You’ve probably heard of the Dark Sky movement and its effort to keep light pollution out of remote areas – but did you know Arizona is home to the world’s very first Dark Sky Place? Flagstaff, the town responsible for the discovery of Pluto in 1930, received the designation in 2001. Here’s everything you need to know about Dark Sky Places in Arizona.

The iconic Four Corners region has the most IDA Dark Sky Communities on earth, 19 of which are right here in Arizona. In fact, the movement was birthed in the Grand Canyon State!
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In 2011, the the International Dark-Sky Association designated Flagstaff as the world's very first Dark Sky Place.
Flagstaff earned the designation because of its steadfast commitment to minimizing light pollution and keeping the skies stargazer-friendly.
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The award couldn't have been more fitting - after all, Pluto was discovered at the city's very own Lowell Observatory!
Since then, five other Arizona communities have become Dark Sky Places.
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These include Sedona, Big Park (Village of Oak Creek), Cottonwood, Fountain Hills, and Thunder Mountain Pootseev Nightsky.
Arizona also boasts a whopping 12 Dark Sky Parks, where the stars are especially big and bright.
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These parks are granted certain protections due to their status, ensuring modern society will never impede public enjoyment or the sacredness of nature in its unadulterated state.
Some of Arizona's Dark Sky Parks include Oracle State Park, Chiricahua National Monument, and Tumacácori National Historical Park.
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Two of these parks, the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest, are national parks.
If you're wondering why Arizona is such a great place to marvel at the cosmos, it comes down to one simple thing: mountains.
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Our state is rife with towering peaks, which help shield the parks from light pollution. The relatively nice weather doesn't hurt, either. Whatever the reason, we're eternally grateful.

To learn more about Dark Sky Places in Arizona, click here.

Did you know Flagstaff was the world’s first-ever Dark Sky Place? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! Check out our previous article for more information about Lowell Observatory and the discovery of Pluto.

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