Join us in celebrating the natural night sky during International Dark Sky Week, 14 - 20 April 2012!

Founded in 2003 by then high school student Jennifer Barlow, International Dark Sky Week has been endorsed by the International Dark-Sky Association, the American Astronomical Society, Sky & Telescope Magazine, Astronomers Without Borders, and the UN's International Year of Astronomy's Dark Skies Awareness Cornerstone Project. IDSW is a great time to host neighborhood celebrations and introduce the idea of dark skies to your community.

Be part of this event! This year, try to encourage as many people as possible to participate. Contact your local radio, television, or newspaper for their assistance in promoting International Dark Sky Week. We can't do it without your help.

Start with a Star Party! 

Never thrown a star party? It's easy!

Learn how >>

More April Events

AWB's Global Astronomy Month

IDA's Annual Conference at the Northeast Astronomy Forum

Ideas for Participation
1. Evaluate your lighting needs and extinguish all unnecessary lighting in or around your property. If lights are necessary (for safety or visibility) do not turn them off.
2. Write a press release, blog entry, or letter to your local news source to increase publicity.
3. Encourage your friends and neighbors to permanently reduce the use of non-essential lighting. Purchase and install a dark sky friendly lighting fixture for yourself or a neighbor or talk to your local supplier about carrying a selection of these fixtures.
4. If you're an educator, use a day during IDSW to teach students about the night sky and light pollution. Kids can find ways to ameliorate the problem by participating in activities  such as a star count or a home audit.
5. Post flyers about IDSW in your area, encouraging people to turn off their unnecessary lights, or give a talk to a school or a civic group.
6. Host an observing event, such as a family backyard stargazing BBQ or sidewalk astronomy.

7. Have fun and enjoy the beauty of the night sky!

NEW RESOURCE! To celebrate IDSW, IDA is releasing a Dark Sky Activity Book.

Kids can learn how light at night affects wildlife, do word searches, and send out invitations to their own star party! Download >>

Photo by Bob Gent, Lunar Eclipse, December 2010

FAQ

How will International Dark Sky Week reduce light pollution since it's only one week and not everyone will participate? The main goal of IDSW is to raise awareness. So if you participate, and you encourage your friends, relatives, and neighbors to participate, we'll have achieved awareness within your circle of friends. We recognize that it would be nearly impossible to get rid of all light pollution; however, it is possible to make a small difference in the quality of the night sky and inspire those around us to preserve the beauty of the sky.

What about lighting? That's definitely a goal of IDSW - to encourage efficient use of outdoor lighting. Lighting that lights where you need it, when you need it, and for amount of time it's needed.

Links for More Information 

IDA's Quick References, including Practical Guide 3: A Homeowner's Guide to Nighttime Friendly Lighting 

IYA Dark Skies Awareness Cornerstone Project's IDSW page

Distributors of Dark Sky Friendly Lighting

Elementary School Curriculum for Astronomy and Wildlife

Other Activities and Teaching Materials

Astronomers Without Borders and Global Astronomy Month

UNESCO's IYA 2009

Starlight Initiative

World Night in Defense of Starlight, April 20th Celebrate International Dark Sky Week

Data courtesy of Marc Imhoff of NASA GSFC and Christopher Elvidge of NOAA NGDC.