Light pollution has harmful impacts on both natural and human made systems. Organizations such as the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) aim to mitigate these damages. The project's goal was to assess the nightscapes of Acadia National Park and its potential of becoming an International Dark Sky Park (IDSP). To realize this goal, the team examined Acadia’s compliance with IDA IDSP requirements for sky darkness quality, community outreach, and outdoor lighting through a combination of field measurements, night sky photography, and surveys. Acadia excelled in night sky quality and dedicated night sky outreach. While complete lighting compliance could not be determined, an inventory of over half the park's outdoor fixtures indicated that compliance is achievable with minimal action.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Demanche, Gabriel
• McKenna, Emily
• Thivaharraja, Ryan
• Saucier, Adrienne
• Driscoll, Kyla

Subject

• Sustainability
• Community
• Environment

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-080223-102530
• 112574

Keyword

• Light Pollution
• Dark Sky
• National Park
• Astronomy
• Night
• Acadia

Advisor

• Bianchi, Frederick W.
• McCauley, Stephen M.

Year

• 2023

Center

• Acadia National Park, Maine Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Acadia National Park

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 3 - Good Health and Well-being
• 13 - Climate Action

Date created

• 2023-08-02

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Source

• E-project-080223-102530

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-08-22