wildlife.
While you’re out looking at the sky, here’s something to consider that may blow your mind!
Here in Tennessee (and across the world) our ancestors created stories to help us understand the heavens. James Mooney, who lived among the Cherokee in the late 1800’s, wrote two important books that chronicled the oral traditions and health care practices of the tribe: Myths of the Cherokee and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees. Since East Tennessee is rich in their history, I’d like to share a few of their Sacred beliefs regarding the cosmos from his book. The Cherokee word for stars is No-Qui-Si, and they have several stories to explain how the celestial bodies were created. In the “Origin of the Pleiades and The Pine,” the Pleiades formation was created when six rebellious boys danced until the spirits helped them rise to the sky, and to this day the Cherokee call the constellation Ani’tsutsa (The Boys). (The Pleiades can be seen from almost any northernly direction and is the brightest open cluster of stars in Earth’s sky.) The seventh boy sank into the earth when his mother tried to rescue him, and a pine tree sprouted from the ground where her tears fell. The pine is considered to have the same nature as the stars and hold itself in the same bright light.
The Milky Way was created by a dog who was stealing cornmeal from a village. When he was caught, he spilled the grains across the sky when they chased him, and so the Milky Way was named Gi’li-utsunstandun’yi, Where the Dog Ran.
One of my favorite Cherokee stories is called “What the Stars Are Like.” To many people in the past, the stars were beings, either the spirits of ancestors or living creatures. In this story, hunters saw balls of light along a ridge over a series of nights that would disappear on the other side. They decided to investigate and came across two strange creatures, round and covered with fine fur or downy feathers. A breeze would cause showers of sparks to fly from their bodies. The creatures were docile and went willingly with the hunters as they made the journey home to their settlements, but on the sixth day they rose up into the sky, and this is when the hunters understood that they were stars.
As with exploring old-growth forests, I believe that taking the time to connect to our ancient and mystical natural wonders allows us to explore our beliefs and connect to something higher than ourselves. The shamans of the world know this, as do the pagan religions, but it is not relegated only to seekers of spirit. Anyone who has ever spent time in nature knows that gazing at the stars and contemplating the moon transports us. Connecting with the Universe and the natural world during the night is one of the most extraordinary ways to melt into the rhythms of the stars and planets! I hope you’ll find a Dark Sky Park that inspires you and brings you the magic of the Universe.
- Written while listening to Cosmic Thing by the B-52s.
“Not just beautiful, though – the stars are like the trees in the forest, alive and breathing. And they’re watching me.” – Haruki Murakami
Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you. - Rumi
One thousand brilliant stars punched holes in my consciousness, pricking me with longing. I could stare at the stars for hours, their infinite number and depth pulling me into a part of myself that I ignored during the day.” – Maggie Stiefvater
Ye stars! Which are the poetry of heaven, - Lord Byron
Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason — for then we would know the mind of God. “ Stephen Hawking
Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK IS APRIL 2-8, 2024
A worldwide celebration of the dark and natural night.
Did you know that a healthy nighttime ecosystem allows nocturnal animals such as migratory birds, sea turtles, pollinators and mammals to use their night vision better? Without light pollution there is less disruption of migration paths, and it is also easier for creatures to find food. In addition, removing or cutting down on artificial light benefits humans by reducing energy use, saving money and even contributing to efforts to fight climate change. As long as we live in disconnect with our environment, we will allow ourselves to be removed from the natural cycles and may harm other beings in the process. Consider pledging your commitment to less light pollution by joining the IDSA here.
For more information on Tennessee State Parks and Dark Sky Viewing, a calendar of events and a brochure on parks, follow this link. The site will also allow you to search for the state parks named in this post.
Loved this post! (and that you were listening to "Cosmic Thing" while writing:)