Monitoring & Mapping

One of the best ways to get a handle on light pollution is to start measuring it, and to take periodic measurements to see if the problem is getting better or works. Before and after photos from the ground, planes or satellite can help provide us with critical information that helps us determine if the actions being taken are effective, or if more drastic measures are needed.

International

• Globe At Night "is an international citizen-science campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen-scientists to measure & submit their night sky brightness observations."

North America

• Oregon Skyglow Measurement Network "DarkSky Oregon has established a network of continuously recording Sky Quality Meters (SQMs) in Oregon to measure skyglow. Skyglow is literally the glowing sky at night, due to both man-made artificial light and natural light. SQMs measure the brightness of the night sky and provide a measure of both light pollution and natural light at night.
  
  The project’s primary aim is to quantitatively measure, interpret, and share skyglow measurements in Oregon to better understand the current level of light pollution in comparison to other regions and to document any changes over a five-year period. The skyglow data will help to inform action toward healthier and safer communities with less light pollution. The data will also support local efforts to nominate sites under DarkSky International’s Dark Sky Place Program."

Certification

Certifying dark places not only incentivizes parks and communities to dim, turn off, or face their lights downward. It also provides star gazers and other people on where they can go to see our rapidly disappearing, awe-inspiring night sky.

Scroll down the the Apply For Certification section to find out what certification programs might be in your area.

The programs listed in this section can help you find certified dark places.

Europe

Italy / Italia

• Astronomitaly  "ha ideato la Certificazione “I cieli più belli d’Italia” che identifica i luoghi più belli dove osservare le stelle in Italia.
  
  Questo riconoscimento viene assegnato alle location che godono di un cielo stellato di qualità o che, in un percorso di qualificazione e miglioramento, desiderano valorizzarlo offrendo esperienze e servizi dedicati all’Astroturismo."

UK

• Cranborne Chase: Dark Sky Friendly Scheme "is a three-tier award that is available to businesses, organisations, communities and individuals, serving or residing in the Cranborne Chase AONB International Dark Sky Reserve, who value our Dark Night Skies (DNS) environment, who act to preserve or enhance it, and who may encourage others to do so as well, in accordance with the Dark Night Sky Charter."

North America

Canada

• How to Become a Designated Dark-Sky Site "The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Dark-Sky Site program recognizes public and private spaces that are contributing to the reduction of light pollution, educating the public about dark skies, and liaising with municipalities to improve lighting legislation. If you are interested in actively contributing to the preservation of dark skies in Canada, or if you already do so, consider becoming a designated Dark-Sky Site!"

USA

• DarkSky Oregon: Certifying Dark Sky Places 

Resources & Guides

Lighting Guidance

Dark-Sky-Friendly Outdoor Lighting Info in English

• Dark Skies of the North Wessex Downs: A Guide to Good External Lighting (PDF) "This guide provides good practice on external lighting, primarily on buildings, but also mentions internal lighting and street lighting. Anyone considering external lighting in and around the North Wessex Downs AONB can use it to play their part in minimising light pollution and preserving beautiful dark skies."

• Good Lighting Advice this page gives guidance including a diagram, terms used in describing good lighting and waste light not directed to the area to be lit, photos of good vs bad lights and their angles, plus more links for people trying to combat light pollution.

• Protecting the Night: Dark Skies and Artificial Light in the City (PDF) "Buying exterior lighting can be difficult, particularly as we tend to do it in daylight so cannot see the impact it would have in the dark. This lighting guide has been put together, with the aim of helping residents make informed, environmentally-sensitive choices that will contribute to protecting the environment and our health. It has been developed with the help of the Commission for Dark Skies (CfDS)"

• Towards A Dark Sky Standard (PDF) "This document provides advice for both domestic and non-domestic lighting. Anyone who designs, installs or manufactures lighting should find this useful.
  
  Domestic users need only basic advice based on easy principles.
  
  Non-domestic users may need more detailed and professional advice on design and installation."

Wildlife & Sky-Friendly Products

• Find DarkSky Approved Products & Companies

Apply For Certification

International

• DarkSky Approved Program 💡 🏭 🛠️ "is open to manufacturers whose light fixtures meet our rigorous criteria." Includes certification for products including outdoor lighting, wildlife-friendly lighting, and turtle-friendly lighting, as well as retrofits, and E-Ink outdoor signs.

• Apply for Dark Sky Place Certification 🌆 🏖️ ⛰️"The main hub for what you need to know about applying for International Dark Sky Place certification."

North America

Canada

• How to Become a Designated Dark-Sky Site "The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Dark-Sky Site program recognizes public and private spaces that are contributing to the reduction of light pollution, educating the public about dark skies, and liaising with municipalities to improve lighting legislation. If you are interested in actively contributing to the preservation of dark skies in Canada, or if you already do so, consider becoming a designated Dark-Sky Site!"

USA

Oregon

• DarkSky Oregon: Certifying Dark Sky Places 

Texas

• Texan by Nature Certification (PDF) for industry recognition of Dark Skies-Friendly lighting efforts.

Organizations & Initiatives

Around the world lights out programs and light ordinances are building up steam and acceptance.

International

• Dark Sky Defenders is a 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit organization dedicated to enrich and expand the global appreciation and support for the preservation and protection of the night sky through education and advocacy.
  
  Our website also collaborates with other astronomy groups and organizations to provide outreach activities related to astronomy and science, as well as education about dark skies and the reduction of light pollution."

• Dark Sky Parks "Initiative for an international association of dark-sky parks is a network of inidividuals and groups that work to reduce light pollution in their respective countries. The initiative is coordinated from Slovenia, being the first country to have a strong light pollution law in force on a nation-wide level.
  
  We take concrete actions to halt growth of light pollution on a wider scale. Our activities range from lobbying for and participating at the drafting of the legislation to awareness raising, research, cooperation with the producers of quality ecological lighting and monitoring of light pollution. We believe that by working together we gain the power to mobilise people from all over the world to stop this one form of pollution from causing irreverable effects.
  
  We invite management of protected areas and other responsible individuals to join our efforts."

• Starlight Initiative "The initiative is designed as an international action in defence of the values associated with the night sky and the general right to observe the stars. It is open to the participation of all scientific, cultural, environmental, and citizens' organizations and associations, as well as public institutions and other public and private bodies willing to effectively cooperate in the conservation of clear skies and the dissemination of the knowledge related with their observation. The final aim of the initiative is to strengthen the importance of clear skies for humankind, emphasizing and introducing the value of this endangered heritage for science, education, culture, technological development, nature conservation, tourism and, obviously, as a quality-of-life factor.
  
  The Starlight initiative was launched in 2007 at the proposal of IAC (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias) in partnership with UNESCO and other international organizations as IAU (International Astronomical Union), UNWTO (World Tourism Orgatization) or Ramsar Convention Secretariat."

Online Communities

• r/fuckyourheadlights/ 🚘 🚑 "Blinded by those ultra-bright low beams? Join the club. It's not just aftermarket bulbs and misalignment; most new OEM lights pose a threat. Excessively bright headlights impair the vision and visibility of other road users whenever the offending vehicle's front end becomes elevated, and in various weather conditions, regardless of their alignment and source. While these are contributing factors, they distract from our real need: regulations on brightness and color temperature."

Africa

Kenya

• DarkSky Kenya

South Africa

• Stars4All: Southern Africa Adventures Quantifying the sky darkness with TESS photometer

Asia

Taiwan

• DarkSky Taiwan "始於星空，直面光害 暗空保護運動發源於1988年代的美國亞歷桑納州的土桑市，國際暗空協會（IDA）成立三十多年來，已成為全球保護夜晚免受光污染的公認權威和領導組織。目前，全球已經有200多個暗空公園地點，包含115座公園、38個社區與20自然保護區等等…完成認證。臺灣的暗空保護主要由觀星社群為首提出倡議，經過兩年多與IDA的交流與各方籌備，2019年合歡山成為亞洲第三座暗空公園，臺灣暗空協會也於2020年底成立，2021年成為IDA台灣分會。"

Belgium

• ASCEN (Association pour la Sauvegarde du Ciel et de l'Environnement Nocturne) "Il est de plus en plus difficile d'admirer un ciel étoilé en Belgique tant les sources d'éclairage nocturne sont nombreuses et intenses : lampadaires trop puissants qui éclairent autant le ciel que la chaussée, éclairages de monuments qui débordent largement sur le ciel, affichages publicitaires éclairés toute la nuit...
  
  Pourtant la pollution lumineuse est facilement réversible : il suffit d'éclairer moins avec comme conséquence d'éviter l'extraordinaire gaspillage d'énergie auquel nos assistons actuellement, sans porter préjudice ni à la sécurité ni au confort des habitants des villes et des campagnes.
  
  Les buts de l'ASCEN sont d'associer toutes les personnes désireuses de lutter contre la pollution lumineuse en Belgique, par des campagnes d'information à destination du grand public et des responsables politiques."

• Werkgroep Lichthinder van de Vereniging voor Sterrenkunde "Welkom op de website van de Werkgroep Lichthinder van de Vereniging voor Sterrenkunde vzw. Verlicht waar nodig, zoveel als nodig en wanneer nodig!"

Croatia 

• 
  

• Naše Nebo "Pozivamo sve gradove i općine da se priključe ovoj akciji podizanja svijesti o klimatskim promjenama, podrže nastojanja oko očuvanja prirodnog okoliša i održivog razvoja te nastojanja za smanjenje svjetlosnog onečišćenja."

• Dark-sky Camp at Lastovo island, Croatia 

Cyprus

• DarkSky Cyprus "The Cyprus Astronomy Organisation's work includes initiatives to protect the night skies and fragile ecosystems.
  
  We educate communities and public officials about light pollution and provide solutions and resources through our public outreach programs
  
  Lucky for us who live in the island of Cyprus. An island of excellent weather conditions and clear night-sky for 280 to 300 days out of 365. Even if we’re experiencing problem with the light pollution from the cities, a 40 minutes of an easy road will bring you at a very dark-sky spot near the mountains.
  
  Our aim is to utilize such sites for astronomical purposes, but also to protect them from light pollution.
  
  We're currently working on a project to create and establish a special place especially for observational astronomy. It is located at the foot of the mountain Troodos, 40 minutes from Nicosia and Limassol. At this stage there are members from different countries who came to astronomical observation events. Many astronomers in the world are facing problems, as mentioned above, so they cannot make regular observations in their countries."

Czech Republic

• Czech Astronomy Society: Dark Sky Section

• DarkSky Czech Republic

Finland

• Suomen yötaivaan tausta ja seeing "Miten pimeä on sinun taivaasi ja minkälainen seeing sinun havaintopaikallasi on? Mittaa se niin liitämme mittauksesi laajempaan sarjaan, jonka tarkoituksena on mitata koko Suomen taivaan pimeys ja arvioida miten seeing vaihtelee Suomessa. Tämä mittaussarja liittyy kiinteästi kahteen muuhun projektiin. Ensinnäkin Tuorlan Observatorion Piikkiön toimesta pyritään mittaamaan taivaan taustan kirkkaus Lounais-suomessa 15x15km ruudukolla. Toiseksi Kreikassa suoritetaan samanlainen seeingin ja taustan mittauskampanja. Tarkoituksena on yhdistämällä Suomen ja Kreikan kampanjoiden tulokset selvittää erot pimeän Kreikan ja valoisamman Suomen välillä. Niin ja tokihan Itä- ja Pohjois-Suomesta löytyy pimeitäkin paikkoja."

France

• ANPCEN

Germany

• DarkSky Germany

• darkSKY OWL "ist die gemeinsame Arbeitsgruppe gegen Lichtverschmutzung mehrerer regionaler Natur- und Bürgerverbände."

• Initiative gegen Lichtverschmutzung "The organization of the German amateurs astronomers against light pollution." 

• Licht und Natur "Vereinigung zum Erhalt der natürlichen Nachtlandschaften und zur Förderung belastungsarmer Beleuchtung
  
  Zweck des Vereinigung ist die Erhaltung der natürlichen Nachtlandschaften und die Förderung belastungsarmer Beleuchtung.
  
  Dies wird insbesondere durch die Durchführung wissenschaftlicher Veranstaltungen sowie durch Forschung, Beratung und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit verwirklicht. Die Zusammenarbeit mit anderen Organisationen aus den Bereichen Naturschutz und Gesundheitsschutz und Initiativen zur Erhaltung eines sternenreichen Nachthimmels wird hierzu praktiziert."

• Vereinigung der Sternfreunde - Fachgruppe Dark Sky

• Vereinigung der Sternfreunde Köln 

Greece

• DarkSky Greece "Στο darksky.gr μπορείτε να ενημερωθείτε για το πρόβλημα της φωτορύπανσης, τις επιπτώσεις της στην αστρονομία, το περιβάλλον και τον άνθρωπο. Σε αυτόν τον δικτυακό τόπο θα φιλοξενούνται νέα για τη φωτορύπανση καθώς και οι προσπάθειες αντιμετώπισής της."

Spain / España

• Cel Fosc "es una asociación independiente y abierta de ciudadanos concienciados que ejercen sus derechos y asumen sus responsabilidades.
  
  Tenemos por objetivo influir en la sociedad en la que vivimos para mejorar el alumbrado público y privado. Iluminar mejor, respetando el medio ambiente y la salud, ahorrar recursos naturales, aumentar la seguridad vial y vigilar el buen uso de nuestros impuestos derrochados en malas instalaciones e iluminaciones."

• Grupo de Protección del Cielo Madrid

Canary Islands / Canarias

• Oficina Técnica para la Protección de la Calidad del Cielo del Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

Sweden

• Ljusstyrkan "Där ljuset möter funktionaliteten"

Switzerland

• DarkSky Switzerland "Für umweltschonende Beleuchtung und den Schutz der Nacht" Site in Deutsch, Français, and Italiano.

United Kingdom

• The Commission for Dark Skies "believes that the control of light pollution is an idea whose time has come. In an era when the environment, energy considerations and the surge in discoveries about the Universe are matters of everyday discussion, it makes sense to reclaim our heritage above."

• Dark Sky Discovery Sites "are a nationwide network of places that provide great views of the night sky and which are accessible to everyone. They have been nominated by local groups and organisations and designated by the UK Dark Sky Discovery Partnership. In order to qualify for Dark Sky Discovery Site status, the locations need to meet a number of criteria that make them safe and accessible as well as having suitably dark skies. ..."

• Dark Skies Matter is an 'umbrella' campaign for raising awareness around the issues of light pollution. Organisations and individuals with an interest in Dark Sky matters can sign up to show their support to the issue.
  
  Organisations that have so far signed up include the APPG group for Dark skies, CfDS, Friends of The Earth, RSPB and several others."

• DarkSky UK

• Light Pollution in the UK "A Growing Concern Under the UK's Starry Sky" "In the UK, a country renowned for its historic observatories and rich astronomical heritage, the increasing spread of light pollution has become a matter of growing concern. This environmental issue not only obscures the beauty of the night sky but also brings significant ecological and health implications."

• UK Dark Sky Discovery Partnership "is an Non government Organisation  network of national and local astronomy and environmental organisations, plus local communities, who aim to:

  • Engage people from diverse backgrounds with the night sky.

  • Encourage positive attitudes towards science and technology.

  • Support the development of dark sky places, awareness and tourism.

  • Develop a national network of dark sky communicators.

  • Create long-lasting organisational partnerships."

England

• AdBlock Leeds "is opposed to corporate advertising, which damages the environment, creates overconsumption, negatively impacts mental health, spreads miscommunication and sexist and racist stereotypes, and generally favours an unsustainable system. We have a positive vision for urban systems."

• The Countryside Charity Sommerset (CPRE): Dark skies "We’re passionate about making the countryside a better place for everyone to live, work and enjoy." "Light pollution not only limits our views of these skies, but also disrupts wildlife’s natural patterns. We want to reclaim our dark skies. We’ve gathered data about light levels across the country and created interactive maps showing places where you can enjoy truly dark skies. The maps are also a great way to explore light pollution near you, so that you can take action locally."

• Hampshire Astronomical Group: Campaign for Dark Skies "The CfDS aims to preserve and restore the beauty of the night sky by campaigning against excessive, inefficient and irresponsible lighting that shines where it is not wanted nor needed.
  
  We believe that light should only shine where it is needed and wanted, and no-where else. Doing so is both easy and cost-effective - and with significant health and safety benefits.
  
  Much wasted light shines up into the sky, causing the visual orange "smog" that hangs over towns and cities at night, intruding into the countryside, and destroying our view of a star-lit sky."

• Nottingham Astronomical Society: Dark Sky Campaigning "seeks to reduce the amount of light pollution that we generate.  Light pollution is the spillage into the wider environment of excess light that is not required to meet the original lighting purpose.  While this is an obvious issue for astronomers, it affects the public in a number of ways as well."

• The Starlit Skies Alliance "has set the goal to improve the [light pollution] situation in Bath and surrounding areas and work to ensure future developments are well advised. Where good practice, design or products exist, the Alliance shall promote this and where there is an opportunity to improve the current situation it wishes to inspire change."

Wales

• Prosiect Nos - The North Wales Dark Sky Partnership "to help create the largest area’s of protected dark skies in the world! We are made up of the Snowdonia National Park Authority and the AONBs of the Isle of Anglesey, the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley and the Llŷn Peninsula"

México

• DarkSky México

USA

• Dark Sky Defenders is a 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit organization dedicated to enrich and expand the global appreciation and support for the preservation and protection of the night sky through education and advocacy.
  
  Our website also collaborates with other astronomy groups and organizations to provide outreach activities related to astronomy and science, as well as education about dark skies and the reduction of light pollution."

• Lights Out Program & Network 🐦

• Lights Out Heartland 🐦"Every year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall. The majority of the birds fly at night, navigating using the Moon, stars and night sky. As they pass over big cities, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and sky glow. An estimated 600 million birds in the U.S. die each year from collisions with buildings. A study published by Cornell Lab of Ornithology ranked metropolitan areas in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois where, due to a combination of light pollution and geography, birds are at the greatest risk of becoming attracted to and disoriented by lights and crash into buildings.  
  
  We hope that you will learn more about our program by reviewing our website and join our initiative to create bird-friendly communities."

• Soft Lights Foundation "is the leading activist organization dedicated to restoring the natural night resource and protecting people from the harms of LED light." You can sign their petition here.

Arkansas

• Arkansas Natural Sky Association (ANSA) "is an Arkansas Unincorporated Nonprofit Association and the International Dark-Sky Association's Arkansas affiliate. The Association is governed by a Steering Committee.  Membership is open to the public, but membership is not required to become involved, which can be done by joining our Volunteer Community."

California

• DarkSky California

• DarkSky Joshua Tree 

• DarkSky LA County "Join us in our action against light pollution through outreach, advocacy, & education.
  We are not here to cast shadows on the world, but to illuminate it responsibly."

• DarkSky San Diego County "We promote one simple idea: Light what you need, when you it.
  IDA’s global effort is making a difference, one light, one star, one region at a time."

• DarkSky Central Coast

• DarkSky Santa Cruz "are advocates of appropriate lighting- Lighting that illuminates what is necessary, and no more.
  
  Minimizing excessive lighting saves money, cuts pollution by using less electricity, and improves the health of both people and animals, while at the same time preserving people’s reasonable concerns about security.
  
  This can be accomplished through correct shielding, lowering total wattage, and using warmer-spectrum lighting.
  
  Our ultimate goal is to help establish a Lighting Ordinance for Santa Cruz City and County, modeled after this and discussed here."

• DarkSky San Bernardino County

• Julian Dark Sky Network "Dedicated to preserving the dark skies of Julian"

• Lights Out, San Diego! 🐦"is a campaign to build awareness about how light pollution impacts migrating birds and other wildlife. San Diego is located on the Pacific Flyway and every year during the fall and spring migration seasons, millions of birds fly over San Diego every night.
  
  Through the Lights Out, San Diego! campaign, we encourage everyone to turn off non-essential lighting from the hours of 11 p.m to 6 a.m during the migration season to provide darker skies for these nocturnal migrants. Will you take the Lights Out, San Diego! Pledge?"

Colorado

• Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative "does not have a legal boundary but is instead, a geographic region where communities, public land partners, tribal nations, academic institutions, businesses, clubs, nonprofits, and citizens join to support a set of principles resulting in mutual benefits and the long-term conservation of our natural night skies.
  
  Of primary concern among this diverse group are the negative effects of light pollution, caused by inappropriate or unnecessary use of artificial outdoor lighting. Fortunately, there are ways to remedy this problem. By following certain guidelines and conducting educational outreach in support of naturally dark night skies and nocturnal environments, the Colorado Plateau leads the way with the highest concentration of accredited dark sky places than anywhere in the world. Learn more about the International Dark-Sky Places program."

• DarkSky Colorado

• Lights Out Colorado 🐦 "DarkSky Colorado and Denver Audubon are jointly supporting the Lights Out Colorado program."

Connecticut

• DarkSky Connecticut might be related to the Connecticut River Gateway Comission's dark sky page.

Delaware

• Lights Out Netwark 🐦"Lights Out is a national program with more than 32 participating cities. Newark is launching Lights Out Newark in spring 2021. You can be one of the first to join in this effort! We are asking tenants in building complexes to turn off lights during bird migration seasons to help save birds, save energy, and save money. Simply turn off your lights between midnight and 6 a.m. during spring migration, April 1–May 31, and the fall migration, August 15–November 15."

Indiana

• DarkSky Erie and Crawford County

• Night Vision "is a NASA-supported program in which observers quantify the sky glow over their community.  Families and teams use hand-held Sky Quality Meters (SQMs) to measure the the amount of light reflected back down to earth from multiple sites.  They will manually plot the SQM readings on a county map and create "contour lines" of equal brightness.  The baseline map can be used in the future to suggest changes in the local light pollution level.  After discussing the trade-offs of lighting technology and the social decisions related to outdoor lighting, participants will report their findings to the community through self-designed presentations."

Massachusetts

• DarkSky Massachusetts "consists of a diverse group of volunteers spread across the Commonwealth, from the Berkshires to Cape Cod and Islands.
  
  We share the common goal of minimizing the light pollution, energy waste, and environmental disruption that results from poor nighttime lighting."

Michigan

• DarkSky Michigan "is a community-based organization focused on preserving our night skies. Our goal is to bring together all of the efforts to reduce light pollution in our State and have a place where we can be inspired and work together on night sky conservation."

• Michigan Dark Skies "Our group raises public awareness and advocates for environmentally aware lighting in Michigan that promotes human health and safety, eliminates wasted energy, and restores the ecosystem.
  
  We are a collaboration of astronomers, bird watchers, environmentalists, academics, and Michigan residents. We are based at the University of Michigan, but our group is open to all and includes concerned citizens in Washtenaw County and elsewhere. ..."

• University Lowbrow Astronomers: Southeast Michigan Light Pollution Issues "Lighting from buildings, streetlights and so on create light pollution which makes it difficult to view the night sky. This page discusses light pollution issues affecting Dexter Township (located in Southeast Michigan) and other communities in Southeast Michigan." Page includes links to resources including Brighton Township and Scio Township Light Pollution Ordinances 

Minnesota 

• Starry Skies North "We see many places around Minnesota and other communities around Lake Superior as a place for national recognition for our dark skies. This will bring pride and tourism, and become a place to reconnect with the cosmos in an increasingly light-polluted world."

Missouri

• DarkSky Missouri "The mission of DarkSky Missouri is to raise awareness about light pollution issues in Missouri, promote quality outdoor lighting, protect our natural environment and our beautiful night sky, and educate the public how reducing light pollution can lower energy costs."

• Lights Out Heartland 🐦 "is a collaboration of organizations from the heartland area of the USA that are partnering to reduce light pollution during bird migration periods.  Spearheaded by the Missouri Chapter the International Dark-Sky Association, Lights Out Heartland is one example of the national partnership between the International Dark-Sky Association and the National Audubon Society."

Montana

• DarkSky Montana "works to protect Montana’s heritage of star-filled night skies. The chapter is an all-volunteer, educational group working with businesses, towns, municipalities, groups and individuals to keep our rural night skies dark and full of stars, and to help Montanans tackle light pollution issues in our towns and cities."

New Mexico

• New Mexico DarkSky "Founded in June 2023, we are a state chapter of DarkSky International. All members of DarkSky International in the state of New Mexico are chapter members. The activities of the chapter are managed by the State Council of the organization."

• Night Sky Santa Fe "For a city, responsible lighting is responsible stewardship of city finances. The dollars saved by lighting responsibly may be spent to put more teachers in more classrooms, create and sustain parks and youth and senior programs, add to community policing, improve or expand city services, or returned to city taxpayers.
  
  Irresponsible lighting is a senseless bonfire of taxpayer dollars."

• Santa Fe Conservation: Dark Skies Program "educating the community about the importance of the connection between land and sky conservation and the Five Easy Steps to Bring Back the Stars. We also require language to add the requirement of compliance with the Night Sky Protection Act in our conservation easements agreements.  Hundreds of people in the community have participated in our educational Star Party events; done in collaboration with the Capital City Astronomy Club, Santa Fe Garden Club, Santa Fe Southern Railway, Salazar Elementary and Commonweal Conservancy, celebrating land conservation in the New Mexico and the importance of Dark Skies for future generations."

New York

• DarkSky New York 

• DarkSky Westchester County

• Illuminating Engineering Society 🔧 💡 "The IES is committed to providing lighting professionals with resources and tools that support your efforts to enhance your lighting knowledge, work more efficiently and stay updated on the very latest lighting standards and guidelines."

North Carolina

• Dark Sky North Carolina IDA 

• NC Dark Skies

• The North Carolina Section of the International Dark-Sky Association "represents North Carolina's first significant consolidated effort to reduce the sources of light pollution and light trespass in our local skies.  We are losing our heritage of starry night skies. Terrestrial lights shining inefficiently into the night sky threaten to destroy the spectacular views the heavens offer. Even worse, this "light pollution" wastes energy and provides no benefit to society."

Ohio

• Dark-Sky Association Ohio "Dedicated to youth engagement and education" (facebook page)

Oregon

• DarkSky Oregon "Our mission is to preserve Oregon's magnificent dark skies and to diminish light pollution for the health, safety, and well-being of all life."

• Got Stars, Central Oregon? "is a project supported by the 2023 Visit Central Oregon Future Fund. This project supports a consortium of nine organizations with a mission to educate residents and visitors about the ecologic and economic value of dark skies to central Oregon. Each of our participating organizations will complete a specific project in support of our mission."

South Dakota

• City of Rapid City "We have partnered with the South Dakota Chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to bring awareness to the important issue of light pollution in the Black Hills. We can easily reduce air pollution, save money, and protect nocturnal species through good lighting design and fixture selection. The IDA website has more information about good outdoor lighting design."

• DarkSky South Dakota

Tennessee

• DarkSky Tennessee

Virginia

• DarkSky NOVA

• Dark Virginia Sky "The Virginia Section of the IDA is dedicated to preserving and restoring Virginia's dark night skies, for public and natural welfare, with thoughtful regard for security and visibility." - Laura Graham

• Fairfax County Park Authority: Dark Skies "Light to protect the night"

• Smart Outdoor Lighting Alliance (SOLA) "promotes smart, sustainable and ecologically responsible outdoor lighting using new technologies and best practices in lighting design. SOLA provides the most current independent research and information to cities on smart lighting solutions based on their performance, interoperability and their real-world effectiveness. We promote visibility and safety research to support the goal of reducing total global lumens." 

Washington

• Dark Sky Defenders is a 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit organization dedicated to enrich and expand the global appreciation and support for the preservation and protection of the night sky through education and advocacy.
  
  Our website also collaborates with other astronomy groups and organizations to provide outreach activities related to astronomy and science, as well as education about dark skies and the reduction of light pollution."

• DarkSky Washington "Our mission here is to be a focal point for light pollution issues in Washington, promote quality outdoor lighting, promote and preserve the beautiful night sky, and to educate the public about the problem of energy-wasting light pollution and its solutions. Our members include astronomers, naturalists, outdoor lighting engineers, and people who are generally concerned with the beauty and heritage of their community."

Wisconsin

• DarkSky Geneva Lake / Geneva Lake Dark Sky Initiative

• The Dark Skies Office at GLAS Education "was launched in June 2021 to coordinate efforts to reduce light pollution in the Geneva Lake area. Using the data from GLAS Education’s LENSS project, we are working towards creating a measurable impact on sky quality. By understanding where we are, we can pave a road forward. Thanks to our sensor hosts, we will be able to craft a narrative about how bright Geneva Lake once was, and how our community came together to minimize artificial light pollution.
  
  Working with policy-makers, local organizations, interns, students, and many volunteers, the Dark Skies Office is on its way towards reforming light ordinances and raising public awareness of the benefits of our shared resource: a truly dark sky.
  
  Additionally, the Dark Skies Office is pursuing formal International Dark-Sky Association recognition as an Urban Night Sky Place for Williams Bay’s Kishwauketoe Nature Conservatory. An Urban Night Sky Place designation is awarded to places surrounded by large urban areas whose planning actively promotes the night sky despite the artificial light pollution nearby."

Oceana

Australia

• Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand (IESANZ) "The IESANZ is the central organization for lighting engineers in the area who set guidelines on light pollution control and energy efficiency."

Tasmania

• DarkSky Tasmania

Victoria

• DarkSky Victoria

South Island

• Kaikōura Dark Sky Trust "A vision to achieve International Dark Sky Sanctuary & Community Status for the District of Kaikōura."

Niue

"The Pacific island of Niue is the world’s first whole country to become an International Dark Sky Place. It has received formal accreditation from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary and International Dark Sky Community, thus covering the whole country with Dark Sky protection and recognition and deeming it a ‘dark sky nation’." - DarkSky

South America

Argentina

• DarkSky Argentina

Brazil 

• Dark Sky Rio de Janeiro  

Uruguay

• DarkSky Uruguay 

See Also:

• Bortle dark-sky scale

• SKYGLOW

• Dark-sky preserve

• Noctcaelador