Dark Skies Celebrated Across the U.S. – from Betsy Daniels
International Dark Sky Week 2025, held from April 21–28, was a global celebration aimed at raising awareness about light pollution and promoting the preservation of our night skies. Founded in 2003 by high school student Jennifer Barlow, the week underscores the importance of dark skies for astronomy, wildlife, human health, and cultural heritage. Artificial light at night disrupts ecosystems, obscures our view of the stars, and can negatively impact human health. Dark Sky Week encourages communities to adopt responsible lighting practices, helping to conserve energy and protect nocturnal environments. Across the United States, observatories and communities hosted events to engage the public in stargazing and education: • Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, Oregon: Featured a lecture on light pollution followed by a telescope viewing party. • McDonald Observatory, Texas: Offered telescope tours, astrophotography workshops, and lectures on preserving dark skies. • Prineville Reservoir State Park, Oregon: Hosted telescope viewing sessions focusing on celestial objects like Jupiter and binary star systems. • Maria Mitchell Association, Nantucket: Conducted a free public stargazing night at Loines Observatory, engaging students and families in observing the night sky. • Badlands Observatory, South Dakota: Organized Dark Sky Tours with guided stargazing experiences using high-quality binoculars. In […]