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What we do International Dark Sky Places

Sark, Channel Islands

An aerial photo of Sark, Channel Islands.
An aerial photo of Sark, Channel Islands. Photo by Peter Capper, used under Creative Commons license.

About

Sark, a Channel Island protectorate of the United Kingdom near the coast of Normandy, is Europe’s first International Dark Sky Community. The island’s blend of history and culture attracts up to 40,000 tourists per year. Sark has neither public lighting nor motor vehicles beyond tractors used for farming; life on this singular island connotes a step back in time. A rich Milky Way is visible thanks to Sark’s offshore location, its generally low use of residential and commercial electricity, and its striking absence of public street lights.

Designated

2011

Category

Dark Sky Community

Sark-map-160px-160px

Address

Channel Islands, UK
Google Maps

Contact

Edd Stone
Website

Land Area

5.4 km2

Documents

Application
Lighting Plan
Annual Reports

Weather

Click here to find ideal environmental conditions for viewing the night sky in Sark, UK (49.42949, -2.36083). Don’t forget to plan your trip during the new moon and astronomical twilight to enhance the viewing experience!

Media

“The Psychology of Dark Skies” (focusing on ecopsychology, dark skies, and wellbeing on Sark, by Ada Blair)