IDA In the News

This page contains recent news articles featuring IDA. Articles on this page are arranged alphabetically by publication. Chronological information on the general dark sky movement, as well as recent IDA events, can be found in our bi-weekly e-News archive. Information on IDA's recent activities can be found under the heading Recent Activities. 

(Note: If print news articles with Internet links appear to be broken, they may have expired.)

Periodicals, National Newspapers, and International Publications

Associated Press: 

• "Preserving the Starry Night in the Glare of Light Pollution," (as reported in the New York Times, 25 December, 2008)
• “Seeing Stars: The Fight Against Light Pollution," (as reported in the Oregon Mail Tribune, 08 February, 2008) Also appearing in The Jamestown Sun (05 March, 2008); The Ontario Standard; and The Chief Engineer (01 March, 2008)

Boston Globe: "The Beauty of a Dimmer Skyline," Op-ed by Jerome L. Rappaport, Jr., 23 September, 2008

Boston Globe: “Night Shift in the April Sky Heralds Spring's Arrival,” by Alan MacRobert, 05 April, 2008

Chicago Tribune: “Homer Glen Wins Honor for Light Ordinance,” by Sheila Burt, 25 March, 2008

The same week millions of people across the world are encouraged to turn off non-essential lights for 60 minutes during the second annual Earth Hour, the Village of Homer Glen is being honored for adopting one of the most comprehensive lighting ordinances in the state. 

Supplement: Chicago, IL, Press Release from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Illinois: Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn Commends Homer Glen for Dark Sky Ordinance, 26 March, 2008

Environmental Health Perspectives  

• Read "Missing the Dark: Health Effects of Light Pollution" by Ron Chepesiuk, January 2009 
• Read "Switch on the Night: Policies for Smarter Lighting" by Luz Claudio, January 2009

National Geographic magazine, "Our Vanishing Night" by Verlyn Klinkenborg,  November, 2008

Supplementary materials:

• Light Pollution by Brad Scriber
• Photo Gallery by Jim Richardson
• Star Chasing by Tammie R. Smith
• Editor's Note by Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

New Yorker Magazine Feature: "The Dark Side: Making War on Light Pollution", by David Owen, 20 August, 2007.

New York Times:

• "Preserving the Starry Night in the Glare of Light Pollution," by the Associated Press, 25 December, 2008
• VIDEO- Op-Ed: "In the Dark" A segment of the upcoming documentary "The City Dark" challenges citizens and legislators to become a united force in the control of light pollution, 19 November, 2008
• "Helping the Stars Take Back the Night" By Joe Sharkey, 30 August, 2008
  

Article features IDA and the economic advantages of dimming light pollution.

Sky & Telescope: "Light Pollution in the Spotlight" By J. Kelly Beatty, 21 October, 2008

The Times of India Q&A: "World Should Think About Light Pollution" 12 March, 2008

Reg Wilson is a member of the board of directors of the International Dark-Sky Association...

U.S. News & World Report 

• Feature: "Turning Out the Lights," by Ben Harder, March 14, 2008 
• Feature: "Light at Night: How to Counter the Health Effects," by Deborah Kotz, 22 February, 2008

U.S. News & World Report's Science Journal: 

• "Hundreds of Birds Killed by School's Artificial Lights," by Ben Harder, 03 October, 2008
• "Burning Earth at Both Ends," by Ben Harder, 14 March, 2008. For a dramatic illustration of artificial light, check out our new "Light Pollution" photo gallery.
• “Shedding Light on a Cause of Breast Cancer” by Ben Harder, 21 February, 2008 

Wall Street Journal: "Star Parties Far From Hollywood," by Willard Spiegelman, 14 October, 2008

The night sky, prized by poets and lovers, professional astronomers and backyard stargazers, is a constantly diminishing resource, like oil and water. It was, in part, for this reason that, 20 years ago, a group of astronomers founded the International Dark Sky Association. 

Wall Street Journal: "City Lights are Obscuring our Starry Nights" by Robert Lee Hotz, 25 July, 2008.

About two-thirds of the world's population, including almost everyone in the continental U.S. and Europe, no longer see a starry sky where they live…

Washington Post: Opinion- "Tripping the Light Fantastic in D.C. Neighborhoods," by Milton J. Roney, Washington, D.C. Liaison for the International Dark-Sky Association, 05 May, 2008.

Washington Post: "Lights at Night Are Linked to Breast Cancer," by Rick Weiss, 21 February, 2008 

Women who live in neighborhoods with large amounts of nighttime illumination are more likely to get breast cancer than those who live in areas where nocturnal darkness prevails, according to an unusual study that overlaid satellite images of Earth onto cancer registries. 

Radio Shows and Podcasts

See also Multimedia Links

Astronomy Magazine: Podcast Interview (16 August, 2007) 

Former IDA Board President Bob Gent discusses how to fight light pollution at home.

Chemical Heritage Foundation: Distillations Radio Show (13 June, 2008)

Segment shines the light on skyglow from HPS and LPS luminaires. 

KERA Radio: Think -  Light Pollution - "The End of Night" (10 November, 2008)

Pete Strasser discusses good lighting, good neighbors, and good ecological practices in an hour-long interview with Krys Boyd.

Leonard Lopate Show: Please Explain Light Pollution (08 August, 2008) 

IDA's Pete Strasser discusses quality lighting on WNYC Radio. 

National Public Radio (NPR): Marketplace (20 June, 2008)
Advocates of dark skies, including IDA’s Pete Strasser, want the government to do something about light pollution at night. Janet Babin looks into who gets most annoyed by street lamps and what they're doing to help prevent a yellow haze.

National Public Radio (NPR): Here and Now IDA Interview: Lights Out" (17 October, 2007) 

IDA Technical Advisor Pete Strasser discusses light pollution problems and solutions on National Public Radio with Here & Now host Robin Young.

WBZ Boston: Measuring Light Pollution in Skies Around Boston (31 October, 2008)

Regional Publications Featuring IDA

Arizona Daily Star: “Bright Night Skies Affect Wildlife, Human Cycles,” Opinion by Robert Gent, President of IDA Board of Directors, 28 February, 2008  - In the United States, a growing public awareness of and concern for the effects of light pollution has inspired states, counties and municipalities to pass...

Belleview Intelligencer: “Light Pollution has Dramatic Impact on Health,” by Suzanne Elston, 10 March, 2008 (Unavailable)

Chicago Wilderness Magazine: “Homer Glen Sees the Light,” by Stephanie Folk, 16 March, 2008 - A Will County Village passes a groundbreaking outdoor lighting ordinance with big implications for nature.

Daily Campus: "Prototype Street Lamps Aim to Decrease Light Pollution, Darken Night Sky," by Ryan Levinsohn, 07 February, 2008 - UConn has begun trials to make night a little darker, but in a good way. The university has started testing two models of lights that are designed to be dark-sky compliant...

Fairfax County Times: “Outdoor Lighting Task Force Seeks Opinions,” by Gregg MacDonald, 25 June, 2008 - Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine Hudgins (D) has re-established an outdoor lighting task force to address streetlight concerns within her district, particularly in Reston...

Houston Chronicle: “Sharing the Nighttime Sky,” by Richard Steward, 03 May, 2008 - In developed cities around the world, citizens look up at night and see fewer and fewer stars...

Indian Muslim News and Information: “Mumbai-Pune Expressway Tunnels Poorly Lighted: Experts” submitted by Mudassir Rizwan, 19 February, 2008 - Pune: The tunnels on Mumbai-Pune Expressway are poorly lighted making driving difficult, say Reginald R. Wilson and Warren G. Julian, two lighting experts from Australia. 

Kansas City Star: “Campaign Illuminates Issue of Light Pollution,” by Bill Graham, 01 March, 2008 -  The Milky Way's Galaxy intense starlight gives unfathomable scope and beauty to a dark night sky. (Unavailable)

Laguna Beach Independent: "Preserving Stargazing Amid Urban Glare,"
by William Hagle, 13 June, 2008 - Grab a loved one and drive to some quiet area in Laguna and do what humanity has done for ages...

LED’s Magazine: “Strategies in Light 2008 Pulls the Crowds in Santa Clara,” by Tim Whitaker, February 2008 - The annual LED conference and exhibition always provides an interesting mix of presentations and exhibits. 

NewsOK.com: “Beauty of Night Sky Needs Preservation,” by Wayne Harris-Wyrick, 04 March, 2008 -  How good is the night sky over your house?

Oneonta Daily Star: “Doctor Speaks Out on Artificial Light,” by Denise Richardson, 12 June, 2008 

Powhatan Today: “Fighting the Light,” by Roslyn Ryan, 31 January, 2008 - IDA Virginia Section Leader Laura Graham makes no secret of the fact that she embraces the dark side.

Seattle Metropolitan: "Give Back the Night," by Eric Scigliano, June 2008 - Article investigates the loss of darkness and IDA's efforts to preserve it locally and globally. (Article linked courtesy of Seattle Metropolitan © 2008.)

Sun Times News Group: “The Lights of Homer Glen,” by Guy Tridgell, 11 February, 2008 - Russell Knaack remembers climbing onto the roof of his childhood home in Country Club Hills to gaze at the stars with his telescope. (Unavailable)

Western Catholic Reporter: “Earth's Light Pollution is Blotting Out Our Night Skies,” by Suzanne Elston, 10 April, 2008