Mont Mégantic is a small, isolated mountain located in Québec, Canada, about 9 miles (15 km) north of the border between Québec and the U.S. states of Maine and New Hampshire. It’s not only an accredited reserve, but the world’s very first International Dark Sky Reserve, which claims to have a night sky as “dark as it was in 1979” by the International Dark Sky Association. The improvement and stability of sky quality is firmly attributed to policy changes and lighting retrofits conducted in the area. The mountain is also home to an observatory and the ASTROlab, where interactive tours lead to guided night hikes. Please note that while camping is available, the area is also open to the public 24 hours of the day. For more information, please call 800-665-6527.
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.