DarkSky

Lights Out Challenge for Earth Hour – March 22 (8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.) ??? Join us in making a difference for our planet and our night skies! On March 22, take part in the Lights Out Challenge by turning off unnecessary lights for one hour during Earth Hour. Why? Light pollution dims our stars, disrupts wildlife, and wastes energy. But small changes—like flipping a switch—can restore the night and reduce our impact. Will your town, business, or home go Lights Out? Let’s show the world how beautiful darkness can be! #RestoreTheNight #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #SaveTheNight #LightPollution #TakeAction #ProtectTheNight #TogetherForTheNight #EarthHour #LightsOutChallenge

Who are you protecting the night for? ? Light pollution affects us all—this International Dark Sky Week (April 21-28), we invite you to dedicate your dark sky efforts to someone or something meaningful. “I’m protecting the night for my children, so they can see the Milky Way.” “I’m protecting the night for wildlife, because they depend on natural darkness.” “I’m protecting the night for future generations, so they inherit a sky full of stars.” Tell us in the comments: Who are you protecting the night for? Visit https://bit.ly/39ORCy1 to learn more about International Dark Sky Week. #RestoreTheNight #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #SaveTheNight #LightPollution #TakeAction #ProtectTheNight #TogetherForTheNight

Change is happening—thanks to YOU. During International Dark Sky Week 2024, students in Shenzhen, China, took action. Inspired by DarkSky, they formed their city’s first student-led group dedicated to protecting the night. ?? 580 students signed the DarkSky Pledge. ?? Experts from the Shenzhen Observatory helped educate their community. ?? Permanent exhibits now raise awareness year-round. This is what your support makes possible. Visit https://bit.ly/4kTgQ12 to donate today. Let’s keep this movement growing worldwide! #LightPollutionSolution #DarkSkyMovement #ProtectTheNight #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #SaveTheNight #LightPollution #TakeAction #TogetherForTheNight

Are you a good dark sky neighbor? Take a moment to assess your outdoor lighting—are you helping to preserve the night sky or contributing to light pollution? Do your lights spill into your neighbor's home? Small changes can make a big difference for our wellness and the environment. Visit https://bit.ly/3U0zrNy to learn how to help protect the night. #DiscoverTheNight #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #SaveTheNight #NightMatters #LightPollution #TakeAction #ROLAN #ALAN #ProtectTheNight

Together, we can restore the night. The stars belong to all of us, and thanks to supporters like you, DarkSky is making real change happen worldwide. ??? Your dedication to protecting the night sky has already made an impact. Now, as we forge ahead into 2025, we invite you to take the next step: help us drive this mission forward. Will you donate today to ensure a star-filled future? https://bit.ly/4kTgQ12 ?? Photo taken in Edinburgh, UK, during a geomagnetic storm. #RestoreTheNight #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #SaveTheNight #LightPollution #TakeAction #ProtectTheNight #TogetherForTheNight

?? This week’s #DarkSkyShare was captured by Leonel Padron, in Wongan Hills, Western Australia. He shared the following about the adventure. “I headed out to Wongan Hills with a couple of shots I’d been planning since late last year. My original goal was to capture the vertical Milky Way rising behind this tree, with the Carina and Crux constellations perfectly aligned at the top. But a few days before the trip, I realized I could adjust the camera angle to capture the galactic core rising in the twilight hours—maybe even catch a glimpse of comet C/2024 G3 Atlas’s tail! I set up my camera for some 60-second test shots I could stack later, but as the morning light crept in, the sky brightened too much, washing out the stars. No comet this time!” Beautiful photo, Leonel! Thank you for sharing it with the DarkSky Community! To see more of his work, be sure to check out @leonel.padron and visit https://bit.ly/3DKPLfY #DiscoverTheNight #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #Astrophotography #MilkyWay #YourAstro #GetOutAtNight #NightMatters #LightPollution #ProtectTheNight #MilkyWayChasers #UnderTheNightSky #WoganHills #AstrotourismWA #WesternAustralia #NightPhotography

New blog post! Meet Dr. Michelle Wooten—astronomy educator, DarkSky Delegate, and president of Starry Skies South. In this insightful interview with Nightscape editor Megan Eaves, she shares her work protecting the night in the southeastern U.S. and offers tips on building partnerships and community connections to advocate for dark skies. Visit https://bit.ly/4iGgAk9 to read the full interview. #DiscoverTheNight #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #Astrophotography #MilkyWay #SaveTheNight #NightMatters #LightPollution #Nightscape #UniversityOfAlabama

Do you know what’s in your backyard? ?? The night is full of wonders—what have you discovered? Maybe it's the call of an owl, a sky full of stars, or the quiet stillness of an unlit trail. Take a moment to step outside after dark and tell us what you experience! Post a photo or share your observations. Tag us and use #DarkSkyShare to be featured! Visit https://bit.ly/39ORCy1 to learn more about International Dark Sky Week 2025. #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #LightPollution #ProtectTheNight #DarkSkyMovement #IDSW2025 #DiscoverTheNight #DarkSkyWeek

The recent New York Times article on declining butterfly populations got us thinking about their night time counterparts—moths. Moths are some of the most important yet overlooked pollinators, but light pollution is disrupting their ability to navigate, feed, and reproduce. With artificial lights pulling them off course, entire ecosystems feel the impact. To protect these vital nighttime pollinators, we need to be more mindful of our outdoor lighting. Shield it, dim it, or turn it off when not needed. Let’s keep the night dark for moths and all the creatures that depend on it. Visit https://nyti.ms/4iuJYdm to read the NYT article. #MothMatters #PollinatorsAtNight #DiscoverTheNight #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #SaveTheNight #NightMatters #LightPollution #TakeAction #ROLAN #ALAN #ProtectTheNight

On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible women leading the way in the fight against light pollution. Scientists, advocates, educators, photographers, and storytellers—women are shaping the future of dark skies and inspiring communities to protect our natural night. From uncovering the ecological impacts of artificial light to designing smarter lighting policies, their work illuminates the path toward a darker, healthier sky for all. Today, we honor their passion and persistence! ?? There isn’t enough space to showcase all the incredible women fighting for the night, but here’s a small glimpse! #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay #DarkSky #DarkSkyInternational #LightPollution #ProtectTheNight #DarkSkyMovement