Saving the Darkness: How To Put A Dimmer on Light Pollution and Bring Back the Night Sky

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Photo: National Park Service/Hannah Schwalbe

Saving the Darkness: How To Put A Dimmer on Light Pollution and Bring Back the Night Sky

Speaker: Dr. Kelsey Johnson, Univ. of Virginia

How many stars can you see from your home? For many Americans, the answer is only a handful. Our ancestors once saw thousands. The growing flood of artificial light pollution, and disappearance of our night skies, are taking a toll on people and animals. But there are ways to combat it. Kelsey Johnson, University of Virginia astronomer and creator of the “Dark Skies, Bright Kids” program, has devoted her career to understanding the stars and preserving their beauty for future generations. In our February Earth Optimism lecture, she’ll reveal some of the surprising costs our 24-hour illumination takes on nature—and some surprisingly easy ways to fix it.