News – DarkSky International

International Dark Sky Reserve Eisenwurzen officially certified in Austria

Natasha Chortos — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:52:48 +0000

St. Gallen, Austria Located in the Alpine heart of Austria, the Dark Sky Reserve Eisenwurzen is a vast and wildly romantic landscape of gorges, free-flowing rivers, and remote valleys where ancient beech forests and rugged alpine peaks meet an exceptional night sky. The region’s geography is defined by steep limestone formations, canyons, and high mountain ridges that …

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DarkSky reads: Go dark with a good book

Natasha Chortos — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 20:50:05 +0000

When the sun sets, the world does not disappear, it transforms. Sounds soften, shadows deepen, and familiar landscapes require a different way of understanding. And while your view of the ground around you may be limited, the sky opens above, inviting you to look up and peer deep into the universe. In today’s ever-brightening world, …

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A million satellites? Sign DarkSky’s open letter to SpaceX

Drew Reagan — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:12:25 +0000

Late last month, SpaceX filed a request with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking authorization for a new satellite constellation. Not hundreds of satellites. Not thousands. One million. The proposal would deploy a vast network of AI data centers directly into low Earth orbit. This move would increase the number of satellites in the …

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Winton becomes Queensland’s first International Dark Sky Community

Drew Reagan — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:14:14 +0000

Queensland, Australia DarkSky International is pleased to announce that the Outback town of Winton has officially been designated Queensland’s first International Dark-Sky Community, marking a major milestone for science, tourism, and environmental conservation. Winton now joins one of only two Dark Sky Places in Queensland, alongside The Jump-Up Dark-Sky Sanctuary at the Australian Age of …

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Nightscape #123 · March 2026

Mark Bult — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:20:25 +0000

Featuring: How are bright headlights affecting nocturnal species?; Introducing the DarkSky One concept car; Advocate highlights; Ten new InternationalDark Sky Places; and more!

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Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heide Nature Park has been certified as an International Dark Sky Park

Natasha Chortos — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:59:00 +0000

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany The Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heide Nature Park in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, has achieved official certification as an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International. This milestone, recognized at the 2025 DarkSky International Presidium meeting, honors the park and its support association’s long-term commitment to protecting natural darkness and reducing light pollution in one of Germany’s …

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Old Snowmass becomes newest International Dark Sky Community in Colorado

Natasha Chortos — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Old Snowmass, Colorado DarkSky International is proud to announce that Old Snowmass, Colorado has officially been certified as an International Dark Sky Community. This designation recognizes the community’s commitment to preserving its pristine nocturnal environment through robust lighting policies, education, and proactive conservation. Old Snowmass becomes one of a select group of communities globally to …

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Thorington Street, Suffolk becomes first International Dark Sky Community in England

Natasha Chortos — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Suffolk, England Thorington Street, a hamlet in southeast Suffolk, has today been designated an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International. This is a significant achievement, as it is the first such designation in England. It now joins six others in the United Kingdom: three in Scotland — Orkney, Coll, and Moffat; two in Wales …

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Two satellite proposals threaten the night sky — sign DarkSky’s open letters

Staff — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:43:47 +0000

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency responsible for authorizing satellite launches and operations, recently reviewed two proposals of unprecedented scale and consequence. If approved, they would alter the night sky as we know it, with impacts that would be increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to reverse. Both proposals received an …

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From local concern to national awareness: How Chile’s recent dark sky win offers a model for future efforts

Staff — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:48:57 +0000

Dark skies over northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the darkest places on Earth, recently secured a tentative win. After months of public concern, scientific scrutiny, and civic engagement, the company behind Proyecto INNA, a large-scale industrial energy project proposed near some of the world’s most important astronomical observatories, withdrew their proposal. Early plans placed …

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Darkness and liberation: How the night provided refuge for Maroon communities

Staff — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:34:45 +0000

For many, night and darkness are associated with fear, or at least with insecurity. We worry about what might be lurking in the shadows or what lies just beyond the edge of sight. In response, we flood darkness with artificial light to ease these anxieties, even when that light does little to improve how well …

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How to request a proclamation or letter of support for International Dark Sky Week

Drew Reagan — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:50:40 +0000

During International Dark Sky Week, requesting a proclamation or letter of support is a meaningful and accessible way to raise awareness about light pollution and the importance of responsible outdoor lighting. These requests can help bring attention to practical lighting solutions, highlight the benefits of protecting the night sky, and open the door to productive, …

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