This week is a reminder to look up—and notice what’s still there, and what’s slowly fading away.
Across much of the world, the night sky is no longer truly dark. Light pollution has grown to the point where more than one-third of people can no longer see the Milky Way from their homes. The stars that once felt constant and familiar are becoming harder to find.
Light pollution is simply the overuse or misuse of artificial light—too bright, poorly directed, or left on when it isn’t needed. While it may seem harmless, it has real impacts. It disrupts wildlife, alters natural rhythms, affects human health, and gradually erases our connection to the night sky.
Here in the Upper Saranac region, we are fortunate. Dark skies are still part of the landscape—something you can step outside and experience without traveling far. That’s increasingly rare, and worth protecting.
The good news is that, unlike many environmental challenges, light pollution is reversible. Small changes—turning off unnecessary lights, using fixtures that direct light downward, choosing warmer, lower-intensity bulbs—can make a meaningful difference.
International Dark Sky Week is about awareness, but also about action. It’s a chance to think about how we light our homes and communities, and how those choices affect the world around us.
Take a moment this week to step outside after dark. Let your eyes adjust. Look up.
The night sky is still there—and with a little care, it can remain that way for generations to come.