This Earth Day, don’t forget to turn off your lights for
International Dark Sky Week!
Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 in the United States, and on either April 22 or the day the spring equinox occurs throughout the rest of the world.
Environmental activism during the 1960s inspired Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson to create a national celebration uniting the environmental movement. With the help of Denis Hayes, a graduate student at Harvard University, Nelson organized the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, educating participants in the importance of environmental conservation. Attended by 20 million people across the United States, the event strengthened support for legislation such as the Clean Air Act (updated in 1970) and the Endangered Species Act (1973).
Fun Fact: Our grassroots nonprofit, the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC) was also in 1971, in response to a local oil spill, and inspired by what became known as the 1970s conservation movement.
In 1990, Hayes organized a global Earth Day, with more than 200 million participants in more than 140 countries. Earth Day now brings together citizens and activists from around the world to raise awareness and take action regarding such environmental concerns as global warming and renewable energy.
Today, the Earth Day Network (EDN), which brings together more than 20,000 partners and organizations in 190 countries, supports the Earth Day mission year-round. This mission is founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. The Earth Day Network pursues this mission through education, public policy, and activism campaigns. These campaigns bring together more than 1 billion participants every year, making it one of the largest public, secular events in the world.
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International Dark Sky Week
International Dark Sky Week aims to increase awareness of the seriousness of light pollution. According to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), light pollution is increasing at a rate two times that of population growth, and 83% of the global population lives under a light-polluted sky.
How will Dark Sky changes affect you? What will changes mean for local wildlife? Climate change? Pick up your home lighting inventory worksheet! Learn how to volunteer.
Looking for ways to celebrate International Dark Sky Week? Join Dark Sky Point Reyes
Save the dates! April 2nd to the 8th, 2024 is International DarkSky Week and West Marin will be celebrating along with thousands of people around the world. We’ve got some fun events for you – Telescope Night, an Owl Walk, Astrophotography with Marty Knapp, Stargazing with Don, and more! Some events have limited spaces, so act quickly.
“Lights Out West Marin!” Turn your lights off between April 2 thru 8th Count the stars above when the lights are out. Let’s catch up with Texas!
Lights Out, Texas? Nearly two billion birds migrate through Texas twice a year. Tragically, lights in skyscrapers disorient birds, and leave them confused and vulnerable to collisions. Between one hundred million and one billion birds die each year from collisions with buildings.
In 2017, Houston Audubon collaborated with Cornell Ornithology to predict when peak migrations would happen, and then convinced one skyscraper after another to turn lights out during those nights. Lights Out, Texas spread fast is now a statewide initiative, active in most cities! Almost 500 species of birds live in or migrate through the San Francisco Bay Area. Help spread Lights Out, West Marin to the entire Bay Area!
Dark Sky Info Table at Point Reyes Station Post Office
Stop by the Post Office on Saturday, April 6 with your Dark Sky questions and suggestions. Gather information, see lighting examples, enjoy a treat or two, learn how to talk with a neighbor about good light, and take a home a personal lighting inventory.
Point Reyes Books
Stop by Point Reyes Books on Main Street in Point Reyes Station and check out the night sky window. Grab one of their carefully curated selection of Dark Sky books.
Dark Sky with Amanda Eichstaedt on KWMR
Tune into KWMR between April 2nd and 8th for an in-depth Amanda Eichstaedt interview with our Dark Sky West Marin team.
Tues. April 2, 7:30 pm Telescope Night with Don and Dan
Join Astronomers Don Jolley and Dan Smiley from 7:30 to 9:30 pm for an evening of close-up stargazing on the Giacomini Wetlands. Telescopes will be set up to view Jupiter, Orion with its Great Nebula, the star clusters of Auriga and Gemini, and distant galaxies, including Bode’s Nebula.
Park on 3rd & C Street in Point Reyes Station and follow the little trailside lamps to the White Barn. Dress warmly & bring your curiosity. Rain or clouds cancel. Donation requested. Unlimited spaces. More Details
Wed. April 3, 7 pm Owl Walk with Prof. Joe Mueller.
Meet at the Giacomini Wetlands trailhead at 3rd & C Street on Wednesday, April 3, at 7:00 pm for a short introductory talk by College of Marin Biology Professor Joe Mueller. Then walk the wetlands trail and the edges of Pt. Reyes Station. Are there owls in our midst? There’s a good chance we’ll see or hear owls, but we’re not able to make any promises. Donation requested. Limited to 15 participants, sign up in advance. More Details
Friday April 5, 6:30 pm Marty Knapp on Astrophotography
Meet at 6:30 at Marty’s Gallery, 11245 Hwy One, Point Reyes Station. Marty will present a slide show and talk about making photographs of the starry night sky on Friday, April 5, at 6:30 PM. The presentation will be limited to 20 attendees and will last about 1.5 hours. Don’t miss out on this popular event. Donation requested. Reserve your space(s) by emailing Marty@MartyKnapp.com. More details
Don Jolley’s April Stargazing
Don Jolley’s popular Stargazing event will happen near the “White Barn” on the night Don predicts clear skies. His weather predictions appear all week at DarkSkyPointReyes.com, so check that site often. Find the right-hand column or scroll to the bottom on phones and tablets. When Don says “It’s on,” park at 3rd & C Streets in Point Reyes Station and follow the candles to the spot. Donation requested. Spaces not limited. More details
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