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
Artificial Light Affects Zooplankton in Arctic
During the polar night in the high Arctic, a team of scientists discovered “that certain aspects of the polar marine ecosystems are extremely sensitive to potential light pollution and that traditional sampling techniques are insufficient… Read more
Artificial Light at Night Affects American Toad Metamorphosis and Growth
In a study at Case Western Reserve University, scientists tested for both direct and indirect effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on American toads. The research was conducted over two life stages of the… Read more
How Light Pollution Affects the Pennsylvanian Ecosystem
By guest writer, Craig Campbell As little as 100 years ago, it was possible to look up in the sky at night and see millions of stars spread across the Milky Way. Now, there are… Read more