Our Nature Park Municipality Putscheid Joins Dark Sky Network

The Our Nature Park announced that the member commune of Putscheid officially became part of the international Dark Sky network on Friday 5 December 2025.

According to the Our Nature Park, Putscheid, under the title “Stärepark Pëtschent”, now forms part of an exclusive group of municipalities committed to protecting the natural night sky, following the official acceptance of its application for recognition as an International Dark Sky Community, a process the park described as reflecting a “strong commitment” and one it said it had supported closely throughout.

The commune, located in northern Luxembourg, is characterised by its rural setting, very low levels of light pollution and a stated commitment to sustainable development. With an area of about 27 km² and 1,176 inhabitants, Putscheid offers favourable conditions for preserving and enhancing natural low-light zones, the park noted.

In terms of practical measures, the Our Nature Park highlighted that Putscheid has in recent years implemented a series of actions to reduce nocturnal light pollution, developed in close cooperation with the park’s lighting advisor. These include the modernisation of municipal public lighting with fully shielded LED systems, the introduction of night-time dimming solutions and awareness-raising efforts encouraging the responsible use of private outdoor lighting. The park added that innovative projects have also been launched, such as a detailed study of light pollution using drones and luminance measurements, as well as the installation of permanent monitoring devices to assess sky quality.

In 2023, a camera was installed on the “Um wäisse Wak” reservoir of the Ardennes Water Distribution in Putscheid. According to the park, the device captures high-resolution night-sky imagery supporting meteorological observation and long-term monitoring of sky brightness, with constellations, the Milky Way, planets and occasional satellite or meteor activity visible. The images are available at liichtberodung.lu. This combination of research, technology and public engagement was described as making Putscheid “a model for other regions”.

The Our Nature Park explained that Putscheid’s efforts form part of a broader international framework: DarkSky International has certified more than 250 Dark Sky Places across 22 countries and six continents, covering over 196,000 km² of protected night skies and landscapes. The organisation considers the night sky to be “a universal cultural heritage” and requires certified sites to meet strict criteria, including high-quality outdoor lighting, reduced light pollution, long-term protection measures and active public awareness work. Founded in 1988, DarkSky International places such designations at the core of its global mission to promote responsible lighting and night-sky preservation.

With its recognition as an International Dark Sky Community, Putscheid is now part of this global network, contributing to the protection of the local environment while joining international efforts to support star-sky conservation, astrotourism, biodiversity and sustainable development. The commune becomes Luxembourg’s first official “Stärepark”, a title the park said would “resonate beyond national borders”.

Looking ahead, the designation represents a long-term commitment to protecting the natural night sky. The Our Nature Park reported that a range of activities, educational programmes and awareness-raising initiatives will be organised in the coming years, including astronomical observation events, workshops on sustainable lighting, themed hikes and collaborations with schools and associations aimed at fostering intergenerational interest in darkness and the night sky.