Astronomy and Society

Satellites and Space Debris Are Polluting Our Night Skies

Astronomers are sounding the alarm about low-Earth orbit satellites and space debris as significant contributors to light pollution that will affect even the remotest earthbound stargazer.

Infographic showing increasing skyglow and disappearing stars

Save Dark Skies

Light Pollution Is Increasing Even Faster Than We Realized

The average brightness of the night sky is increasing by 10% every year, making the stars less visible.

Light pollution map for North America

Astronomy and Society

Light Pollution Is Creeping Up on the World's Observatories

Astronomical observatories enjoy some of the world’s darkest night skies. But even there light pollution is spreading, a new study suggests.

ISS view of Earth at night

Astronomy and Society

What we know about Light Pollution – and What We Don’t

The International Dark-Sky Association’s has summarized more than 300 peer-reviewed studies on the effects of artificial light at night in an effort to help dark-sky advocates.

International Dark Sky Week 2022

Save Dark Skies

Celebrate Dark Skies This Week, April 22–30

Are you interested in combating light pollution? International Dark Sky Week, which starts today, offers events in which you can learn how.

International Dark-Sky Association 2021 Virtual Conference

Save Dark Skies

Under One Sky: Let's Address Light Pollution Together

Concerned about light pollution? Join a virtual conference this weekend that looks at ongoing global efforts to mitigate it.

Counting stars during the pandemic

Save Dark Skies

The Pandemic and Light Pollution

Student Kathryn Huth set out to conduct astronomical experiments when she noticed that — amidst the pandemic — she could see more stars in the sky.

Astronomy and Society

Discover the Night: International Dark Sky Week is Here!

Light pollution is insidious in today’s world. This International Dark Sky Week, become inspired to see what you can do to raise awareness.

Astronomy and Society

Astronomers Dim Street Lights to Home in on Light Pollution

Street lights contribute to light pollution, but they are far from the only culprits — and fixing street lights is far from the only solution.

Milan (before change to LED lights)

Astronomy and Society

The Lost LED Revolution: Light Pollution Is Increasing

The transition from sodium lights to LEDs, the so-called “lighting revolution”, was supposed to reduce energy consumption and bring back the starry sky, but new satellite data indicate it’s not working out that way.

Light Pollution Map - Canary Islands

Save Dark Skies

Starry Success: Protecting the Night Sky Above La Palma

Ten years ago, La Palma was declared a "Starlight Reserve" and measures were implemented to protect its skies from light pollution. How did they work?

Astronomy and Society

Measuring the Impacts of Light Pollution

Light pollution is pervasive, and its impact on people is larger than you might think.

M31

Celestial Objects to Observe

111 Deep Sky Wonders for Light-Polluted Skies

Bright skies aren't empty skies. See for yourself how many treasures lie hidden in the glow of a city sky.

Hobby-based Q&A

Will meteor showers be enchanced if you fly 3,000 feet above the ground in an airplane?

I recently got my pilot license. Will meteor showers be enhanced at all for my girlfriend and me in a low-winged Tomahawk airplane, flying 3,000 feet above the ground?There are several tradeoffs to consider. True, you’ll be 1 kilometer closer to the meteors overhead. But most of them flash into…

Moon's skyglow

Hobby-based Q&A

How does the Moon's phase affect the skyglow of any given location, and how many days before or after a new Moon is a dark site not compromised?

How does the Moon's phase affect the skyglow of any given location? How many days before or after a new Moon is a dark site not compromised? The answer is complicated because the Moon's glow is even more directional than light pollution. Skyglow is several times brighter near the Moon…

Hobby-based Q&A

What’s the difference between nebula filters and light-pollution filters?

What’s the difference between nebula filters and light-pollution filters? Nebula filters block out most of the visible spectrum while transmitting the handful of finely tuned colors that emanate from the most luminous constituents of cosmic gas clouds: hydrogen atoms and oxygen ions. Light-pollution filters, by contrast, are designed to block…

Winter constellations seen in a class 4 or 5 sky

Save Dark Skies

Gauging Light Pollution: The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale

Excellent? Typical? Urban? Use this nine-step scale to rate the sky conditions at any observing site.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement