In a recent episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, hosts Jamie Hale and Chiara Profenna interviewed Paul Poncy, observatory manager at the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, about Sunriver's status as a dark sky destination.

While many people focus on Oregon's official dark sky parks and sanctuary (which is the world's largest), Sunriver was actually the first community in Oregon to receive a dark sky designation. These are 5 takeaways from the recent podcast episode.

Sunriver was the first location in Oregon to receive an official dark sky designation from the International Dark Sky Association. The community received the "Dark Sky Development of Distinction" title in 2020, a designation that has since become defunct but positioned Sunriver as a pioneer in Oregon's dark sky movement.

According to Poncy, Sunriver was uniquely positioned for this designation because of its large public observatory and extensive collection of telescopes that had been operating for years. The community is now working with the Oregon chapter of the Dark Sky Association to potentially update their designation to a "Dark Sky Place."

Protecting dark skies serves multiple important purposes beyond just stargazing. Poncy explained that dark skies are crucial for human health, as artificial light (especially blue light) can disrupt our circadian rhythms and sleep patterns.

For wildlife, dark skies are essential for nocturnal activities like migration and pollination. Birds often migrate at night and can become disoriented by light pollution, while many insects like moths are nighttime pollinators that are negatively affected when drawn to artificial lights in urban areas. Sunriver's dark sky regulations were initially implemented with wildlife protection in mind.

The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory runs public astronomy programs throughout the year, with different seasonal schedules. Programs typically include an educational astronomy talk followed by telescope viewing. The observatory operates public programs on Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round, expanding to four nights weekly during summer (late June through Labor Day).

The observatory also offers private programs for families or businesses on Tuesdays and Fridays. Daytime visitors can view the sun through specialized filtered telescopes, which Poncy describes as "a great learning experience." During peak summer season, programs can accommodate up to 150 people, with presentations moving outdoors to their amphitheater.

While planets are popular viewing targets, Poncy noted that summer 2025 will be relatively "planet dry." During these periods, the observatory focuses on other fascinating celestial objects including the moon, distant galaxies, nebulae and various star clusters. Special events like the Perseid meteor shower in August also draw visitors.

What sets Sunriver Observatory apart is its extensive collection of equipment -- up to 15-18 telescopes operating on a summer night -- allowing visitors to view a wide variety of celestial objects in a single visit, which Poncy describes as "kind of world class."

The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory is working to position itself as a gateway to southern Oregon's dark sky sanctuary, one of the largest dark sky places in the world. Poncy expressed interest in building connections with other dark sky communities and helping them develop by sharing resources, including donated telescopes.

The observatory also hosts educational events about dark skies, including an upcoming dark sky talk in July featuring a young engineer who won a prize for his work on light color and its effects on dark skies. These efforts are part of a broader vision to potentially "make all of Oregon a kind of dark sky place."