Dark Sky Association Hosts Events to Call Attention to Light Pollution

The International Dark-Sky Association’s (IDA’s) 30th Annual General Meeting will be held Nov. 9 to 10, followed by the Artificial Light at Night’s (ALAN’s) 5th International Conference Nov. 12 to 15.

The ALAN conference will be held in the U.S. for the first time in 2018, put on in collaboration with the Consortium for Dark Sky Studies, the first dark sky studies center in the world, founded at the University of Utah.

Utah has more certified International Dark-Sky Places than any other U.S. state, giving conference attendees ample opportunity for superb stargazing. Visitors can enjoy unpolluted night skies from national parks such as Bryce Canyon and Zion, from state parks such as Antelope Island, or visit Utah's first dark-sky community, Torrey.

IDA works to fight light pollution. Every year, experts, advocates, artists, and night sky enthusiasts from around the globe gather at the Annual General Meeting to share their success stories, cutting-edge research, case studies, questions, concerns and passions for protecting the night. The event is open to the public.

ALAN will examine all aspects of artificial light at night. The broad scope of the conference includes how artificial light is produced, where it is present, its effects on humans and the environment, how it is perceived by the public and how the benefits and detriments of lighting may be balanced by regulation.