Resources
Here are some external links to websites, specific web pages, and a few PDF documents. These links will help you learn more about the night sky, how to keep our skies dark, and provide good information about proper and safe lighting that doesn’t destroy the wonders of the night sky.
Dark Sky Approved Lighting
Are you wanting to decrease light pollution on your own property? Dark Sky International has created a wonderful resource on their website through which homeowners and contractors can identify 'dark sky approved' lighting options that meet their needs. The big box and online retailers that carry these items are also featured. Check it out! DarkSky International
IDA is the largest world-wide organization to promote dark skies. Below are a series of links to specific pages on their large website that may be useful.Light Pollution and our Night Sky Heritage
Light Pollution and Human Health
Light Pollution—Lighting, Crime, and Safety
Light Pollution Effects on Wildlife and Ecosystems
Light Pollution Wastes Energy and Money
My neighbor’s lighting (resources for educating your neighbors)
Dark Sky Lodging Certification
DarkSky International now offers a process for inns and other businesses providing overnight visitor accommodation to become certified as DarkSky Approved Lodging. We are interested in actively working with inns and innkeepers across Maine to help them attain this certification. Doing so will help to preserve Maine’s dark skies at the same time as it puts your business on the map as an outstanding destination for stargazing and astrotourism.
DarkSky International publishes a database containing all current DarkSky Approved Lodging here, and we plan to acknowledge all future certified Maine businesses on our website as well.
Please reach out to us or visit DarkSky International’s website to learn more!
Night Sky Education Resources in Maine & Northern New England
Miscellaneous Articles and Presentations
Anna Siegel on Why Birds Need the Dark
Preserving the Dark Skies of Maine by Rob Burgess speaking for the Midcoast Senior College, February 2024
Stellar News by Dwight Lanpher in the Knowles Letter, April 2024
Tree leaves exposed to street lights inedible for insects, by Helena Horton August 2024
Maine Astronomy Clubs & Organizations
Astronomical Society of Northern New England, Kennebunk, ME
Central Maine Astronomical Society, Whitefield, Lincolnville, Damariscotta, ME
Downeast Amateur Astronomers, Pembroke, Calais, ME
Penobscot Valley Star Gazers, Bangor, ME
Southern Maine Astronomers, Portland, Brunswick, ME
Eagle Hill Institute, Steuben, ME
Massachusetts Astronomy Clubs & Organizations
Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston, Boston, MA
Gloucester Area Astronomy Club, Gloucester, MA
North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, Andover, MA
New Hampshire Astronomy Clubs & Organizations
New Hampshire Astronomical Society
Maine Planetaria
Francis Malcolm Science Center and Planetarium, Easton, Maine, 207.488.5451
Northern Stars Planetarium, Fairfield, Maine, 207.453.7668
Southworth Planetarium University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, 207.780.4249
Versant Power Astronomy Center, University of Maine, Orono, Maine. 207.581.1341
Proper Lighting for Dark Skies
A Lighting Engineer Speaks.pdf, by Dwight M. Lanpher
Lighting Manual, Promoting Quality Outdoor Lighting in your Community.pdf, by the Maine State Planning Office
Scotopic vs. Photopic.pdf, a scientific look at how our eyes see under different light sources, by Samuel M. Berman, PhD.
Samuel Berman is presently senior scientist emeritus at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). He was the originator and the first leader of the lighting research program. Before joining LBNL, he was professor of physics at Stanford University, where he was a member of the team that founded the Stanford Linear Accelerator.
Human and Environmental Effects of Light Emitting Diode (LED) Community Lighting.pdf, by The Council on Science and Public Health, 2016.