Lightscape / Night Sky

Natural Night Skies Over the Rivers

Ozark National Scenic Riverways offers more than just trails to wander and rivers to float; it provides a sanctuary for rejuvenation and introspection amidst the beauty of nature. By day, the lush forests and the pristine, flowing waters invite you to connect with nature, while by night, the park’s unpolluted skies become a stunning canvas for stargazing. Unfortunately, like many natural wonders, the clarity of the night skies has been diminished in recent decades due to light pollution, making pristine darkness a rare treasure. Fortunately, we can help restore the splendor of the night sky by practicing responsible outdoor lighting, ensuring that future generations can also experience the awe of a star-filled sky over this breathtaking landscape.

Day or night, we want Ozark National Scenic Riverways to be a place where you can come to experience a piece of the world closer to its natural state, a slice of nature where you can relax and renew. We hope to protect the natural night sky above the rivers, for you and for future generations. The park, with its exceptionally dark skies, provides excellent opportunities for the public to experience the splendor of the cosmos and is one of the last remaining havens for starry skies in this part of the Midwest.

Light Pollution

Light pollution is any artificial light escaping from its intended purpose. It wastes money and energy (to the tune of 3-7 billion dollars per year) and negatively impacts both nature and human health. All species, including humans, rely on consistent cycles of dark and light. Therefore, being mindful of our use of artificial light can be beneficial and save money in the process.

For the entirety of Earth’s history leading up to the invention of artificial light, the sky held the brightest source of light at night: the moon and stars. Animals, including migratory birds, nocturnal insects, sea turtles, and even some species of bats, found their way at night by orienting to this natural light. However, with excessive artificial lighting, these animals can become disoriented: baby sea turtles hatch and move inland instead of toward the sea; insects spiral around outdoor lighting until they drop from exhaustion; migratory birds become trapped in urban areas, unable to find their direction; bats hunting in lighted areas are vulnerable to predation, and some species will avoid lights entirely, allowing insect populations to explode.

Wildlife at the river is no exception. It has been shown that even low levels of artificial light can affect the biorhythms of fish. Where always-on lights shine into water, fish show heightened stress and disrupted reproductive habits. Fireflies signal each other with their flashes to attract and respond to potential mates, but in areas with lots of artificial lighting they signal less, leading to less mating. Even plants aren’t immune; constant lighting at night causes them to bloom early and go dormant later and can even shorten their lifespan.

Lighting at night also impacts human health. Artificial light, especially blue/white light, disrupts the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates our sleep cycles, which is also vital to the health of our immune and reproductive systems and aids in regulating our blood pressure. According to the American Medical Association, decreased melatonin has been linked to an increased risk for all types of cancer.

Dark Skies and Our Shared Heritage

Where so many parts of our past have been lost to the sands of time, the skies above us span the breadth of eons. Every single human being alive today has ancestors who looked up to the night sky with wonder, who sat around their fires and told their stories, and who drew lines on the starscape to write their legends into the heavens themselves. From our earliest origins, we found our way by the stars and spread to the farthest reaches of the planet. Dark skies are a part of the history and the birthright of all people everywhere.

It’s only in the last century or so that many of us have lost sight of this precious piece of our history, thanks to light pollution. There are people alive today who have never set foot outside of urban light domes and have never seen a truly dark sky. Only 2 out of 10 people on earth can see the Milky Way! However, all is not lost: we can reclaim this precious part of our shared heritage!

What You Can Do

Light pollution is a problem, but dark skies are not lost forever to the forward march of progress. There is much that you can do in your own home or workplace to reduce light pollution. Start indoors: you can reduce the amount of blue light after dark to help restore healthy melatonin levels. Use dimmable, warmer lights when possible, and where cooler or “daylight” bulbs are preferred, simply turn those off after dark. Install amber night lights for nighttime navigation and set your devices to reduce blue light after dark.

Outside, follow these four simple rules: light only when needed, where needed, using the minimum amount needed, using the warmest color practical. If you don’t need a light on all the time, consider motion sensors or timers so lights are only on when you need them. Use shielded fixtures to direct light downward and only into the specific area where light is needed. Outdoor lighting doesn’t need to be as bright as the sun to do its job at night; only use as much light as you need. Light with less blue in the spectrum is better for both you and nature, and amber colored bulbs help preserve your night vision, so using warmer color temperature lights are ideal.

International Dark Sky Park

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is located in a uniquely light-pollution-free area in this part of the country. Thanks to a century of conservation by state, federal, and private entities, this area boasts views of the sky you normally have to travel far into the western U.S. to see. But would you believe that this park, with its exceptionally dark skies, isn’t listed as an International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) by DarkSky International (DSI) yet? We ARE seeking a designation, though. To obtain this status, we have been working to install dark-sky-friendly outdoor lighting throughout the park. We also hold events, including the DarkSky Missouri Festival (in partnership with DarkSky Missouri, the Missouri chapter of DSI), and present programs that help educate the public on the importance of our night skies and how we can protect them. See our Calendar of Events for upcoming events and programs.

Citizen Science

There is something you can do to help us gain an IDSP designation: become a citizen scientist and help us collect data on sky quality in and around Ozark National Scenic Riverways! You can do this by making sky quality observations during your visit to the area and reporting them to Globe at Night. It's super easy and fun! Here’s how:

1. Make a note of the date, time, and location of your observation. You can use GPS coordinates or pin the location on a map when you make your report.
2. Take notes about anything that might affect the observation (whether the location is rural, suburban, or urban, any sources of artificial light in the vicinity, and anything that obstructs your view of the sky like trees).
3. Make an observation of the sky.
   1. If you have a Sky Quality Meter (a pricy piece of equipment, but very accurate) or the Dark Sky Meter app (iOS), you can take a direct measurement of the sky’s brightness (make sure to note the method that you used in your report). For more details on taking measurements with a Sky Quality Meter, read this DSI Guide.
   2. Make an observation with the naked eye. The Loss of the Night app (iOS and Android) can help walk you through this process. The Globe at Night reporting page has handy example frames for the constellations Hercules, Cygnus, Sagittarius, and Scorpius to compare with what you see. You should seek out one of these constellations and observe the surrounding sky if making a naked eye report.
4. Take notes about the sky conditions (clouds, haze, sky glow, etc.) to include in your report.
5. Submit your findings at https://app.globeatnight.org

You can make as many reports as you want, even at different times on the same night. The more locations in and around the park with sky quality reports, the better. Every data point counts and helps back our application for IDSP designation with hard data. Measurements taken outside the park help, too, by contributing to a more accurate map of sky quality that benefits anyone interested in understanding sky quality in this area. We appreciate the help!

DarkSky International

DarkSky International (formerly The International Dark-Sky Association) was founded in 1988. DSI is a world leader and advocate for our night skies. They strive to educate the public on responsible lighting. There are now over 50 International Dark Sky Parks (IDSP) world-wide. According to DSI, these are places that have proven that they possess an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment. Visit the DSI website for more information and to learn about the IDSP sites.

DarkSky Missouri

DarkSky Missouri is the Missouri chapter of DarkSky International, founded in 2018 to raise awareness about light pollution issues in Missouri, promote quality outdoor lighting, protect Missouri’s natural environment and beautiful night sky, and educate the public on how reducing light pollution can lower energy costs. Visit DarkSky Missouri’s website to learn more.

More Dark Places

There are more places to visit in the vicinity of Ozark National Scenic Riverways that also benefit from this patch of dark sky. Here are a few:

• Mark Twain National Forest (Eleven Point District)
• Pioneer Forest
• Echo Bluff State Park
• Montauk State Park
• Peck Ranch