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DarkSky International

Environmental organization focused on light pollution From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

DarkSky International

DarkSky International, formerly the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA),[1] is a United States–based nonprofit organization incorporated in 1988 by founders David Crawford, a professional astronomer, and Tim Hunter, a physician and amateur astronomer. The mission of DarkSky is "to preserve and protect the night time environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting."[2]

Quick Facts Formation, Founded at ...
DarkSky International
Formation1988; 37 years ago (1988)
Founded atUnited States
TypeNonprofit
74-2493011
Legal status501(c)(3)
HeadquartersTucson, Arizona, United States
Board President
Nalayini Brito-Davies
CEO & Executive Director
Ruskin Hartley
Tom Reinert; Nalayini Brito-Davies; Brad Schlesselman; Ken Walczak; Diane Knutson; Connie Walker; Kevin Gaston Ph.D.; Sibylle Schroer; SergioMontúfar Codoñer; Mike Simmons; Paulina Villalobos; Samyukta Manikumar; Fernando Avila Castro; Doug Barker
Websitedarksky.org
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Light pollution is the result of outdoor lighting that is not properly shielded, allowing light shine into the eyes and night sky. Direct light that shines into the eyes is called glare, and light directed into the night sky above the horizon causes skyglow. Lighting can also cause light trespass when it enters areas where unwanted (e.g. a neighbor's yard and windows). DarkSky is the first and currently the largest organization in the dark-sky movement.

Principal approach

DarkSky's principal approach is to raise awareness about the value of dark, star-filled night skies and encourage their protection and restoration through education about the problems and solutions, including outdoor lighting practices that create less light pollution. In 2011, the organization had about 5,000 members in 70 countries.

International Dark Sky Places

Summarize
Perspective
See also: Dark-sky preserve

To promote awareness about the issues, DarkSky has an International Dark Sky Places program that aims "to encourage communities, parks and protected areas around the world to preserve and protect dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education". There are currently five types of designation for International Dark Sky Places:[3]

  • International Dark Sky Sanctuaries
  • International Dark Sky Parks
  • International Dark Sky Reserves
  • International Dark Sky Communities
  • Urban Night Sky Places

International Dark Sky Sanctuaries

DarkSky describes Dark Sky Sanctuaries as "the most remote (and often darkest) places in the world whose conservation state is most fragile".

International Dark Sky Parks

DarkSky describes Dark Sky Parks as "publicly- or privately-owned spaces protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors".

International Dark Sky Reserves

IDA describes Dark Sky Reserves as "dark 'core' zones surrounded by a populated periphery where policy controls are enacted to protect the darkness of the core".

International Dark Sky Communities

DarkSky describes Dark Sky Communities as "legally organized cities and towns that adopt quality outdoor lighting ordinances and undertake efforts to educate residents about the importance of dark skies".

Urban Night Sky Places

DarkSky describes Urban Night Sky Places as "sites near or surrounded by large urban environs whose planning and design actively promote an authentic nighttime experience in the midst of significant artificial light at night, and that otherwise do not qualify for designation within any other International Dark Sky Places category".

Fixture Seal of Approval

To promote the use of responsible outdoor lighting that minimizes light pollution, DarkSky offers a Fixture Seal of Approval program. The program provides objective, third-party certification for lighting products that minimize glare, reduce light trespass, and do not pollute the night sky.[48]

See also

References

External links

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