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Who we are
Advocates
2,000+ volunteer Advocates around the world protect the night sky using education, advocacy, retrofits, community science, and more.
Delegates
Your local points of contact in 30+ countries.
What we do
International Dark Sky Places
We certify and help conserve starry sky parks, communities, and other places around the world.
DarkSky Approved lighting
We certify commercial, industrial, and residential outdoor lighting that reduces light pollution.
Advancing responsible outdoor lighting
We work with communities, governments, and professionals to prioritize quality outdoor lighting.
Light pollution education
We inform the public how excessive artificial light can harm humans, wildlife, and our climate.
Get involved
Join our email list to get the latest news from DarkSky International, including our monthly newsletter. Emails go out twice per month and follow a strict privacy policy.
More
What is light pollution?
Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those ocurring naturally. It has harmful effects on:
Causes of light pollution
Streetlights, greenhouses, and satellites are mong the many sources.
Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting
By applying these principles, properly designed lighting can be beautiful, healthy, and functional.
Guides and How-tos
What you need to know to: choose better outdoor lighting, pass a lighting ordinance locally, and much more.
Lighting ordinances
When citizens band together to enact local legislation, light pollution advocacy can make great strides.
News
About DarkSky International
Mission
DarkSky works to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities and wildlife from light pollution.
Our strategy
A bold new plan to slow the growth of light pollution and begin to reverse it.
Success stories
The dark sky movement is bursting with many successes, starting with 1958’s first-ever dark sky legislation.
History
We’ve come a long way in 30+ years, growing from a small Arizona-based nonprofit into the world’s leading authority on light pollution.
Donate / renew your membership
Monthly membership
Become a Nighthawk — A monthly membership is the most sustainable way to support DarkSky.
Annual membership
Your contribution will renew your membership today and automatically renew next year.
Shop DarkSky
Show your love for starry skies! Our shop features exclusive T-shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, and more.
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Dark Sky Places
Find a stunning night sky experience near you.