Michigan Aurora Chasers

Dark Sky Advocacy

In this panorama, the Milky Way extends across the dark sky near Mackinaw City, Michigan. Photo taken by Admin Patrick Grubba. View his page.

Welcome to our corner for Dark Sky Advocacy!

As Aurora Chasers, Milky Way Admirers, Stargazers, and Nature Enthusiasts, we owe it to ourselves to help preserve the beauty of our dark skies.

Light pollution can disrupt wildlife, impact the well-being of humans, waste energy and electricity, and contribute to climate change, while also blocking our view of the stars and the Milky Way. Taking a few small steps, we can each make a difference in preserving darker skies.

Try turning off outdoor lights you don’t need at night, or optimizing outdoor lighting so that it only illuminates the ground and not the sky. You can also follow responsible lighting practices, help get dark sky friendly legislation passed, or support the scientific research being conducted in this field. Those are just some of the ways you can help resolve light pollution issues, according to DarkSky International.

DarkSky International is the most widely recognized internationally association, whose mission is to restore the nighttime environment and protect communities and wildlife from light pollution. Find out what you can do at home to help or how you can get involved.

Visit Dark Sky International: https://darksky.org/

Michigan’s International Dark Sky Parks & Sanctuaries

Michigan is fortunate to be home to three international dark sky parks and one international dark sky sanctuary, which goes a step higher in preserving some of the darkest skies on our planet. These parks are a fantastic model and resource.

The Michigan Aurora Chasers is proud to make regular donations and contributions to our dark sky parks and DarkSky International. The darker our skies are, the brighter we can see the glow of the Aurora!

We encourage you to visit these natural places, to come with an open mind, and to leave with inspiration to help us preserve dark skies for future generations:

  • Beaver Island International Dark Sky Sanctuary and State Wildlife Research Area
  • Headlands International Dark Sky Park
  • Keweenaw International Dark Sky Park
  • Dr. T.K. Lawless International Dark Sky Park
Photo of the Aurora in dark sky by Patrick Grubba
A dark sky free from light pollution can enhance the experience of viewing the Northern Lights anywhere in the world. In this photo, Admin Patrick Grubba captures the colors of the Aurora while they are visible in stunning color both to the naked eye and to the camera. View his page.

Annual Dark Sky Festivals

The Michigan Aurora Chasers community functions as a large club, bringing opportunities to our state when we can and participating in regional or national events when we have the opportunity.

Often, you can find us contributing to programs at International Dark Sky Parks or Dark Sky Festivals. These are great places to learn more about dark sky preservation and dark sky advocacy.

With that consideration, here are some dark sky festivals we recommend!

  • Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival, Copper Harbor, Michigan
  • Beaver Island Dark Sky Festival, Beaver Island, Michigan
  • Apostle Islands Dark Sky Festival, Wisconsin

What Can You Do? Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting

Be part of the solution! Learn and practice these Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting from DarkSky International:

If light is deemed useful and necessary, follow these guidelines to prevent, or when that’s not possible, minimize light pollution. Responsible outdoor lighting is:

  1. Useful Use light only if it is needed
    All light should have a clear purpose. Consider how the use of light will impact the area, including wildlife and their habitats.
  2. Targeted Direct light so it falls only where it is needed
    Use shielding and careful aiming to target the direction of the light beam so that it points downward and does not spill beyond where it is needed.
  3. Low level Light should be no brighter than necessary
    Use the lowest light level required. Be mindful of surface conditions, as some surfaces may reflect more light into the night sky than intended.
  4. Controlled Use light only when it is needed
    Use controls such as timers or motion detectors to ensure that light is available when it is needed, dimmed when possible, and turned off when not needed.
  5. Warm-colored Use warmer-color lights where possible
    Limit the amount of shorter wavelength (blue-violet) light to the least amount needed.

Source: https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/

More Dark Sky Content Coming Soon!