TL;DR
Sun Valley, Idaho has become the first ski resort in the United States to earn certification through DarkSky International's Approved Lodging & Resorts Program, recognising its outdoor lighting practices, environmental stewardship, and habitat protection. To mark the achievement, Sun Valley is running a Perseid Meteor Shower event on 12 August, with a 125 US dollar ticket covering a gondola ride up Bald Mountain, food and drinks, and guided astronomy programming.
Sun Valley is now the first Dark Sky certified ski resort in America
Sun Valley, Idaho earned certification on Monday, 13 July through DarkSky International's DarkSky Approved Lodging & Resorts Program, becoming the first ski resort in the United States to meet the nonprofit's standards. The certification recognises the resort's outdoor lighting practices, environmental stewardship, and habitat protection.
What Dark Sky certification actually measures
DarkSky International is a global nonprofit that certifies locations based on how they manage light pollution and preserve views of the night sky, measuring human-made light levels and the steps taken to reduce them before deciding whether a site qualifies. Sun Valley is the first ski resort in the country to clear that bar. "At Sun Valley, the outdoors has always been at the center of the guest experience... Preserving the natural beauty of this place, including the night sky, is an important part of protecting what makes the experience here so special for future generations," CEO Pete Sonntag said.
