NOMINATION CRITERIA
Guidelines and Criteria for Nominating Dark Sky Sites and Towns
The Australian Dark Sky Register recognises both Dark Sky ‘Sites’ and Dark Sky ‘Towns’. The Criteria for each is different.
Anyone can nominate a site or town by following these criteria and using the Nomination Forms on our website.
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DARK SKY SITE What is a Recognised Dark Sky Site? Every community has its best local place for seeing the stars on a clear night. In the suburbs it could be a private back yard, a park, a playing field or some other open space. In a rural area, it might be somewhere that is either within the town or a short drive outside the town. A Dark Sky Site is a place that helps local people, visitors, schools and groups enjoy the night sky with minimal glare or light pollution. Anyone wanting to find a good dark sky site can be assured that the locations on the Australian Dark Sky register are actually sites that give the best views possible in their area. Criteria for Nomination of a Dark Sky Site For a site to be recognised as an ‘Australian Dark Sky Site’ it must meet all the following criteria: Size The Minimum acceptable Site should be 100m² (10mx10m) in area. This small size is to allow private backyards and private Observatories to nominate, and still be large enough to be used by a visiting group of 30 people. But normally the nominated site will be an observing site of a local Astronomy Club, sports field of a School, or a darker part of a wider public park or open space which has other locations within it which don’t match the other criteria (e.g. darkness, sightlines, access) in the same way as the Site you choose to nominate. For example, they may have better sightlines but not have wheelchair access, or the rest of the park is lit up except the small area you choose. If so, you can explain this briefly in the ‘Further Comments’ section on the Nomination Form. Darkness - The site must meet one of these levels: These objects must be visible by naked eye (without the aid of a Telescope or Binoculars) Level 1 - BRONZE – All Five stars of Crux (including Epsilon Crucis) must be visible up to Quarter Moon Level 2 – SILVER - Milky Way visible during New Moon Level 3 – GOLD - Magellanic Clouds visible during New Moon Line of Sight The site should provide relatively good sightlines as low as possible to the horizon in all directions. Typically this means away from tall building, and trees. There is no absolute measure required but 30 degrees above the Horizon is usually adequate. Small backyards may be restricted to 40 degrees above the Horizon in some directions. Again, you can explain this briefly in the ‘Further Comments’ section on the Nomination Form. Public Access The site should ideally be freely open to the public for significant periods of darkness during the year. It may be necessary for groups to make special arrangements to visit. For example, it may be necessary for visitors to contact the owners or managers of the site in advance because the site is part of an operation such as a school or sports field. There could also be a restriction on times, for example no visits after midnight. If so, you should explain this in the Nomination Form. The spirit of this criterion is that small, informal groups of people can, without having made any special arrangements, arrive at the Site and find it accessible. If arrangements must be made for public access please notify us on the Nomination Form. We will supply your contact info on our website. Wheelchair access The Site must be accessible to a wheelchair user. The access route should avoid soggy or muddy ground and any obstacles that prevent a Wheelchair clear movement. Safety The site must be Risk Assessed by the nominating organisation. Please use your own common sense in Risk Assessment. In Risk Assessing your site, hazards to be considered should include: Uneven or wet ground, Open water, steep drops or slopes, Traffic, anti-social behaviour in the area. Also, access paths and driveways used by the public must not be blocked or obstructed in any way. Permission The nomination must be supported in writing by the local authority or landowner. For the local authority, the Parks and Wildlife Department or Local Council is likely to be the appropriate Department to approach for this support and approval. Landowners include owners of private land or the responsible authority for a school or council property. Please include the supporting letter with your Nomination Form. Without a supporting letter we cannot approve your site, and you are also open to legal action if a visitor is injured while at your site. Approval from Council or written permission from a landowner/responsible body is essential. The information you give us on your nomination form (site name, address, co-ords, etc) will help us list you properly on our website and help us pin your exact location on the map. NOTE On approval as a recognised Dark Sky Site you can place the ‘Dark Sky Site’ sign at the entry to your site (with council or landowner approval). The cost of the sign is the members’ responsibility. Your local council will provide you with the maximum size allowable, and any other conditions for public signage. You are also able to use the ADSR Logo on your website or any other literature you may have to advertise or promote your site. The signs and logo artwork files are available for download on this website. To prevent false nominations online we only accept hardcopy nominations posted through AustraliaPost. |
DARK SKY TOWN What is a Recognised Dark Sky Town? Every country town has its best local places for seeing the stars on a clear night but on occasion a whole town can be recognised as a community making a public effort to preserve their night sky and reduce light pollution within the town. A Dark Sky Town is a town that helps local people, visitors, schools and groups enjoy the night sky with minimal glare or light pollution. The Nominees have made connections with local councillors concerning public lighting reduction, and planning authorities to preserve the night sky in any future town planning. Anyone wanting to find a good dark sky town committed to light pollution reduction and that has dark sky areas within its town boundaries and at nearby properties can be assured that ‘Dark Sky Towns’ on the Australian Dark Sky register are towns that are actively preserving the night sky. Criteria for Nomination of a Dark Sky Town For a site to be recognised as an ‘Australian Dark Sky Town’ it must meet all the following criteria: Size The Minimum acceptable area actively involved in preserving the night sky should be 1km² (1kmx1km). This small size is to allow very small townships or isolated Observatories to nominate and be recognised as Dark Sky Towns. The nominated town could contain the observing site of a local Astronomy Club, sports fields, School grounds, and public parks or open spaces all which offer darkness, good low sightlines and easy wheelchair access. The nominated town can be as large as 10km x 10km as long as it meets the rest of the criteria. Darkness – Away from the glare of the town's public and private lighting, the Public parks, sports fields, and other observing sites within the town must meet one of these levels: These objects must be visible by naked eye (without the aid of a Telescope or Binoculars) Level 1 - BRONZE – All Five stars of Crux (including Epsilon Crucis) must be visible up to Quarter Moon Level 2 – SILVER - Milky Way visible during New Moon Level 3 – GOLD - Magellanic Clouds visible during New Moon Public Access The town should have a site, or sites, that are freely open to the public for significant periods of darkness during the year. The spirit of this criterion is that anyone can, without having made any special arrangements, arrive at sites in the township and find them accessible. If arrangements must be made for public access to some sites in the town please notify us on the Nomination Form. We will supply your contact info on our website. Documentation To register a town, copies of any documentation should be included with your Nomination Form. These include: - Minutes from a meeting discussing nomination of the town as a Dark Sky Town, - Documentation showing steps taken by the town (or group representing the town) with Council to reduce the town's current light pollution, - Documentation showing any arrangements or proposals (preferably with Council planning department) to control future light pollution from township expansion and development. The information you give us on your nomination form (Town name, co-ords, etc) will help us list you properly on our website and help us pin your exact location on the map. NOTE On approval as a recognised Dark Sky Town you can place the ‘Dark Sky Town’ sign at entry roads into your township (with council approval). The cost of the signs is the members’ responsibility. Your local council will provide you with the maximum size allowable, and any other conditions for roadside signage. The signs and logo artwork files are available for download on this website. You are also able to use the ADSR Logo on your town website or any other website and literature you may have to promote the Night Sky and preserve native wildlife in your town. To prevent false nominations online we only accept hardcopy nominations posted through AustraliaPost. |
