The World Night in Defence of the Starlight

There is Another Way to Light up the Night

April 20, 2009

The World Night in Defence of the Starlight, starting day of the International Dark Skies Week (IDSW).

On April 20th, 2007 during the International Starlight Conference, convoked with the support of UNESCO, IAC, IAU, La Palma RB and several other national and international bodies and organizations and multiples, it was agreed to promote the World Night in defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Observe the Stars as a cultural, scientific and environmental humankind heritage.

April 20th, 2009 acquires a special meaning within the UN International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009). For the first time the defence of the night sky quality and the right to observe the stars have their special date.

The World Night in Defence of the Starlight aims to be a date when every year we remind the need to maintain the window to the observation of the Universe open. A date when we can think over the need to preserve a unique heritage that we are hiding day by day.

April 20th will be the date where the Declaration in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Starlight will be promoted at all levels, municipalities, governments organizations, NGOs, citizens associations and also individuals.

April 20th should be a moment of creativity to hold activities such as the following that are already being planned, and other ones that can be proposed:

  • Appeal the population to switch-off lights, at least that night, reminding that it is possible to recover the stars and, at the same time, save energy and fight against climate change.

  • Organize competitions of artistic expressions related with star observation: drawings, photographs, etc..

  • Open-door day in astronomical observatories.
  • Star observation night organized by astronomy amateurs.
  • Exhibitions and media campaigns.
  • Conferences and distribution of dissemination videos.
  • Presentation of books related to astronomy and night sky values.
  • Identify landscapes and adopt stars.
  • Recovering tails traditions, music related with the observation of firmament in every place.
  • And, in particular, organising acts where children will participate. The capacity to recover the right to observe stars is in their hands, it is the right of future generations.

NDSW and Starlight Initiative are cooperating in the launch of the World Night and the International Dark Sky Week (IDSW).