It is no secret that light pollution has an impact on wildlife. For billions of years, all life has relied on Earth’s predictable rhythm of day and night. It’s encoded in the DNA of all… Read more
Love the stars? Astronomers have a unique suggestion for Valentine’s Day
PRESS RELEASE: February 11, 2020 from National Science Foundation OIR Lab Few sights are more romantic than a star-filled sky, but there are fewer and fewer places on Earth where we can still enjoy a truly… Read more
What Does Lettuce Have To Do With My Night Sky?
by John C. Barentine, Ph.D. Director of Public Policy Residents of cities in towns in North America and Europe increasingly report strange glows in the night sky. Arizonans see their skies light up bright purple… Read more
Response to SpaceX Starlink Low Earth Orbit Satellite Constellation
Tucson, AZ – On May 23, 2019, the spacecraft company, SpaceX launched a group of sixty satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). Due to their reflective solar panels and other metal surfaces, the satellites are… Read more
IDA Announces Lighting Guidelines for Electronic Messaging Centers
Today the International Dark-Sky Association released lighting guidelines for electronic messaging centers (EMCs). The guidelines, developed in line with Illuminating Engineering Society’s off-roadway sign recommendations, are the culmination of a two-year IDA process to address… Read more
Light Pollution Poses Threat to Migrating Birds
Across the northern hemisphere, the sights and sounds of migrating birds are a sure sign of spring. As temperatures warm and plants bloom, eager birders await the arrival of summer residents like warblers, tanagers, vireos… Read more
Protect Our Species from Light Pollution this Earth Day
Established in 1970, Earth Day has brought attention to the many issues impacting the environment for decades. The Earth Day Network estimates that over one billion people in 192 countries will take part in Earth… Read more
“Radiance Light Trends” Shows Changes in Earth’s Light Emissions
Many scientific datasets from satellites are in principle available for free, but that doesn’t mean that they are actually accessible to the wider public. A new web application aims to change that, at least for… Read more
Pollinators: switch street lights off at midnight to help moths and nocturnal wildlife
by Callum Macgregor Postdoctoral research associate, University of York Conservation is often a conflict between the demands of development and a desire to do what is best for the environment. It’s rare that we get… Read more
Texas Collaboration Protects Dark Skies
The western part of Texas is home to one of the largest oil and gas producing regions in the US, the Permian Basin. Also located in this area is the McDonald Observatory, home of the… Read more