DarkSky - Washington, DC Chapter

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...

08/04/2026

DC Mayor Bowser proclaims April 13-20th, DarkSky Week. Many thanks to our partners, Lights Out DC, DC Bird Alliance and City Wildlife.

27/02/2026

https://wapo.st/4cdyP0s

Proposals before the FCC involve mirrors that could bathe entire cities in sunlight and, from SpaceX, a million satellites to serve as data centers.

08/02/2026

https://wapo.st/4qst8Pv

Outdoor lighting is having an outsize impact on the flora and fauna that share our habitats.

29/01/2026

https://inside.lighting/news/26-01/should-darkness-be-legally-protected-natural-resource

Citizen challenge targets lighting at 29 Connecticut courthouse buildings

26/12/2025

Happy New Year to all of our DarkSky friends.

The biggest astronomical events of 2026, including solar and lunar eclipses, planet parades and the Artemis II mission to the moon.