Saskatchewan ranch under living skies becomes nocturnal preserve

Theilluminated prairie night sky is too good to resist for many people in Saskatchewan.

For the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC), it's worth a special designation.

Saskatchewan's Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area has now been designated a nocturnal preserve. The ranch near Claydon,Sask.is owned and managed by the NCC in Saskatchewan.

"We are very proud to have been awarded this designation," Mark Wartman, regional vice president for the NCC in Saskatchewan, said in a news release. "The importance of protecting dark night skies against light pollution is just beginning to be understood."

The NCC said this designation will help guard against future light pollution in the area. This is great news for astronomers and any visitors hoping to catch a unique glimpse of the living skies.

Robert Dick with the RASC said artificial light can also impact "the ecological balance of an area," at night.

"Preventing outdoor lighting, or at least minimizing its impact, is a major step in the overall protection of our nocturnal environment," Dick said.

The Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area is a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts, including astronomers.