DarkSky Missouri
The mission of DarkSky Missouri is to raise awareness about light pollution issues in Missouri, promote quality outdoor lighting, protect our natural environment and our beautiful night sky, and educate the public how reducing light pollution can lower energy costs.
You can find out more about DarkSky Missouri and join the organization by pushing the DarkSky button, below.
DarkSky encourages other organizations to acknowledge and support principles of responsible nighttime lighting. Here is the resolution passed by the Ozark Society
Ozark Society “Dark Sky” Resolution
Resolution to Improve Lighting Infrastructure in the Ozarks Using “Dark Sky” Principles
Whereas, excess artificial light at night (ALAN), or light pollution, consists of bright lights which, in addition to illuminating activities on the ground, directs light toward the sky due to inadequate shielding and control, frequently occurring in commercial settings, street lighting, yard lighting, parking lots and athletic fields, and
Whereas, unnecessary light interferes with bird migration, including along the important Mississippi River Flyway, as well as nighttime pollination, bat feeding, amphibian breeding, astronomy, invertebrate activity, and night sky astronomical viewing, and
Whereas, unnecessary light, especially light of high temperature (>2700 Kelvin), has negative environmental effects including disruption and displacement of wildlife and disrupts ecosystems by revealing normally concealed prey to predators, and
Whereas, lighting exceeding the needs of time and space wastes both energy and money, and by using lights only when needed and making use of technologies such as motion sensors, dimmers, and timers to reduce unnecessary light, migratory wildlife, including pollinators, will be able to pass through the region more safely, and
Whereas, to encourage businesses and the public to turn off lights, especially during spring and fall bird migrations, Lights-out-Heartland, a multi-state collaboration with DarkSky International, the National Audubon Society and others, explains that 70% of terrestrial birds are migratory and 80% of those birds migrate at night, and
Whereas, DarkSky International promotes the reduction of unnecessary light and has the following five principles of responsible outdoor lighting: 1. All light should have a clear purpose, 2. Light should be directed only to where needed, 3. Light should be no brighter than necessary, 4. Light should be used only when it is useful, and 5. Use warmer color lights when possible (limit blue light), and
Whereas, the Ozarks of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas constitutes one of the best remaining “dark sky” regions east of Kansas, with dark skies part of the great outdoor experiences connected with hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing and other outdoor sports, and
Whereas, the dark sky values of the Ozark region will help the area become an important dark sky tourism destination in the future, as more people seek out dark sky experiences and plan vacations in areas with good dark sky viewing, and
Whereas, the Ozark Society, an organization based on conservation, education, and responsible outdoor recreation, should take a lead role in informing outdoor users and others about safe ways to protect the ecological, aesthetic, astronomical, and recreational values of dark skies,
Therefore, be it Resolved, that the Board of Directors of the Ozark Society supports the efforts of Lights Out Heartland, Audubon Society, and DarkSky International to inform citizens about the values of the night sky, and will encourage its members and whenever possible, the public, to take steps to reduce or eliminate unnecessary light at night and light pollution
Image courtesy Ben Caruthers
You can find out more about DarkSky Missouri and join the organization by pushing the DarkSky button, below.
DarkSky encourages other organizations to acknowledge and support principles of responsible nighttime lighting. Here is the resolution passed by the Ozark Society
Ozark Society “Dark Sky” Resolution
Resolution to Improve Lighting Infrastructure in the Ozarks Using “Dark Sky” Principles
Whereas, excess artificial light at night (ALAN), or light pollution, consists of bright lights which, in addition to illuminating activities on the ground, directs light toward the sky due to inadequate shielding and control, frequently occurring in commercial settings, street lighting, yard lighting, parking lots and athletic fields, and
Whereas, unnecessary light interferes with bird migration, including along the important Mississippi River Flyway, as well as nighttime pollination, bat feeding, amphibian breeding, astronomy, invertebrate activity, and night sky astronomical viewing, and
Whereas, unnecessary light, especially light of high temperature (>2700 Kelvin), has negative environmental effects including disruption and displacement of wildlife and disrupts ecosystems by revealing normally concealed prey to predators, and
Whereas, lighting exceeding the needs of time and space wastes both energy and money, and by using lights only when needed and making use of technologies such as motion sensors, dimmers, and timers to reduce unnecessary light, migratory wildlife, including pollinators, will be able to pass through the region more safely, and
Whereas, to encourage businesses and the public to turn off lights, especially during spring and fall bird migrations, Lights-out-Heartland, a multi-state collaboration with DarkSky International, the National Audubon Society and others, explains that 70% of terrestrial birds are migratory and 80% of those birds migrate at night, and
Whereas, DarkSky International promotes the reduction of unnecessary light and has the following five principles of responsible outdoor lighting: 1. All light should have a clear purpose, 2. Light should be directed only to where needed, 3. Light should be no brighter than necessary, 4. Light should be used only when it is useful, and 5. Use warmer color lights when possible (limit blue light), and
Whereas, the Ozarks of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas constitutes one of the best remaining “dark sky” regions east of Kansas, with dark skies part of the great outdoor experiences connected with hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing and other outdoor sports, and
Whereas, the dark sky values of the Ozark region will help the area become an important dark sky tourism destination in the future, as more people seek out dark sky experiences and plan vacations in areas with good dark sky viewing, and
Whereas, the Ozark Society, an organization based on conservation, education, and responsible outdoor recreation, should take a lead role in informing outdoor users and others about safe ways to protect the ecological, aesthetic, astronomical, and recreational values of dark skies,
Therefore, be it Resolved, that the Board of Directors of the Ozark Society supports the efforts of Lights Out Heartland, Audubon Society, and DarkSky International to inform citizens about the values of the night sky, and will encourage its members and whenever possible, the public, to take steps to reduce or eliminate unnecessary light at night and light pollution
Image courtesy Ben Caruthers