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Hello Darkness My Old Friend

A DarkSky Santa Cruz Presentation

Come learn about how artificial light at night can disrupt the functions of humans and other animals. Andy Kreyche will discuss ways to illuminate the nighttime environment safely.

As diurnal creatures, humans are conditioned to love light and fear darkness. But there are many signs that our love affair has gotten out of hand. Light pollution - the misdirected or unwanted use of artificial illumination at night - has become commonplace, both around the world and in our community. Researchers have thoroughly documented its negative impact, and yet light pollution continues to increase at a rate of 10% annually. As it turns out, the natural cycle of darkness is necessary to a functioning ecosystem. Lose the fear and embrace the dark! Come find out how artificial light at night disrupts the functions of countless species, including humans. You will be learning simple principles - with practical examples of how to apply them - so you can illuminate the nighttime environment safely while minimizing light’s negative impact. This event is taking place during International Dark Sky Week, an annual global celebration of the night.

Registration encouraged. Walk-ins welcome.

DarkSky International is the leading authority on light pollution issues and night sky conservancy. Andy Kreyche is an astronomy educator, a passionate dark sky advocate, and currently serves as the Vice President of DarkSky Santa Cruz, the local chapter of DarkSky International.