Beaver Island Home to Newest Dark Sky Sanctuary

If you were excited about the April 2024 solar eclipse, you’re going to love the news that DarkSky International has formally recognized the 9,425.5-acre Michigan State Wildlife Research Area on Beaver Island as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. It will be known as the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area International Dark Sky Sanctuary and will be Michigan’s first certified International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Beaver Island, off the coast of Charlevoix, Michigan, is geographically isolated and accessible only by ferry or plane. The island hosts a broad variety of ecosystems, and a large portion of land is reserved for research purposes. Beaver Island’s dark sky landscape allows viewers the ability to see constellations, galaxies, the Milky Way, meteor showers, Northern Lights, the occasional comet and rare Zodiacal light.

To learn more, visit darksky.org.