Dark Skies Initiative 

Dark Skies - https://darksky.org/ 

Though not possible right now, how would you like to see the Milky Way from your backyard? It will be possible when we decrease light pollution in our neighborhoods! Light pollution is caused by the way we use outdoor lighting - for example, using porch lights all night long that cast light up-out-down and as far as across the street into the neighbor's yard, rather than light cast down only that doesn't shine beyond the property line that's on a motion sensor.  By rethinking and redesigning residential lighting using Best Practices as recommended by the City of Fort Collins, we can dramatically decrease light pollution and conserve the dark sky to benefit our children and wildlife and lower potential crime. A great view of the Milky Way awaits us!

The "What is Light Pollution" video at this site gives an excellent overview of light pollution and our ability to decrease it quickly and effectively. To address a variety of issues related to light pollution, we need to focus on dark sky conservation - actions to assure darkness at night rather than artificially lit night time.

To decrease light pollution and increase dark sky conservation, we need to rethink the way we consider and use artificial light at night. We need to only use as much light as we need, only where we need it and only when we need it.  If we shift our use of outdoor light at night to only when, where, and how long we need it, then we can solve this problem immediately. If the amount of artificial light is decreased, the problem will be gone. When we remove the source of (light) pollution, it immediately leaves the environment, and we begin to see an improvement, also immediately!

How are you doing now? Best Practices are:

-  Only shine light where you need it. Cast the light downward only.

-  Only use light when you need it. Use motion sensors or timers, or turn the light off if you are not actively using it. Use decorative lighting when you are sitting in it and enjoying it, rather than keeping it on all night.

-  Only use as much light as you need. Use a 15-watt bulb rather than a 100-watt bulb if it accomplishes your lighting needs.

-  Use energy-efficient bulbs.

-  Use bulbs on the yellow-white spectrum and not on the blue-white spectrum.