Help    s  Preserve the Night 

Light Pollution has a very big impact on wildlife. Most nocturnal species surrounding a highly lighted city are affected by the light pollution. The light may serve as a distraction to nocturnal species, or it may allow more predators to find prey and this affects the foodchain populations. One of the greatest impacts that light pollution has on wildlife is fatal attraction to nocturnally migrating bird species. This means that when groups of birds are migrating at night the light projecting upward distracts them and makes them fly lower around tall buildings. The birds will then fly straight into the windows and die on impact. To Learn more about the impact that light pollution has on wildlife, please visit The International DarK Sky Association Light Pollution and Wildlife brochure using the link below. 

The excess use of light is a large contributor to greenhouse gases.  Allowing light to flow upwards into the sky during the night time wastes light because it is not being used in an efficient way, and also contributes to our inability to see the night sky.  Using Night Sky Approved light fixtures that aim light at a range of 180 degrees or less in a downward direction can significantly increase light efficiency, allowing less wattage to be used as a result.  In particular, LED lighting lasts up to ten times longer than compact fluorescent bulbs, and much longer than incandescent bulbs. LED lighting will also help to cut down on light pollution, because less blue and yellow light is emitted up into the sky. To see how outdoor LED lighting can impact the night lighting of a city, please visit the Forbes website using the See More link below.  Finding cost effective, efficient, and long lasting solutions to limiting light pollution is tangible with the right resources and education.  To learn more about energy waste and pollution, please visit the International Dark Sky Association using the link below. 

The Circadian Rhythm is our natural sleep cycle that develops based on the time we fall alseep and the time we wake up.  Naturally, humans sleep during the dark hours of the night.  During our sleep, our body not only undergoes necessary cellular repairs, but also the slowing of our metabolism and the increased production of melatonin occurs.  Melatonin is a chemical hormone produced in the pineal gland of the brain at the peak of the human circadian cycle.  Melatonin functions in the body not only to keep the circadian rhythm regulated, but also as an antioxidant.  However, melatonin can only be produced during our sleep when it is dark.  If while sleeping the brain recieves information from the optic nerves that it is light outside, melatonin production is severely decreased.  A lack of melatonin production in the body has been observed in serveral scientific studies to be linked to insomnia and some forms of cancer.  To learn more about human circadian rhythms please visit The International Dark Sky Human Health brochure using the link below. 

International Dark Sky Places are parks, communities, and reserves that are located all around the world. The first Dark Sky Park was founded right here in Utah in 2007. It is the Natural Bridges National Monument located in Southern Utah. This was a huge step in eradicating light pollution right here in Utah! Unfortunately, we currently do not have any dark sky communities located in Utah, but Eagle Mountain, located in Utah County is in the process of becoming one. All of the Dark Sky Reserves are located outside of the United States and there is a lot of movement towards becoming dark sky friendly, especially in Eurpoean countries. The purpose of Dark Sky Places is to serve as an example of what having the night sky at our disposal can be like. Each place is rated on the same scale according to how well it abides by IDA regulated guidleines. To learn mor eabout Dark Sky Places please visit the IDA website via the link below.