DarkSky International announces first sunscreen designed for the night

Tucson, AZ — DarkSky International is pleased to announce its bold expansion into the skincare industry with the launch of Orbital Defense™, the world’s first sunscreen designed specifically for nighttime use.

As the night sky undergoes rapid change and orbital illumination systems begin launching into space, DarkSky believes it is time to help people get ahead of the curve. Orbital Defense is formulated to protect against UVA, UVB, and the newly emerging category of reflected UV, caused by sunlight redirected back toward Earth by mirrors mounted on satellites.

While this might sound like something from a dystopian science fiction novel, the concept is already being proposed and working its way toward launch. With “sunlight on demand,” communities could one day purchase reflected sunlight to illuminate outdoor festivals, sporting events, neighborhoods, and beyond. Who needs streetlights when you can have daylight all night long?

Of course, once mirrors are orbiting overhead, exactly where that light ends up may be… flexible, as satellites shift targets or, heaven forbid, malfunction.

“People often think of sunscreen as something you only need during the day,” said a completely serious spokesperson for DarkSky International. “But if space mirrors start reflecting sunlight back to Earth at night, the last thing anyone wants is a sunburned stargazer.”

Orbital Defense™ will be marketed as the first nighttime SPF solution, designed for stargazers, astronomers, night hikers, festivalgoers, and even those sleeping or reading near windows who may be unexpectedly caught in a beam of orbital illumination.

And for those concerned about glare, DarkSky is also exploring additional products to help people adapt to the changing night sky. Stay tuned for the upcoming release of DarkSky NightShield™ sunglasses, coming soon.

Disclaimer

While Orbital Defense™ is, of course, a tongue-in-cheek reminder, the issue behind it is very real. Proposals to introduce artificial sunlight at night raise serious questions about light pollution, ecological disruption, and the future of the natural night sky.

For now, DarkSky International will continue doing what it does best: protecting the night.

But if orbital mirrors become reality… you might want to keep that sunscreen handy.

Looking to get involved?

Sign DarkSky’s open letter to Reflect Orbital (below), calling for a full environmental review of space mirror technology before any launches move forward.