Eiweiler Star Village
About
Eiweiler, a quaint village nestled in the Saarland region of Germany, has gained recognition for its commitment to preserving the natural beauty of its night skies. Situated in southwestern Germany, Eiweiler is known for its rural charm, picturesque landscapes, and a community deeply rooted in local traditions. The village, part of the larger municipality of Nohfelden, offers residents and visitors alike a serene atmosphere amidst rolling hills and lush greenery.
Eiweiler is a district of the municipality of Nohfelden and is located in the district of Sankt Wendel. The village lies in a valley and is surrounded by agricultural land and forest within a radius of 3 km. On the edge of Eiweiler, at the top of Mount Peterberg, is the Peterberg Observatory, which is run by the amateur astronomers of Saarland, whose initiative led to the Healthy Light for Nature and People project.
In recent years, Eiweiler has embarked on a remarkable journey to become an International Dark Sky Community, a prestigious designation awarded by DarkSky International. This initiative underscores Eiweiler’s dedication to minimizing light pollution and preserving the clarity of its night skies. By implementing responsible lighting practices and raising awareness about the importance of dark skies, Eiweiler aims to protect natural habitats and promote sustainable development.
As part of the Sankt Wendeler Sternenland project, Eiweiler implemented a modern lighting system in June 2021. This system incorporates time and presence controls to minimize light pollution and optimize energy usage. During nighttime hours from 10:30 PM to 6:00 AM, streetlights automatically reduce their lumen output to 10% unless motion is detected, which triggers an increase to 30% brightness. Outside these hours, streetlights operate at 15% power, rising to 50% with motion detection, ensuring efficient use without reaching full power capacity. After motion detection, there’s a 60-second hold time before lights gradually adjust back to lower power over two seconds. These measures enhance sustainability by reducing unnecessary light emissions and ensuring lighting is activated only when needed, aligning with Eiweiler’s commitment to dark sky preservation under the Sankt Wendeler Sternenland initiative.
The new lighting technology also makes an important contribution to conserving resources and saving energy. The targeted control of the lighting significantly reduces energy consumption and thus also lowers operating costs. This leads to a sustainable use of resources and supports the municipality’s efforts to reduce its ecological footprint. The street lighting used complies with the provisions of the lighting guidelines for the Sankt Wendel SternenLand, which were developed as part of the “Healthy light for nature and people” project.
Eiweiler Star Village also offers a multitude of outreach and education programs and resources for residents and visitors to enjoy while learning about the importance of the night sky and space science. The Peterburg Observatory hosts monthly lectures and guided tours, while the Nohfelden Space Studio provides captivating exhibits about the Apollo Space Program, a planetarium, and offers touch-based interactive displays for visitors who have different seeing capabilities. Lastly, the village has erected multiple public educational signs along its Nonnweiler Planetary Hiking Trail and Astro Experience Trai that talk about our own planet, our solar system, the Milky Way galaxy, and beyond.
Eiweiler is thus a role model for other communities and shows how innovative technologies and conscious planning can create a sustainable and environmentally friendly living space. The International Dark Sky Community award recognizes the efforts of the Nohfelden community and its citizens to improve the quality of life and environmental conditions, as well as to preserve the beauty of the night sky.
The measure was subsidized by the Ministry of Economics and implemented by Energis GmbH. With this conversion and the resulting award, Eiweiler proves that tradition and progress can go hand in hand and that the protection of our environment and our skies is within reach.
Area
8.66 Sq. Km
Designated
2024
Category
International Dark Sky Community
Address
66625 Nohfelden-Eiweiler
Google Maps
Website
Sankt Wendeler Sternenland : sankt-wendeler-sternenland.de
Contact
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Weather
Click here to find ideal environmental conditions for enjoying dark skies near Eiweiler, Germany (49.59, 7.14).
