The night sky has informed and inspired humankind for thousands of years. Around the globe, regardless of national borders, political ties or spiritual beliefs, all of us live with the night. The night sky is one of the great unifiers of the human experience across time and across cultures.

But the invention of the incandescent light bulb changed everything.  It’s been estimated that artificial lighting has eaten away at so much of the night sky that two-thirds of the US population can no longer see the Milky Way! Here in New Mexico, we’re still pretty fortunate, but we’re rapidly losing what we have.

Good News: We Can Bring Back the Stars

Happily, everyone can take simple and effective steps to preserve and restore our beautiful night sky. You can continue to use electric lighting-and save money and natural resources in the process-simply by practicing “night sky-friendly” lighting. See the link below for six simple steps to controlling light pollution, and start enjoying a more fulfilling New Mexico night sky experience.

What can you do to save the beauty of our night skies?

• Read the NM Night Sky Protection Act
• Peter Lipscomb’s “Six Easy Steps to Bring Back the Stars” – printable format
• Schedule a Star Party – a telescope party in your own backyard with the Capital City Astronomy Club – Call us at 505-989-7019 to schedule
• Contact Us for more information

Fun links to learn more about the Stars and how to protect them

Wikisky – a detailed interactive Star Map

Google Sky – includes a number of ways to explore the night sky

International Dark Skies Association

National Park Service Night Sky Team

Light Pollution Articles

Spivey A 2010. Light at Night and Breast Cancer Risk Worldwide. Environ Health Perspect 118:a525-a525. doi:10.1289/ehp.118-a525

Chepesiuk R 2009. Missing the Dark- Health Effects of Light Pollution. Environ Health Perspect 117:A20-A27. doi:10.1289/ehp.117-a20

The detrimental effect of bad lighting is now so serious that the American Medical Association has called for a national effort on light pollution, stating that “many species (including humans) need darkness to survive and thrive” [PDF]. The AMA also states:

“Light trespass has been implicated in disruption of the human and animal circadian rhythm, and strongly suspected as an etiology of suppressed melatonin production, depressed immune systems, and increase in cancer rates such as breast cancers.”