International Dark Sky Week is April 21 to 28

International Dark Sky Week is April 21 to 28, 2025. Image via IDA.

• International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration of the dark and natural night.
• Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels.
• Discover the night is the 2025 theme.

We live in uncertain times. But things are always so much more peaceful, looking up. Please help EarthSky keep going!

According to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) – founded in 1988 and based in Tucson, Arizona – light pollution is increasing at a rate twice that of human population growth. And about 80% of people around the world live under a light-polluted sky. That’s why IDA has established an International Dark Sky Week, which in 2025 falls on April 21 to 28. The goal for the week is to discover the night. According to the IDA:

International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration to build awareness about the harmful effects of light pollution and the importance of the global nighttime environment.

The group also hopes you’ll learn the stars and constellations, and teach them to others.

Also, the IDA hopes you’ll join the global dark sky movement to protect and celebrate our shared heritage of dark night skies. DarkSky International promotes solutions that allow people to appreciate dark, star-filled skies while enjoying the benefits of responsible outdoor lighting.

According to the IDA:

For this International Dark Sky Week we invite you to join us as we discover the night together, exploring its importance and the actions we can take to protect dark skies.

Poor lighting in cities leads to larger amounts of light pollution. From a dark country sky, you can see the river of stars that makes up our galaxy, the Milky Way. Image via IDA.

Ways to celebrate International Dark Sky Week

Looking for ways to celebrate International Dark Sky Week? Here’s International Dark Sky Week links for Get out at Night suggestions.

Visit EarthSky’s night sky guide to see what you can view in the sky this week. A highlight for early morning risers is a slender crescent moon pairing up with Venus and Saturn – and you might spot Mercury – in the morning twilight on April 24 and 25. For more information visit EarthSky’s night sky guide.

Visit EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze page to find a good dark-sky observing site close to home. Share your night sky photos at EarthSky Community Photos.

Paul Bogard has written extensively on the importance of darkness. His book is titled The End of Night. His TEDx Talk focuses on why we need darkness. You’ll find his TEDx Talk here.

Curbing light pollution also benefits wildlife. Image via IDA.

Dark-sky photos from the EarthSky Community

Submit your photo to EarthSky here

View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Muhammad Bilal in Talagang, Punjab, Pakistan, captured our home galaxy on March 6, 2025. Muhammad wrote: “As the summer is approaching, our very own Milky way Galaxy is back in sky.” Thank you, Muhammad!

View at EarthSky Community Photos. | William Mathe made the 100-mile drive to Last Chance, Colorado, for this scene on March 16, 2024. William wrote: “The ranch house is a bit of a fixer-upper. But it has spectacular views of the core of our little Milky Way galaxy.” Thank you, William!

Bottom line: Celebrate dark night skies and help limit light pollution by raising awareness through the annual International Dark Sky Week, April 21 to 28, 2025. Find links here.

Read more: How can I celebrate International Dark Sky Week?

The post International Dark Sky Week is April 21 to 28 first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/MkSArei

International Dark Sky Week is April 21 to 28, 2025. Image via IDA.

• International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration of the dark and natural night.
• Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels.
• Discover the night is the 2025 theme.

We live in uncertain times. But things are always so much more peaceful, looking up. Please help EarthSky keep going!

According to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) – founded in 1988 and based in Tucson, Arizona – light pollution is increasing at a rate twice that of human population growth. And about 80% of people around the world live under a light-polluted sky. That’s why IDA has established an International Dark Sky Week, which in 2025 falls on April 21 to 28. The goal for the week is to discover the night. According to the IDA:

International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration to build awareness about the harmful effects of light pollution and the importance of the global nighttime environment.

The group also hopes you’ll learn the stars and constellations, and teach them to others.

Also, the IDA hopes you’ll join the global dark sky movement to protect and celebrate our shared heritage of dark night skies. DarkSky International promotes solutions that allow people to appreciate dark, star-filled skies while enjoying the benefits of responsible outdoor lighting.

According to the IDA:

For this International Dark Sky Week we invite you to join us as we discover the night together, exploring its importance and the actions we can take to protect dark skies.

Poor lighting in cities leads to larger amounts of light pollution. From a dark country sky, you can see the river of stars that makes up our galaxy, the Milky Way. Image via IDA.

Ways to celebrate International Dark Sky Week

Looking for ways to celebrate International Dark Sky Week? Here’s International Dark Sky Week links for Get out at Night suggestions.

Visit EarthSky’s night sky guide to see what you can view in the sky this week. A highlight for early morning risers is a slender crescent moon pairing up with Venus and Saturn – and you might spot Mercury – in the morning twilight on April 24 and 25. For more information visit EarthSky’s night sky guide.

Visit EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze page to find a good dark-sky observing site close to home. Share your night sky photos at EarthSky Community Photos.

Paul Bogard has written extensively on the importance of darkness. His book is titled The End of Night. His TEDx Talk focuses on why we need darkness. You’ll find his TEDx Talk here.

Curbing light pollution also benefits wildlife. Image via IDA.

Dark-sky photos from the EarthSky Community

Submit your photo to EarthSky here

View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Muhammad Bilal in Talagang, Punjab, Pakistan, captured our home galaxy on March 6, 2025. Muhammad wrote: “As the summer is approaching, our very own Milky way Galaxy is back in sky.” Thank you, Muhammad!

View at EarthSky Community Photos. | William Mathe made the 100-mile drive to Last Chance, Colorado, for this scene on March 16, 2024. William wrote: “The ranch house is a bit of a fixer-upper. But it has spectacular views of the core of our little Milky Way galaxy.” Thank you, William!

Bottom line: Celebrate dark night skies and help limit light pollution by raising awareness through the annual International Dark Sky Week, April 21 to 28, 2025. Find links here.

Read more: How can I celebrate International Dark Sky Week?

The post International Dark Sky Week is April 21 to 28 first appeared on EarthSky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/MkSArei