STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Betsy Mizell had scarcely had time to celebrate Central Idaho’s designation as the nation’s first and only Dark Sky Reserve when she suddenly realized the enormity of what was before her.

“We were awarded the designation in December and, all of a suddenly, people were asking: Where’s the map? What do we do?”

I was like “What do I do?” she said, letting her mouth hang wide open to show how she felt. “Finally, I decided we have to treat it like we would a national park, offering suggestions on where to see the dark skies and providing other information.”

Fast forward four months and the Idaho Conservation League is about to debut a map with suggestions on how to take advantage of the Sun Valley area’s starry, starry nights.

The map will include 15 spots that have been identified for viewing area. Among them, Adams Gulch, Galena Overlook, Park Creek and Stanley Lake.

The organization hopes to distribute about 50,000 maps to the visitor’s center at Starbucks, Sun Valley Resort and a few other places, perhaps as early as Friday.

And it’s updating its website at www.idahodarksky.org and putting information on the Visit Sun Valley website, as well.

The website will include information about new moon date and a star gazing app people can download on their phone. It will also offer information about why it’s important to minimize light pollution.

“This is like a brand new product we have. People are asking questions that we don’t have the answers to,” said Scott Fortner, director of Visit Sun Valley. “We’re a little bit reactive, and we want to become proactive.”

Steve Botti, mayor of the tiny town of Stanley 60 miles to the north, jumped on the bandwagon quickly.

His town celebrated International Dark Sky Week in mid-April with a concert featuring Reckless Kelly and other activities.

 International Dark Sky Week, created in 2003 by a high school student, is a major focal point for Global Astronomy month, which takes place during April. It also highlights International Astronomy Day, which is designed to point everyone’s attention upwards.

The Stanley-Sawtooth Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Boise Astronomical Society to organize a Dark Sky Reserve Celebration on June 15-16 in celebration of the Summer Solstice.

 It will include a public star party and laser-pointer constellation tour at Stanley Pioneer Park.

That will be followed up by two lectures focusing on the skies above in July as part of the Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association’s Forum & Lecture Series.

Bellevue astronomer Tim Frazier will discuss “The Scorpion, the Archer and the Swan: Stars of the Summer Milky Way” on July 6. And Sun Valley photographer Nils Ribi will show examples of his dark sky photography work on July 27.

Both talks will be at 5 p.m. at the Stanley Museum.

Mizell said that the Dark Sky Reserve is a good resource for both community and business as it’s expected to draw visitors interested in seeing what they can’t see in places like New York City and Los Angeles where light pollution blocks views of the Milky Way.

Already, the designation has gotten good traction on CNN, Travel & Leisure and other media sites. And Mizell has been fielded at least 70 calls so far from amateur astronomers interested in coming here.

“We’re getting inquiries from media all across the world,” she said. “People came from all over the world to see the total solar eclipse so we have an opportunity for tourism with this.”

The Central Idaho Dark sky Reserve encompasses 1,416 square miles, making it the third largest in the world. It stretches from Ketchum to Stanley and includes parts of Blaine, Boise, Custer, Elmore counties and the entire Sawtooth National recreation Area.

This is one of 12 reserves in the world. There are 18 Dark Sky communities in the world, including Ketchum. And there are 59 Dark Sky Parks in the world, including Craters of the Moon National Monument.

The effort to capitalize on Sun Valley’s dark skies started 20 years ago, largely spearheaded by Dr. Stephen Pauley, an amateur astronomer who became interested in the stars above while sailing from California to Hawaii.

 “Interestingly, a University of Chicago study determined that more crime actually happens in areas that are lit,” Mizell added.