Sisters, Oregon Certified an International Dark Sky Community

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The City of Sisters and DarkSky International have announced that Sisters has become certified as an International Dark Sky Community, making it the newest addition to the International Dark Sky Places Program. 

Announcement from DarkSky International

Sisters, located in the central part of Oregon, is a picturesque western town with a population of 3,475, surrounded by forest and the Cascade Mountains. The city is flanked by the Deschutes National Forest on the west and the arid high desert on the east.  With endless hiking, alpine lakes, and two nearby ski areas, recreational opportunities abound, all within a three-hour drive of Portland Oregon and the Pacific Ocean.

Community members have demonstrated their commitment to dark sky preservation through a range of educational and outreach initiatives, including the formation of the City and High School astronomy clubs more than a decade ago. As part of the certification process, the city enhanced its outdoor lighting ordinance in 2024, ensuring that it meets the dark skies standards established by DarkSky International. The City of Sisters outdoor lighting ordinance can be a model for other communities in Oregon.

DarkSky Oregon supported this certification by analyzing  the night sky measurement data captured over four years by volunteers from the City of Sisters.

​The City of Sisters is the second International Dark Sky Community to be certified in Oregon, and the seventh International Dark Sky Place in Oregon to earn this pretentious honor, joining:
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• Cottonwood Canyon State Park International Dark Sky Park,
• City of Antelope International Dark Sky Community,
• Oregon Caves National Monument International Dark Sky Park,
• Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary,
• Prineville Reservoir State Park International Dark Sky Park, and
• Sunriver International Development of Distinction.​

DarkSky International retains a global committee of experts who rigorously review dark sky place applications from around the world. For a deep dive, here is Sister’s successful application for certification as an International Dark Sky Community.
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