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Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison certainly ranks among the foremost chasms of the world in terms of dimensions and renown. The canyon is 53 miles long but only the deepest, most spectacular 14 miles of the gorge lie within the National Park. While the people of the Ute Indian bands knew of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, it was an obscure geographic feature to explorers for hundreds of years. Along with the natural beauty of the Park by day, I got interested in what happens at night. The Park is composed largely of federal lands and private property used for agricultural production, helping preserve its dark skies against long-term urban encroachment. Regular interpretive programming stresses the value of dark skies and their appreciation at the Canyon, and the Park has worked with a local amateur astronomy society for many years to put on nighttime events to engage 1000’s of visitors. So, in 2015 Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison was designated an International Dark Sky Park. Now lets go the a telephone interview I had with NPS Ranger Nick Myers who is the Lead Interpreter Astronomy Coordinator at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
