International Dark Sky Week (April 21-28, 2025) is a global celebration of the night. From the darkness that supports a restful night’s sleep to the wonder we experience beneath starry skies, the night plays a vital role in our health, the well-being of wildlife, scientific discovery, cultural heritage, and more. Yet with the rapid rise of light pollution, we risk losing the natural night we depend on. The time to act is now!

Join the celebration by taking meaningful action to protect the night—whether it’s working with your local government or simply signing the online pledge, there are easy ways for anyone, anywhere to get involved, including an exceptional lineup of speakers offering virtual sessions!

Join a virtual session to explore the wonders of the night and discover real-world solutions to protect it. View speaker lineup →

Request a proclamation to spark community awareness and show official support for protecting the night. Learn more →

Join Globe at Night and help track light pollution by measuring your night sky and submitting your observations. Get involved →

Sign the DarkSky Pledge and show your commitment to preserving dark skies—help us reach 10,000 pledges! Take the pledge →

Host an event in your area to connect with others and celebrate the night. Tell us about your planned event →

Virtual events and sessions

What is an environmentally friendly artificial light?

Date: April 22, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. PDT 
Location: Virtual Zoom meeting  

The five principles for responsible outdoor lighting by DarkSky International unquestionably increase star visibility, but their benefits (and costs!) for organisms on the ground are relatively unexplored. In this talk, Dr. Avalon Owens reviews recent research into how each principle can reduce the impact of light pollution on insects, the foundations of our food systems, and natural ecosystems. Surprisingly, the principles that have attracted the most scientific attention turn out to be the least effective. Yet all hope is not lost! A preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that limiting artificial light in space and time can greatly benefit insects and the other species that depend on them—including us.

Artificial light’s exacerbation of bird-glass collisions: How dark skies can save lives

Date: April 23, 2025
Time: 11:00 am PDT
Location: Virtual Zoom meeting  

Join us for a webinar with Cady Netland, Coordinator for Bird Safety at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, as she shares insights into the intersection of bird safety and light pollution reduction. Building on familiar concepts, Cady will explore practical strategies and provide real-world examples of how bird-safe design and light reduction efforts can make a tangible difference. Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding or find new ways to connect advocacy with action, this session will offer valuable perspectives from one of the leading voices in bird safety.

DarkSky networking and team building

Date: April 24, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. PDT
Location: Virtual Zoom meeting   

Hang with some DarkSky friends, new and old, celebrating International Dark Sky Week! Led by DarkSky staff, this is a great opportunity to network and learn from the global dark sky network. 

Celebrate International Dark Sky Week with everyone’s favorite astronomy documentary commentator, Hakeem Oluseyi!

Date: April 28, 2025
Time: 3:00 p.m. PDT
Location: Virtual Zoom meeting   

Join us as we close International Dark Sky Week with an inspiring talk from Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi—renowned astrophysicist, cosmologist, inventor, educator, author, and documentary commentator. Known for his groundbreaking contributions to space science and his passion for public science education, Dr. Oluseyi will offer reflections on the wonder of the universe, the importance of protecting our night skies, and the limitless possibilities that await when we look up. A powerful conclusion to a week of celebrating the night!

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