Dive into night sky education this October with Dark Sky Salida

Note: This article first appeared in the MountainMail and is part of a monthly column series produced by GARNA. 

The founders of Dark Sky Salida, a new local nonprofit dedicated to preserving and enhancing our local nighttime environment, are educating our community on the importance of keeping night skies dark at two upcoming events this month.

On Oct. 17, join the Mobile Earth + Space Observatory (MESO), Dark Sky Salida and the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association at the Valley View Nature Learning Center for an astronomy-focused “Star Party.” Learn about the night skies by experimenting with solar and celestial telescopes, spectroscopy, infrared cameras, augmented reality table and gravity wells from MESO’s mobile observatory. This event is family friendly and kids enter for free.

Then, on Oct. 22, attend Dark Sky Salida’s free talk geared toward adults at the Valley View Nature Learning Center to learn more about their mission, work and resources for retrofitting lighting fixtures.

Dark Sky Salida is providing these learning opportunities for the community due to their concerns about the negative impacts of light pollution.

As a volunteer for the Forest Service, co-founder Becky Donlan visited ancient sites throughout the Arkansas Valley and San Luis Valley in which rocks were carved or arranged by Indigenous people in alignment with stars, planets, solstices, equinoxes and moon cycles. As light pollution worsens, it becomes more difficult to observe celestial bodies that give context to these archaeological sites. As Donlan said, “There is so much more to learn, if we only keep our hearts and minds open – and the skies dark.”

Losing archaeological and cultural insight is one of many tragedies that could occur should light pollution go unchecked. The founders of Dark Sky Salida are also concerned about light pollution’s impacts on wildlife and human health.

The lights, signs and billboards that constantly illuminate our towns and cities already disrupt the circadian rhythms and behavior of many animals. For instance, some toad and frog species croak at night to attract a mate, but when artificial light interrupts nighttime darkness these frogs sing mating calls far less frequently. The consequence is a decrease in the reproduction of these amphibians and their population sizes. Artificial light at night also interferes with birds’ internal compasses during migration and their ability to detect the time of day and the changing of the seasons. Mammals like rodents, foxes, badgers and martens have been found to experience similar behavioral disruptions such as altered mating and hunting/scavenging habits.

Humans’ circadian rhythms are also disturbed by artificial light at night. The human body requires a certain amount of natural light to enter the eyes during the day to maintain a good circadian rhythm. This cycle is disrupted when we observe artificial, blue-toned light at night. This excessive exposure can suppress melatonin production, the hormone which signals to our body that it’s nighttime and thus disrupts our sleep cycles, which can lead to stress, fatigue and heightened risks of chronic illness.

Fortunately, dark sky advocates in Central Colorado are making progress toward protecting night skies in our region. Towns including Westcliffe, Silver Cliff and Crestone are all “dark sky communities,” a certification awarded by the International Dark-Sky Association for “an exceptional dedication to preserving the night sky by adhering to strict implementation and enforcement of quality outdoor lighting ordinances, dark sky education and citizen support.”

Advocates led by the Sangre de Cristo Dark Sky coalition are hard at work creating an International Dark Sky Reserve from Salida to San Luis, which will require communities to uphold similar standards to preserve dark skies.

Thanks to the efforts of Friends of Browns Canyon, Browns Canyon National Monument was certified as a Dark Sky Park in December of 2024, and the only Dark Sky Park east of the Continental Divide that is not part of the National Park System.

Dark Sky Salida intends to complement this international movement by building upon the efforts of numerous local activists, such as those who pushed the replacement of street light fixtures in downtown Salida with dark-sky-compliant versions. Education is one step. By helping people understand how light pollution harms wildlife, human health and the climate, they aim to foster a local “lights-out culture” in which unnecessary lights are turned off, light fixtures are retrofitted to prevent light pollution, and warmer-toned bulbs are the norm. Dark Sky Salida will also get involved with local policy to craft night-sky-friendly lighting ordinances.

Upcoming community events with Dark Sky Salida offer a chance to learn more about these efforts and the part you can play in reducing light pollution at home. Together we can protect night skies for the benefit of everyone, from the birds in our backyards to our stargazing great-great-grandchildren.

Rose Nadelhoffer is the program development and outreach coordinator at the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association. Have a burning environmental question? Email rose@garna.org.