Feb. 13, 2018 — This fall, members of two international organizations dealing with the issue of light pollution will convene in Snowbird, Utah for their membership gatherings. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) 30th Annual General Meeting will be held Nov. 9 – 10, followed by the Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) 5th International Conference Nov. 12 – 15. The ALAN conference will be held in the United States for the first time in 2018, and is 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.
Both events will be held at the Snowbird Ski and Summer Retreat, 9385 S. Snowbird Center Dr., Snowbird, Utah 84092. Less than an hour’s drive southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah, Snowbird is located up Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains, and is known for having “the greatest snow on earth.” The mountain community boasts some of the best winter activities, including skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, shopping, and dining. And of course, clear night skies.
Utah has more certified International Dark-Sky Places (www.darksky.org/idsp/) than any other U.S. state, giving conference attendees ample opportunity for superb star-gazing. 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.
The International Dark-Sky Association has worked to fight light pollution since 1988. Protecting the night sky from light pollution is a critical mission that supports human health, preserves wildlife habitat, and provides visual access to celestial objects for professional and amateur astronomers alike. Every year, experts, advocates, artists, and night sky enthusiasts from around the globe gather 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. Please register for the conference at: http://www.darksky.org/international-dark-sky-association-2018-annual-general-meeting/.
The 5th ALAN International Conference 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.
Links:
International Dark-Sky Association: www.darksky.org
ALAN Conference: http://www.artificiallightatnight.org/
Consortium for Dark Sky Studies: http://darkskystudies.org/
SKYGLOW Project: www.skyglowproject.com
Night sky image gallery: https://darksky.box.com/s/ykxqyls3dul1gc7wk9qw4rl6radnc4d5
Estimating the Potential Economic Value of Night Skies Above the Colorado Plateau: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5vICP9hjxY0dFptMklmV1ZCTlZZa29UUWhIQzhyaHM3SVpz/view?usp=sharing
Study Shows Light Pollution Increasing at a Rate of Two Percent Per Year: http://www.darksky.org/five-years-of-satellite-images-show-global-light-pollution-increasing-at-a-rate-of-two-percent-per-year/
Registration:
The International Dark-Sky Association Annual General Meeting is open to the public. Single-day registration is available at member and non-member rates. Register at: http://www.darksky.org/international-dark-sky-association-2018-annual-general-meeting/. Media registration is complimentary. Contact amanda@darksky.org to be added to the registration list.
The ALAN conference is a member-only conference. Media may request registration by contacting Janet Muir, janet.e.muir@gmail.com.
Rooms for both conferences will be offered at the Snowbird Retreat at a group rate.
Public Event:
On Sunday, November 11, IDA & ALAN will present a public screening of SKYGLOW, a three-year long astrophotography project that collected over 3,000,000 images. The SKYGLOW book and presentation explores the history and mythology of celestial observation, the proliferation of electrical outdoor lighting that spurred the rise of the phenomena known as “skyglow,” and the Dark Sky Movement that’s fighting to reclaim the night skies.
Press Facilities:
Press facilities will be available at Snowbird for both events, including internet and print capabilities.
