"Of all the pollutions we face, light pollution is perhaps the most easily remedied."
-Verlyn Klinkenborg, "Our Vanishing Night," National Geographic Magazine, November 2008
To preserve and protect the nighttime environment
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Get fast and easy dark sky updates by signing up for IDA's bi-weekly e-News.
Think: Light Pollution on KERA Radio Pete Strasser discusses good lighting, good neighbors, and good ecological practices in an hour-long interview for Think with Krys Boyd. Listen to the podcast >>
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Light Pollution Animation Now Available Send the message that light pollution can be avoided with these clever animated videos courtesy of www.need-less.org.uk
New!! Try your hand at lighting design! View the light pollution simulator here >> |
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International Year of Astronomy Celebrate IYA in 2009 through the Global Cornerstone Projects and in particular the Dark Skies Awareness Group.
Follow all the IYA Cornerstone projects here >>
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Dark Sky Updates ...
Planets Outside the Solar System Photographed For the First Time The first views of planets outside our own star system have finally been recorded. Read a preliminary report in the Science Journal >>
Join the Great World Wide Star Count Help monitor light pollution in your area by making your own observations between October 20 and November 3 and submitting them to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) here>>
IDA Announces the First Provisional International Dark Sky Park Geauga Park District's Observatory Park in eastern Ohio has applied for and received provisional status for the IDSP program. Read the Press Release here>> To find out more about the IDSP Program, including proposed parks in the United Kingdom and France, click here>>
IDA Releases Education Curriculum For Free Download as Part of Conservation Outreach Project Available for download is the first lesson plan in a series of curricula designed for use in elementary and middle schools. The lesson plans offer an interactive introduction to the topics of astronomy, wildlife, and the impacts of light pollution. Download lesson plan >>
The lesson plans and additional resources, such as a full color printable brochure, are the first steps of an outreach plan designed for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and to promote awareness of the negative effects of artificial night lighting on wildlife and ecosystems. Open brochure >>
These materials are part of a new conservation project designed to assemble the latest information on wildlife and artificial light and distribute it to a number of specific audiences, including activists, city planners, and conservation experts. Read more >>
Institute of Lighting Engineers Looks at Dark Sky Laws Bob Mizon and IDA board member Martin Morgan Taylor review the history of dark sky legislation in the October issue of the Lighting Journal. Read more >> (Article available courtesy of the Institute of Lighting Engineers)
FSA Approved Fixture, the GlareBuster, Wins Big at ALA The first residential dark sky friendly fixture brings home the American Lighting Association's prestigious "Lighting for Tomorrow" Award. Read the Press Release >>
Proposed Energy Star Criteria for Solid State Lighting (LED) Street Lights Meet Dark Sky Friendly Standards The federal efficiency program Energy Star has included full shielding for LED street lights in their proposed standards for 2009. Read more > >
Bipartisan Letter from the U.S. House of Representatives Supports Dark Skies August 4, 2008: Eleven members of the U.S. House of Representatives request action on light pollution from the EPA. Read the press release here >> Read the letter here >>
IDA in the News ...
See new IDA Section podcasts on the Multimedia Links Page.
Read the November, 2008 National Geographic Magazine cover story, "Our Vanishing Night" by Verlyn Klinkenborg
Supplementary materials:
Dark Skies on WBZ TV Boston IDA member Bernie Kosicki of Acton, MA, USA and board member Kelly Beatty offer their insights on light pollution in a local news segment. Watch the video >>
New York Times Editorial Encourages Control of Light Pollution International news source The New York Times praises IDA and supports the ongoing effort to preserve starry nights in an editorial from the newspaper's board. Read editorial >>
Wall Street Journal Looks to the Sky IDA is mentioned as a leading protector of the stars in "Star Parties Far From Hollywood," by Willard Spiegelman.
National Public Radio's (NPR) Marketplace Features Advocates of Dark Skies Advocates of dark skies want the government to do something about light pollution at night. Janet Babin looks into who gets most annoyed by street lamps and what they're doing to help prevent a yellow haze. Click here to listen > >
IDA Technical Advisor contributes feature article "Dark Sky Lighting: Simple but Effective," published in the April 2008 issue of Landscape Architect and Specifier News. Read more > >
U.S. News & World Report Feature: IDA and dark skies are topics of the U.S. News & World Report, "Turning Out the Lights," by Ben Harder, March 14, 2008. Click here for the U.S. News & World Report's homepage on light pollution and its effects.
New Yorker Feature: IDA and dark skies were topics of The New Yorker magazine's “The Dark Side: Making War on Light Pollution,” by David Owen.
Find Press Releases, Articles, Multimedia and More News >>
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Get Help Do you have a question about light pollution, protecting the night sky, or IDA's resources?
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Fixture Seal of Approval The FSA provides objective, third-party certification for luminaires that minimize glare, reduce light trespass, and don't pollute the night sky. Learn more >>
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Best Choice Lighting Let us help you choose dark sky friendly fixtures certified by the IDA Fixture Seal of Approval.
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Education IDA is pleased to assist educators in inspiring student awareness of environmental issues that will impact their future.
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