DarkSky - Washington, DC Chapter

08/09/2026

https://weather.com/2026/09/08/science/nature/gateway-arch-lights-out-bird-migration?utm_source=moengage&utm_medium=ONE_TIME&utm_campaign=Weekly_Brief_090826

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, is turning off its lights all September to protect migrating birds. Doing your part to help at home is easy.

29/08/2026

27/08/2026

Look out for the partial lunar eclipse tonight starting at 10:33 PM EST.

26/08/2026

Potentially Harmful Nighttime Light Varies By Ward in DC according to a study by DarkSky DC. Click link below.

https://www.darkskydc.org/news-and-events/potentially-harmful-nighttime-light-varies-by-wardnbspin-washington-dc-new-darksky-dc-study-shows

24/08/2026

DarkSky DC Board member Gillen Brown talks with people who stopped by our table at the National Book Festival on August 22. Volunteer Milt Roney also gave a presentation on light pollution on the festival's STEM stage. DarkSky was privileged to be invited to participate in the book festival for the third year in a row.

07/08/2026

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/environmental-groups-challenge-fcc-approval-startups-plan-beam-demand-rcna591041

While the FCC approved only a single test mission, the groups argue it could pave the way for a much larger constellation of satellites in the future.

25/07/2026

Firefly season is almost over 🙁. One of Earth's few terrestrial bioluminescent animals live here in DC and bring a beauty to our dark skies! Go see them before they go back underground.

17/07/2026

This Tuesday, July 21st at 6pm learn about two projects that can change the night sky forever! Making light at night on demand, and putting data centers up in space...both projects are likely to be approved here in DC by the FCC with no requirement for an environmental assessment!

Registration at darkskydc.org

17/07/2026

Tuesday July 21, 6 pm ET, 3 pm PT
Third Act Actions Lab General Meeting, with guest Ruskin Hartley, Executive Director of Dark Sky International

Register here: https://thirdact-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/Dr9zzhbESoic6VvJpREymA #/registration

About: Ruskin is the CEO and Executive Director of DarkSky International, a global nonprofit dedicated to protecting the night time environment from light pollution and to safeguarding our cosmic heritage from the rapid commercialization of space.
He will be discussing DarkSky’s concerns regarding the overpopulation of space with commercial satellites. They have been raising the alarm about two current applications to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission- an application from SpaceX to launch up to 1 million satellites as orbital data centers for Artificial intelligence and second, Reflect Orbital’s application to deploy tens of thousands of mirrors in space to beam concentrated sunlight back to Earth during the night, creating “sunlight on demand.”

These systems would introduce significant ecological, human health, safety and astronomical risks on a global scale. DarkSky, together with other advocacy groups, is calling for SpaceX and Reflect Orbital to undergo “comprehensive independent environmental impact assessments” conducted by qualified experts. The FCC is not requiring such review.

For more information about DarkSky Intl: https://darksky.org/ or contact Julia Stevenson [email protected]

21/04/2026

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/cities-turn-streetlights-red-to-protect-nocturnal-ecosystems

International Dark Sky Week is hailed as a global celebration of the night and a call for less light pollution. In some cities internationally, local governments are trying to find a solution to lighting the night can better serve critical wildlife ecosystems and humans alike. Malcolm Brabant report...