April 13 to 20, 2026 marks International Dark Sky Week. Held each year during the week of the new moon in April, the worldwide event is designed to raise awareness about light pollution, protect nighttime environments, and celebrate the beauty of the night sky.
As population density increases, so too do many forms of pollution. This pattern is well established for air and water pollution, and light pollution is no exception. Light pollution—the alteration of natural nighttime lighting by artificial sources—is an increasingly widespread environmental concern.
Message to Congress — The Census Bureau projects that in 35 years America’s population will swell to 385 million, and that 90% of that growth will be from immigration. Please consider the future of America’s night skies and our quality of life. Please work to reduce immigration-driven population growth by limiting chain migration and passing the Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R. 2705, S. 1328).
Unlike many other forms of pollution, light pollution is uniquely pervasive. It can be seen hundreds of miles from its source, spilling into landscapes that appear untouched during the day. Even protected areas are affected. For example, the light domes of Las Vegas and Los Angeles are visible from Death Valley National Park, diminishing the experience of one of the country’s most iconic dark-sky locations.
Across the United States, dark skies are disappearing at an alarming rate. Maps of artificial nighttime brightness show widespread and growing illumination. Colorado illustrates this trend clearly: between 2013 and 2023, the state’s population grew by more than 11 percent, with much of that growth concentrated along the Front Range—also the region with the most severe light pollution.
Research underscores the scale of the problem. Roughly 80 percent of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way, and more than 99 percent live under light-polluted skies. The world’s light pollution increases nearly 10% every year (from 2011 to 2022). Put another way, this is equivalent to doubling the night-sky brightness every eight years, with a proportional loss of visible stars.
The consequences extend beyond stargazing. Dark skies play an essential role in both human health and ecological systems. Artificial light at night can disrupt circadian rhythms, affecting sleep and overall well-being. Migratory birds use stars to establish their north-south orientation. Nocturnal mammals hunt at night under the cover of darkness. Plants adjust their growth with the season and respond to changes in patterns of light and darkness.
International Dark Sky Week provides an opportunity not only to understand these impacts but also to take practical steps toward mitigation. Effective measures include using fully-shielded streetlights that direct light downward, turning off unnecessary outdoor lighting, and participating in initiatives like “Lights Out for Birds,” which encourages reducing nighttime lighting during key migration hours.
But like all types of pollution, mitigation measures have their limitations, and their benefits can be readily overwhelmed by the sheer growth in human numbers. We are witnessing this as America’s population continues to soar to unprecedented levels, with no end in sight. The Census Bureau predicts that America’s population will grow by another 50 million in the next 35 years, with roughly 90% caused by immigration.
Take Action for a Better Immigration Policy
To preserve our ability to gaze at stars (just one of many freedoms that give our lives joy), Americans must reduce our record-high immigration rates. Our quality-of-life, and that of future generations, is at stake. Otherwise, the great majority of Americans will no longer be able to experience the beauty and restorative power of looking into an infinite black sky brimming with stars.
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[Note this is an updated article from April 4, 2024.]
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December 20, 2022
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