Light pollution is a problem we can solve. By embracing energy-efficient lighting, reducing outdoor light, and supporting dark sky initiatives, we can reclaim our night skies and create a more sustainable future. Let's work together to bring back the stars! #sustainability #lightpollution #darkskies

The night sky has long been caught between two notions of 'environment': one on the ground and the other among the stars. But these two realms are much more closely connected than previously believed. Protecting natural nighttime darkness by reducing light pollution may benefit from a shift in thinking that sees an explicit connection between Earth and cosmos. Read more about how adopting this view would bring both a different ethic and a jurisprudence to bear on the issue.

http://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/from-the-earth-to-space-the-night-sky-in-a-continuum-of-the-human-environment

Talking #DarkSkies and #satellites shortly for Astrobites with such luminaries as @skyglowberlin and @planet4589:

https://astrobites.org/earthweek2025/

“Using photometric and spectroscopic sensors, we observed up to 50% night sky darkening during Earth Hour from 2011 to 2024 in Hong Kong, primarily as a result of a small but critical number of lights-out instances in central business districts, as evidenced by crowd-sourced photography records. The emission reductions mostly occurred in the 445–500, 500–540, and 615–650 nm spectral ranges---corresponding to peak emissions from LED billboard screens--- and in the 585–595 nm range, associated with metal halide floodlights used for facades and billboards. Our study identifies these sources as major contributors to urban light pollution.”

(Note: not yet peer reviewed, but the authors are legit.)

https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6241967/v1

Jane Slade has an interesting article in the current issue of the IES LD+A magazine that suggests when it comes to outdoor lighting and security, we're asking the wrong question.

"I propose that the dangerously oversimplified question 'Is more light safer?' be distilled out of our discourse in the lighting industry. When we hear this question being asked, let us actively design the discourse, redirect the question, call out how it has typically created less quality in design, and elevate the conversation with other, more open-ended and truth-seeking questions"

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/03606325251332534

Take back the night: Establishing a "right to darkness" could save our night skies

https://www.salon.com/2025/04/15/take-back-the-night-establishing-a-right-to-darkness-could-save-our-night-skies/

It's coming. #IDSW2025

https://idsw.darksky.org/

"Could an increasingly popular, intermittently successful legal argument involving what's called the Rights of Nature or more-than-human rights possibly reclaim our planet's dark skies? It sounds like a goth dream, but do we have a legal right to darkness?"

https://www.salon.com/2025/04/15/take-back-the-night-establishing-a-right-to-darkness-could-save-our-night-skies/

Threats to astronomical observatory sites around the world from light pollution are growing, but the existing skyglow standard for site protection dates to nearly a half-century ago. Astronomers are considering a new standard to replace it given advances in lighting technology.

Read more about what's at stake for astronomy and how this effort developed: http://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/toward-a-new-standard-for-astronomical-observatory-site-protection

Better yet: don’t light your garden at all. “Since artificial light in gardens disrupts natural behaviour for a range of wildlife, it’s important to retain some dark areas and also question whether you really need lighting, says the RHS.”

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/people/2025/03/31/this-trend-for-lighting-up-gardens-may-seem-an-inviting-one-but-it-needs-to-be-done-with-care/

New conference paper by @salvabara argues that "setting total emission limits becomes necessary in order to ensure that the negative effects of light pollution do not surpass red-lines of unacceptable degradation of the natural night."

https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.02724

The rise of greenhouse farming around the world has social and economic benefits, but nighttime lighting used to increase crop yields often causes light pollution problems. Read more about regulatory and tech solutions that users are pursuing.

http://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/greenhouse-lighting-a-growing-concern

"It’s 'absolutely astounding' that the law would prohibit state efforts to protect dark skies in the U.P., essential for preserving Indigenous cultural knowledge."

But "a group of Yoopers is mobilizing to change that."

https://www.mlive.com/environment/2025/02/michigan-bans-state-dark-sky-preserves-in-the-up-some-want-that-to-change.html

"What the Isle of Rum lacks is artificial illumination. There are no streetlights, light-flooded sports fields, neon signs, industrial sites or anything else casting a glow against the night sky. On a cold January day, the sun sets early and rises late, yielding to a blackness that envelopes the island, a blackness so deep that the light of stars manifests suddenly at dusk and the glow of the moon is bright enough to navigate by. For this reason, Rum was recently named Europe’s newest dark-sky sanctuary."

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/science/astronomy-dark-sky-rum.html

Diolch, Cymru! "#Wales will this week become the first #UK nation to introduce national good practice guidance to help protect its dark skies."

https://www.gov.wales/stars-align-wales-leads-uk-dark-skies-protection

“Most of the areas in Saudi, you could find the night sky there. All of the beautiful wonders they have, they are out in the desert, so you get the best of both worlds: beautiful nature and a great night sky.”

https://www.cnn.com/travel/saudi-arabia-first-dark-sky-park-astrotourism-spc/index.html

"Light pollution is easily preventable: turn off unnecessary lights and the problem disappears. Unlike other pollutants, there is no need for a challenging cleanup operation.

"While artificial light is sometimes necessary for safety, we should prioritise lighting methods that minimise light pollution, reducing harm to the natural world while continuing to meet societal needs."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/21/light-pollution-bright-nights-invertebrates-bats-moths

Félicitations to everyone involved in today's announcement of Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park in #France as the world's newest International Dark Sky Place.

https://darksky.org/news/landes-de-gascogne-regional-natural-park-becomes-the-sixth-international-dark-sky-reserve-reserve-internationale-de-ciel-etoile-rice-in-france/