Why in News?

• Department of Science & Technology (DST) has announced the setting up of India’s first Dark Sky Reserve in Hanle, Ladakh.

About Hanle Dark Sky Reserve

• Hanle, is about 4,500 metres above sea level.
• It hosts telescopes and is regarded as one of the world’s most optimal sites for astronomical observations.
• The proposed Dark Sky Reserve will be located at Hanle in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Dark Sky Reserve:

• A Dark Sky Reserve is public or private land with a distinguished nocturnal environment and starry nights that is developed responsibly to prevent light pollution.
• According to the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA) website, these reserves “consist of a core area meeting minimum criteria

• For sky quality and natural darkness,
• A peripheral area that supports dark sky preservation in the core.”

How does a site become a Dark Sky Reserve?

• Individuals or groups can nominate a site for certification to the IDSA.
• Designated categories,

• International Dark Sky parks,
• Communities,
• Reserves,
• Sanctuaries
• Urban Night Sky Places.

• The certification process is similar to that of a site being awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag or getting recognised as a Biosphere Reserve.
• Between 2001 and January 2022, there have been 195 sites recognised as International Dark Sky Places globally.

IDSA criteria for Dark Sky place:

• It is either publicly or privately owned;
• It is accessible to the public partially or entirely during the year.
• The land is legally protected for scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage and/or public enjoyment purposes;
• The core area of the land provides an exceptional dark sky resource relative to the communities and cities that surround it;
• The land offers prescribed night sky brightness either for a reserve, park or sanctuary.

Who is developing India’s first Dark Sky Reserve?

• The Ladakh Union Territory administration is leading the efforts in establishing the country’s first Dark Sky Reserve.
• The Department of Science and Technology and experts from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, are providing scientific and technological support in developing this first-of-its-kind facility.
• The formal decision to set up this Dark Sky Reserve was made through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between officials from

• IIA, Bengaluru,
• The Ladakh UT
• The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in June this year.

Why was Ladakh chosen for the project?

• Ladakh is a unique cold desert located about 3,000 metres above sea level with high mountainous terrains.
• Long and harsh winters with minimum temperatures dropping to minus 40 degrees Celcius make large parts of the UT highly inhabitable.
• This aridity, limited vegetation, high elevation and large areas with sparse populations – all make it the perfect setting for long-term astronomical observatories and dark sky places.
• But the primary objective of the proposed Dark Sky Reserve is to promote astronomy tourism in a sustainable and environmentfriendly manner.
• It will be one of the world’s highestlocated sites for optical, infrared, and gamma-ray telescopes.