Draft:Dark Sky Park Møn & Nyord

The islands of Møn and Nyord were designated a Dark Sky Park in 2017 by The International Dark Sky Association, as the first International Dark Sky Place in Scandinavia. The Dark Sky Park Møn & Nyord has become a popular attraction for European and domestic visitors looking to escape the ever increasing light pollution in urban areas.

History
Inhabitants of the islands recognised the need to protect the nighttime darkness of the islands, and initiated the process of documenting the sky quality, collaborating with the municipality in order to limit light pollution from government controlled areas, and creating awareness about the project within the local community.

The goal of being certified by The International Dark Sky Association was reached after 4 years of work, when they submitted their application, and the certification as both an International Dark Sky Park and a Dark Sky Community was awarded by Dark Sky International in 2017.

Education and Tours
An increasing awareness of the problems posed by light pollution contributes to the attraction of learning more about protecting the night time environment and the sky. For this reason, many schools, businesses and delegations from other countries and areas of Denmark visit the Dark Sky Park.

Authorised tour guides help visitors enjoy the night sky and learn about the nocturnal environment. The hope is that by learning more about the effects of light pollution on the environment and ecosystem, these visitors will be more aware of their own use of lighting.