Citizens:
Ninety-nine percent of people living in Europe and North America live under light-polluted skies according to the International Dark Sky Association. Ninety-nine percent!
We are working to preserve Maine’s star-studded night sky, which is today largely free of light pollution, both for ourselves and for future generations. Light pollution not only reduces views of the sky; it adversely affects our bodies (American Medical Association). We now know that excessive and improper night lighting increases rates of breast and prostate cancer, mental health problems, and sleeping disorders. It also impacts wildlife, disrupting bird and animal migrations, decreasing the number of pollinators, and is changing the timing of plant foliage growth.
Most of those problems can be mitigated through the use of appropriate lighting, which involves the use of correct color temperature luminaries (2700 Kelvins or less), shielded fixtures that direct light downward-not skyward-and brightness levels that reduce disabling glare. Our success with these measures will protect the night sky, promote health and safety, and reduce energy consumption.
Public education is a major part of our agenda. To that end Dark Sky Maine offers quarterly stargazing events to keep our citizens and visitors in touch with Maine’s spectacular night vistas—the next one being the Virtual Solstice Star Party on December 22. In addition, we offer three seasonal four-week classes during the year, numerous night sky tours, and public star parties. This past year, in conjunction with Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters, our organization co-hosted the annual Stars Over Katahdin star party. Dark Sky Maine also hosted screenings of a new film by Tara Zabriskie; Defending the Dark—Preserving Maine’s Night Sky. That film was show this past autumn in eight locations around the state, and additional showings are planned for this winter. Dark Sky Maine has also been involved in dark sky issues in towns, in the LUPC territory, and within the Maine legislature.
We are asking you to support Dark Sky Maine and help us to protect and preserve Maine’s dark sky heritage. Our goal is to protect it for today’s Mainers and for future generations.
