Call to Action:  The International Dark Sky Association (IDA)is seeking 2,000 globe at night measurments. IDA wants night sky enthusiasts around the world to rate the brightness of their night sky with the Globe at Night night sky measurement campaign. The data will be used to educate decision-makers and the public about the urgent need to apply pragmatic solutions to mitigate the effects of light pollution. Measurements can be made now through April 5,2019.

Do you care about perserving our dark night skies?  International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to protecting the night skies from light pollution.  "Today, IDA is the recognized authority for night sky protection and has taken the lead in identifying and publicizing the negative impacts of artificial light at night on human health, wildlife and climate change."

Here at Observatory Park in Fairfax County we know that we have some of the regions darkest skies.  But it may not be that way in the future.  With the expansion of Tyson's Corner business district, and the communities of Reston and Herndon having increased population, we need to become involved in civic planning and urban development.

But there are solutions: inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light can be curtailed  by improved light fixtures or repointing them.  "The fact is that much outdoor lighting used at night is inefficient, overly bright, poorly targeted, improperly shielded, and in many cases, completely unnecessary.  This light, and the electricity used to create it, is being wasted by spilling it into the sky, rather than focusing it on to the actual objects and areas that people want illuminated."

Read more about the International Dark Sky Association at https://www.darksky.org/