Artificial light at night can be disruptive to wildlife migratory patterns and waste energy. Consider utilizing these following tips to be dark sky-friendly at home.

A resident of Wheaton, Illinois, Grote Rebar constructed the first radio telescope in his backyard in 1937. With a mirror that was 31.4’ in diameter and made of sheet metal, he was successful in detecting radio emissions from the Milky Way.

Assessing the desired use of lighting, light shielding/targeting, light intensity/brightness, lighting color, and utilizing “smart” lighting options can all provide an improved quality of life for residents. Responsible lighting is an essential component of CPTED that can help improve natural surveillance, create natural access control, establish community territoriality, lessen maintenance, and activate a space with desired users. When implemented carefully and strategically, it can be an effective tool in promoting safety and security in our communities.

On September 15, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County hosted its Palos Night Sky Picnic at a Dark Sky International certified urban dark sky preserve, Palos Preserve.

Weather conditions, a pulse of migrating warblers, and bright lights combined to create a wave of bird death across the city Thursday morning.

An exhibit funded and constructed by our friends from the Carol Stream Home Depot is now on display in the Education Room at SCARCE.

Shorebirds need darkness. Much of the year, they are migrating between their northern breeding grounds and their southern wintering grounds. Natural darkness allows them to see the celestial cues they need for navigation. It provides them with a measure of safety while they’re roosting at the water’s edge.

In my “day job” I often use images of the Earth at night taken from space to understand the impacts of light pollution down here where we live. Every once in a while I’ll stumble upon something that tells a story.

In recent years, cities, towns and small communities across the world have taken part in a radical revolution — of our lightbulbs. Traditional orange-tinged high-pressure sodium bulbs are being swapped for more energy-efficient, whiter and brighter LED (light-emitting diode) lights. But the rise of LEDs is also illuminating new problems for our night sky, as well as our health.

There is an increasing trend called “astrotourism” — places that provide access to dark skies or protected land without lights, such as parks, orchards that welcome the public to experience what was once in their backyard. Of course, this is all for a price.

DarkSkyChi wishes to voice grave concerns about SkyCanvas: a “space entertainment technology company” that will “transform the night sky into a showcase for human-made shooting stars.” We present our concerns and ask you to sign our petition.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History opened “Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky” Thursday, March 23. The new 4,340-square-foot exhibition is about how the night sky—and its disappearance due to light pollution—affects all life on Earth, from natural ecosystems to human cultures. The exhibition will remain on view through December 2025.

Light pollution has permeated our everyday lives, sometimes driving us to make drastic life changes. As humans are very adaptable by nature, you may have never noticed that you too adjust your life to accommodate light pollution! Enjoy our top six countdown.

A well-lit perimeter might feel reassuring. But excess security lighting can actually foster crime, annoy your neighbors and mess with your health.

Yes, the State of Illinois passed the resolution, but more than 13 years ago! The resolution passed before the now widespread use of LED technology.

Our shared primal beat is called circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm is the cyclical, 24-hour period of biological activity. For some 600 million years, all life forms on earth evolved with a regular cycle of light and dark.

After confronting us with the “Illuminated Planet” and the “Mass Die-Off”, Johan Eklöf passionately guides us through an easy-to-understand sensual tour of scotobiology, the study of the way biology is affected by darkness.

The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale is a tool that scientists use to measure the changing state of the starry night sky. The Bortle Scale compares what is to what it might be, and ranges from Bortle Class 1 to Class 9. It relies upon the naked eye to assess what can still be seen in the heavens, unaided.

To help establish outdoor lighting standards in Wheaton’s neighborhoods, the City Council recently adopted a residential lighting ordinance. The ordinance also adopts a requirement for new residential construction to use International Dark Sky Association and/or Dark Sky-compliant outdoor lighting fixtures.

Salesforce announced its arrival to our city at its new downtown location along the Chicago River by introducing many Chicagoans to the issue of light pollution.