Dark Desert Skies

Grant Tandy

fact

Swallowtail

Swallowtail

The Oregon Swallowtail butterfly is the official state insect of Oregon and a true native of the Pacific Northwest. The Swallowtail can be seen in the lower sagebrush canyons of the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Snake River drainage area.  Source: State Symbols USA

Latin name: Papilio oregonius

fact

Young Horny Toad Lizard

Young Horny Toad Lizard

In the summer these lizards begin foraging for food as soon as their body temperature rises as the heat of the day increases. They feed on slow-moving, ground-dwelling insects. In the fall they hibernate by burying themselves in the sand.

Latin name: Phrysonoma platyrhinos

voices

Cregg Large, member since 2009

Cregg Large, member since 2009

“I came to Oregon 12 years ago from Texas. Texas, for all its size, has very little public land. Coming to Oregon has made me realize the special gift we as Americans have in our public lands. Volunteering with an organization like ONDA is my way of reciprocating for this gift. Through restoration efforts, I feel we are helping leave a better place than we found it. Through advocating for protection for public lands, we safeguard migration routes for animals and keep the land where it belongs: with the public.”

Grant Tandy

Grant Tandy

Grant Tandy

Grant Tandy

That’s not to say that dark skies aren’t important to human beings and some of our biological needs, as well. An unnatural variation of darkness can manipulate our circadian rhythm, potentially disturbing our chance for a sound night’s rest. Culturally, we would be amiss without stories shared around a campfire about the starry positions and cosmological formations that tell our history.

So the question remains: how can we preserve our dark skies? The answer to preservation lies in changing the way we think and how we interact with the night in order to decrease light pollution. Light covers, forcing light downwards to the ground, rather than up into the sky can be easily placed on existing fixtures. Light strands can be set to timers, made to automatically turn off during the darkest points of the night when most of us are asleep and unable to enjoy them anyway.

If you live in Central Oregon, you’re lucky to be surrounded by organizations that are dedicated to the preservation of dark skies, and education on the wonders of our universe. In Sunriver, you can find the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, with one the nation’s largest publicly accessible observatories, managed by local Central Oregon Community College astronomy professor Bob Grossfeld. Just east of Bend, you can find Pine Mountain Observatory, a world-class astronomical research facility with opportunities for the public to interact with astronomers, such as University of Oregon’s very own Doctor Scott Fisher. And in Bend, you’ll find Worthy Brewing’s Hopservatory, run by Grant Tandy– local astrophotographer, Central Oregon native, and the galaxy’s friendliest observatory manager. All of these passionate individuals are ready to teach you about the importance of the night skies and the vast knowledge contained in our universe.

International Dark Sky Week runs from March 31 through April 7. So turn out your lights and look up at the sky. Happy star hunting.

Written by Kody Osborne. Photos by Grant Tandy.

How to find a hot spring in the dark

ONDA’s Owyhee Canyonlands Coordinator Corie Harlan shares a lesson learned from a particularly epic trip into the Owyhee. Three hours into our drive to Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, the AC quit working and I had a sinking feeling I’d forgotten my hiking boots – but there was no time to worry about any of that. Giant, […]

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The Last Darkness

Patagonia athletes Jeff Browning and Jesse Haynes attempt to run the last 170 miles of the Oregon Desert Trail in a four-day span. They were supported by photographers Fred Marmsater and Jonathan Byers and Trailhead Labs’ Jereme Monteau.

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Dark Desert Skies

By on March 29, 2019 | Posted in: How-To, Where-to

For those of us who have spent time in Oregon’s high desert, there is no need to explain how truly dark skies showcase the wonders of the stars viewable by the naked eye. Night skies relatively free from light pollution — that is, human-created artificial lighting and atmospheric disturbances such as smog — will...

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Owyhee River Rafting Trip

By on February 21, 2019 | Posted in:

Join ONDA on a six-day guided float down 55 miles of the Wild and Scenic Owyhee River from Rome to Birch Creek. Includes a stewardship project.

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2019 Stewardship Trip Registration Opens

By on January 30, 2019 | Posted in:

The moment you’ve been waiting for. ONDA’s line up of stewardship trips for 2019 will open for registration on the morning of February 25. Where will you go to improve the desert – to a deep gorge in the Steens Mountain Wilderness, to the shoulder of Hart Mountain, or into the John Day River Basin?...

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The Milky Way is reflected in a pool in Oregon's High Desert.

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By on October 15, 2018 | Posted in: How-To

ONDA’s Owyhee Canyonlands Coordinator Corie Harlan shares a lesson learned from a particularly epic trip into the Owyhee. Three hours into our drive to Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, the AC quit working and I had a sinking feeling I’d forgotten my hiking boots – but there was no time to worry about any of that....

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By on August 19, 2018 | Posted in: Species Spotlight

UPDATE: Long-nosed snakes confirmed in the Owyhee! On August 19, 2018, ONDA shared this blog article about the possibility of Long-nosed Snakes in southeastern Oregon, requesting documenting photos of sightings which brought astonishingly quick results. To be exact, the very next day after that plea was posted! Herpetologist Alison Davis Rabosky emailed me several...

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10 Summer Adventures in Eastern Oregon

By on July 19, 2018 | Posted in: Where-to

Escape the heat, or at least take your mind off the dog days of summer, with these 10 adventures found around Oregon’s high desert and along the Oregon Desert Trail (ODT). From festivals to star-gazing and bike riding, we have something for everyone to enjoy east of the Cascades.

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Lands with Wilderness Characteristics

By on March 29, 2018 | Posted in:

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Ten Springtime Adventures

By on March 26, 2018 | Posted in: Where-to

Have the longer days and warmer temps led you to experience bouts of day-dreaming and window-gazing? Put that wanderlust to work! Plan on your trip to the desert, and get out there! With flowers blooming, birds migrating and roads drying out, spring is just about the best time to explore southeast Oregon. Here, we...

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By on February 21, 2018 | Posted in: Deep Dive

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Painted Canyon Loop

By on January 24, 2018 | Posted in:

If you love adventure and solitude, get ready to experience one of the best hikes in the Northern Owyhee Canyonlands. On the 8.5 mile Painted Canyon Loop (also known as the Carlton Canyon-Painted Canyon Loop) you’ll see stunning spires, three-hundred-foot canyon walls, old-growth sagebrush over twelve-feet tall – and true to its name –...

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