The World’s First DarkSky Certified Airport is the Only One Located Inside a National Park

If you can’t tell the difference between a shooting star and an airplane, you might be in Jackson Hole. Located in Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is the only airport inside a national park, and in April 2025, it became the first airport to be officially recognized as an Urban Night Sky Place. The certification was issued by DarkSky International, formerly known as the International Dark-Sky Association, whose mission is to preserve the natural night sky and reduce the impact of light pollution on communities and wildlife.

If you think about it, airports and light pollution often go hand in hand. Not only is extensive lighting needed to illuminate large runways and passenger infrastructure, but airports are often located miles away from central urban environments, in areas that are more likely to support wildlife. A study published in PeerJ by researchers at the Kyiv Aviation Institute concluded that light pollution is one of the most significant environmental impacts of airports, as it can provoke negative biological effects on wildlife.

Of course, all airports must meet Federal Aviation Administration safety standards, so there’s no need to worry about a pitch-black landing. Still, this exciting new recognition has important implications for JAC and any other airports that may follow its lead.

Jackson Hole may be the first airport to be recognized as an Urban Night Sky Place, but it joins the ranks of other certified locations like Arizona’s underrated Saguaro National Park and wildlife refuges such as Valle de Oro. Qualifying for the designation is a lengthy process that could take anywhere between one and three years. First, the destination hoping to earn the recognition must make an initial inquiry, then follow guidance on how to meet the program’s technical requirements. Applications must detail comprehensive lighting policies, plans to implement dark-sky-friendly methods, an outreach and education program, and a strategy for night sky monitoring.

Beyond the environmental benefits and a reduction in light pollution, DarkSky Certifications bring many other perks to local communities, such as increased visitor numbers as astrotourists discover new star-friendly destinations. The DarkSky standards also promote sustainability and safety by implementing technology that saves energy and reduces glare.