@IDA_Mass

Massachusetts chapter of DarkSky International, formerly International Dark Sky Association, espousing the five principles of responsible lighting.

 Membership statewide in MA
darkskymass.org/
Joined February 2021
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  • Following154
  • Followers122
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You can't usually see the Milky Way from Manhattan. This picture shows stars against light pollution that is dimmer because it is imaged in invisible infrared. Still, energy wasted from light shining up into the camera. @IDADarksky #protectthenight science.nasa.gov/image-artic…

APOD: 2026 October 15 - The Milky Way over Manhattan - NASA Science

science.nasa.gov
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Information about dark night skies at US national parkts nps.gov/subjects/nightskies/… @IDADarksky #protectthenight

Night Skies (U.S. National Park Service)

Night Skies (Workaround)

nps.gov
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Newly developed outreach materials about light pollution from DarkSky Mass, each one a downloadable, printable PDF: darkskymass.org/2026/09/04/n… @IDADarksky@DarkSkyVT@NantucketLights #protectthenight

New Banners from DarkSkyMass!

The night sky has an amazing story all its own . . . and to bring that story to the greatest audience possible, we are proud to announce the availability of colorful, informative posters and other …

darkskymass.org
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Here’s a list of outdoor-lighting regulations, in one form or another, that have been adopted by cities and towns in Massachusetts: darkskymass.org/best-practic… @IDADarksky@DarkSkyVT #protectthenight

MA Towns with Outdoor-Lighting Ordinances

Here’s a list of cities and towns in Massachusetts that have adopted some form of outdoor-lighting regulation — 67 municipalities in all as of May 2026. If you don’t see your town’s lighting regula…

darkskymass.org
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One of our members, astronomer Tim Brothers of MIT, is involved in this research project to study nighttime behavior of insects: masslive.com/westernmass/202… #protectthenight @IDADarksky
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Modeling suggests infamous “Kessler syndrome” would make satellite swarms unsustainable science.org/content/article/… @IDADarksky #protectthenight

Planned satellite megaconstellations could generate runaway space debris

Modeling suggests infamous “Kessler syndrome” would make the swarms unsustainable

science.org
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Sierra Club promotes dedicated Dark Sky Parks @IDADarksky #protectthenight @SierraClub sierraclub.org/articles/2026…

7 Unforgettable Ways to Experience America’s Public Lands

You do not need to be an extreme athlete or carry a heavy backpack to experience the best of nature. Whether you prefer a scenic drive, a peaceful boardwalk stroll, or relaxing by the water, here are...

sierraclub.org
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Application for Review asking the full Federal Communications Commission to reverse its Space Bureau’s approval of space mirror darksky.org/news/darksky-and… #protectthenight @IDADarksky

DarkSky and Allies Ask the FCC to Reverse Its Approval of the Reflect Orbital “Space Mirror”

On August 6, 2026, DarkSky International filed a formal Application for Review asking the full FCC to reverse its Space Bureau’s approval of Reflect Orbital Inc.’s Earendil-1 satellite.

darksky.org
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"Artificial light pollution disrupts sleep and neuronal genomic stability in wild reef fish" -- ALAN disrupts sleep duration and consolidation in damselfish and increases their aggression, feeding, and territory use at night. @IDADarksky #protectthenight cell.com/current-biology/abs…

Artificial light pollution disrupts sleep and neuronal genomic stability in wild reef fish

Ben-Ezra et al. use lab and field experiments to show that artificial light at night alters territorial occupancy, aggression, feeding, and sleep in Chromis viridis. Acute and chronic light polluti...

cell.com
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Good article on satellite megaconstellations by Phil Plait in June 2026 Scientific American. "... having more than a million [satellites] in orbit could destroy our view of the heavens and seriously damage our planet" scientificamerican.com/artic… @IDADarksky #protectthenight

Rampant growth of satellite megaconstellations could ruin the night sky

Satellites are wonders of modern technology that have improved all of our lives. But having more than a million of them in orbit could destroy our view of the heavens and seriously damage our planet

scientificamerican.com
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Huge numbers of large satellites in space will brighten the night sky, causing light pollution along with other environmental challenges. Here, a challenge to proposed orbiting data centers: earthjustice.org/press/2026/… @IDADarksky #protectthenight @IDADarkSky

Coalition Calls for Rigorous Federal Review of Space-Based Data Center Proposals

As companies make plans to launch more than a million data centers into space, FCC must provide oversight and conduct a thorough review of the risks and impacts of these projects to ensure they are...

earthjustice.org
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Opinion | Keeping night skies free from light pollution is a statewide battle. bostonglobe.com/2026/07/06/o… via @BostonGlobe @IDADarkSky #protectthenight

Fireflies score a win in Rockport - The Boston Globe

A victory for fireflies in Rockport points to the need for legislation to protect the night sky from light pollution.

bostonglobe.com
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Research article "Large or bright satellite constellations: Effects on observations, including background sky brightness" by O. R. Hainaut, eso.org/public/archives/rele… studies effects of both direct and scattered light on sky brightness @IDADarksky #protectthenight
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On July 1st, the full Senate of the Massachusetts Legislature approved S.3145 (our “dark-sky bill”) by a unanimous 39-0 vote. Next step: conference with House. For details see darkskymass.org/2026/07/03/s… #protectthenight @IDADarksky @DarkSkyVT

Senate Passes Dark-Sky Bill!

On July 1st, the full Senate of the Massachusetts Legislature approved S.3145 (our “dark-sky bill”) by a unanimous 39-0 vote. This marks the first time that this proposed legislation had reached th…

darkskymass.org
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Our chapter advocates for a Massachusetts bill requiring publicly-owned streetlights to be dark-sky friendly and making utility rates more friendly to municipalities. This bill has never been closer to passage. darkskymass.org/2026/06/27/o… #protectthenight @IDADarksky @NightSkyGuy

Dark-Sky Bills Move Forward!

It has been a remarkable week for the dark-sky bills that DarkSkyMass submitted to the Massachusetts Legislature in January 2025. Over the past few months, it seemed that this session’s submissions…

darkskymass.org
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DarkSky International has released the 2026 report on the state of the science regarding light pollution. This article gives the highlights of the report. darksky.org/news/state-of-th… @IDADarksky #protectthenight

State of the Science 2025

Each year, DarkSky International updates the latest results from scientific studies of ALAN

darksky.org
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The full curated database of refereed research papers on the science of artifical light at night is here: zotero.org/groups/2913367/al…
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New research shows that light pollution prompts plants to shed pollen longer, increases the growth of notoriously allergenic ragweed, and makes our bodies more prone to allergic reactions, from runny noses to asthma. @IDADarksky @IDADarksky nytimes.com/2026/06/04/clima…

Bright City Lights Might Be Making Your Allergies Worse

Light pollution prompts plants to shed pollen longer and stronger, according to new research.

nytimes.com
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DarkSky International's position on nighttime lighting for industrial parks and data centers in particular, in a nutshell. Don't locate them in naturally dark places. In developed areas, use responsible lighting design. #protectthenight @IDADarksky darksky.org/news/data-center…

Data center light pollution

As the global demand for AI and cloud computing grows, the rapid expansion of data centers has become a major topic of debate in local zoning boards.

darksky.org
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Germany's Eifel region already has an International Dark Sky Park and is now a leader in dark sky friendly sports lighting. #protectthenight @IDADarksky darksky.org/news/beyond-the-…

Beyond the World Cup spotlight: How communities worldwide are redefining sports lighting

DarkSky sports lighting lets communities enjoy well-lit fields while reducing glare, light pollution, and impacts on residents and wildlife.

darksky.org
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