Fwd: FW: Local DarkSky News AND San Diego Dark Sky Festival Information (Saturday, August 16 from 3:00 - 11:00 p.m.)
Lesley H
Sending in case you are looking for something fun to do this upcoming weekend!
Best,
Lesley
From: DarkSky San Diego County <darksky...@darksky.org>
Date: Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Subject: Fwd: FW: Local DarkSky News AND San Diego Dark Sky Festival Information (Saturday, August 16 from 3:00 - 11:00 p.m.)
To: DarkSky San Diego <DarkSky...@darksky.org>
Hello DarkSky San Diego County and dark sky “friends”! Have you seen our DarkSky San Diego County web site lately? Much thanks to our terrific Web Master, Kate, who recently worked on a number of updates and fixes. Our DONATION button is back! Thanks to Bernard for inquiring about that and prompting us to put it back in place.
Other big news is the City of San Diego’s recent proposal to raise money from digital billboards – yikes! San Diego is the County’s biggest light polluter, and this proposal is so contrary to the intent of the city’s lighting regulations. See the end of the newsletter for an insightful article on digital billboards, driver safety, and environmental concerns, along with our proposed submission to dissuade city leadership from pursuing this digital billboard endeavor. Read the latest on the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation’s steps towards dark sky certification and inspiring advocacy from Luisa who spearheaded a wonderful stargazing fundraiser event in Fallbrook this past weekend.
Join us at our San Diego Dark Sky Festival at the Menghini Winery on Saturday, August 16 from 3:00 – 11:00 p.m.
See attached flyers and please help us promote by posting and sharing online. After reading about our local advocacy and updates, if you feel moved, please support our work and the upcoming festival by making a small (or LARGE) donation. You may also volunteer your time at the festival to help with many different tasks. Send a reply if you’re able to help 😊
An Afternoon of Exhibitors, Speakers, Kids Activities & Meteor-Filled Night Under the Stars
Join us in the rural hills of Julian, California, for an unforgettable evening celebrating the Perseid meteor shower. On Saturday, August 16, the moonless night sky will reveal shooting stars, glowing planets, and the luminous sweep of the Milky Way, perfect conditions for stargazing in one of San Diego County’s darkest, clearest spots.
The San Diego Dark Sky Festival is more than a night of astronomy, it’s an afternoon community gathering of sky lovers, scientists, educators, artists, and dark sky advocates from across the region. Hosted at the beautiful Menghini Winery, this free, family-friendly festival is part of a growing movement to protect our natural night skies and celebrate their beauty, science, and importance.
Across San Diego County, a growing dark sky movement is taking shape. Julian and Borrego Springs have already earned recognition as International Dark Sky Communities by DarkSky International. Fallbrook is now on the path to join them, and the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is working to achieve California’s first Urban Night Sky Place designation. An International Dark Sky Park application is also underway for the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area, which would join Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in holding this prestigious title. This festival celebrates our region’s shared commitment to protecting the night sky—and everything it touches. In an age when darkness is increasingly rare, this is your chance to experience it, fully and freely.
This event is being organized by a regional dark sky coalition including:
• DarkSky San Diego County
• Julian Dark Sky Network
• Borrego Springs Dark Sky Coalition
• Fallbrook Land Conservancy Dark Sky Committee
DATE/TIME: Saturday, August 16 from 3:00 – 11:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Menghini Winery, 1150 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian, CA 92036
UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Volunteers are always welcome to help with our outreach tables. Reply if you’re interested!
The Water Conservation Garden - Rancho San Diego (August 12) – We’ll have a Dark Sky booth at The Garden for a members only event on the evening of Tuesday, August 12 along with a 15-minute talk on light pollution! I recently joined The Garden and this is a wonderful opportunity to partner with them on dark skies. Pollinators are plentiful at The Garden and many people don’t realize how harmful and disruptive outdoor lighting can be to these special creatures. If you haven’t been to The Garden recently, plan a visit soon - you’ll be surprised at how it’s grown!!
Laguna Mountain LIVING HISTORY 36th Annual Presentation (August 30)
Join the fun or volunteer to help at our booth! The Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association (LMVA) has invited us to have our DarkSky light pollution booth at their annual living history event where LMVA volunteers recreate the history of life in the Laguna Mountains with actors and artifacts from the past. The event takes place at the RED-TAILED ROOST. Visit a Kwaaymii Indian display, an Imperial Valley Farm family, Cowboys from the Campo Cattle Company, and the Cleveland National Forest’s first Ranger, Carl Brenner, and be sure to watch out for Smokey Bear!
Location: 10385 Sunrise Highway, near 22.5 Mile Marker of Sunrise Highway
IN THE NEWS
One-Third of Humanity Can't See the Milky Way – WE CAN CHANGE THIS!!
“We’ve got whole generations of people in the United States who have never seen the Milky Way,” said Chris Elvidge, a scientist with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. “It’s a big part of our connection to the cosmos — and it’s been lost.” Read the full article here…
British Researchers Want to Paint Reflective Satellites Black
I used to get a bit excited when I spotted a satellite. But lately, after seeing the first 6 or 7 in an hour, they’ve become a bit annoying. Now a technology company and university are collaborating to address the growing problem of satellites impacting the work of astronomers worldwide. A new material can absorb 98% of light hitting the satellite, significantly minimizing the brightness that spoils also spoils stargazing. This gives hope when you think about the projection of having up to 60,000 of them in low Earth orbit by 2030.
View the Vera C. Rubin Observatory First Images!
On Monday, June 23, I took the morning off work to be among the first to see the first images from Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile – AMAZING!! I’m not a morning person, but I got up early for this. I still recall, as a child, my father getting my sisters and I out of bed to watch the Apollo 11 walk on the moon. He said, “This is history being made!” Thanks, Dad, I never forgot. The live stream of the Rubin First Look makes history as it reveals latest technology for exploring the universe. The facility is jointly funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science is expected to smoothly and rapidly scan the sky each night for the next 10 years.
- Recording of First Images Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/Zv22_Amsreo
- Vera C. Rubin Observatory: https://rubinobservatory.org/
Who was Vera Rubin? | Rubin Observatory
Dr. Vera C. Rubin was an American astronomer who studied dark matter and whose work provided convincing evidence for the existence of unseen "dark" matter in the Universe. She and Kent Ford studied numerous galaxies and identified activity that disobeyed the laws of physics! Read more about this fascinating discovery.
Got String Lights? Shielded Versions Now Available : )
Check out this excellent overview from Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition. String lights are pretty, but they spray light in every direction. Considered ‘decorative lighting’, in unincorporated areas of San Diego County and many municipalities they should be turned off from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
String Lights - Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition
Lamp Spectrum and Light Pollution - Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition
Find Your Local Lighting Regulations Here:
What do we want to see at night, a bunch of string lights? Or a shimmering, star-filled night sky - the choice is ours!
Milky Way over Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - Photo credit: Kamala Venkatesh
DarkSky Advocate Action for July 2025 “Design After Dark”
View the webinar recording: When designing outdoor spaces, especially in ecologically sensitive sites, designers can play a key role in protecting biodiversity and endangered species by providing the right light at the right time. This talk by Chiara Carucci, explores various case studies, presenting concrete results, challenges encountered, and new opportunities for collaboration. It also questions common misconceptions about mitigation measures and aims to promote a more informed and sustainable approach to lighting design.
Exciting news on a simple outreach investment. We sent this webinar registration to Schmidt Design Group, a local landscape design company that installed some really great dark sky-friendly lighting at Fox Point Farms in Encinitas and they replied to express interest in viewing the webinar recording! It’s heartwarming to see the growing interest in dark sky-friendly lighting and the new partnerships our DarkSky chapter is forming in so many different industries. Installing ‘good lighting’ from the get-go is a big win for night sky preservation!
Books that Explore Nighttime
The End of Night is one of the best books on light pollution and such a fun and enjoyable read. Check out this insightful interview with author, Paul Bogard.
In Search of Darkness: An Interview with Paul Bogard
LOCAL ADVOCACY & UPDATES
Borrego Springs – International Dark Sky Community
The Borrego Springs Dark Sky Coalition would like to bring up the matter of talking to San Diego County about updating their website with more current dark sky information and bringing the outdated lighting ordinance up to current lighting standards.
Julian - International Dark Sky Community
A wonderful time was had at the Heritage Music Festival in downtown Julian back in June with Julian Dark Sky Network (JDSN) volunteers, Sharon and Melanie, hosting a booth to educate attendees on the dark sky movement. I visited with them as I spent the day in Julian prior to heading over to Mount Laguna for the evening astronomy program at MLO.
Members of the JSDN have also been working very hard on all the arrangements and fundraising for the upcoming San Diego Dark Sky Festival scheduled for Saturday, August 16 at Menghini Winery. Come join us for the Perseids meteor shower!
Fallbrook – Stargazing Among the Vines – A Bright Success!
DarkSky chapter member, Luisa Cano, provided the following Event Recap for their amazing Saturday, August 2nd event. Stargazing Among the Vines was hosted at Adobe Hill Winery and it was an unforgettable night under the stars. Clear skies, great company, and an incredible setting made for a truly special evening. The event was a fundraiser hosted by Adobe Hill Winery to benefit the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and the FLC Dark Sky Committee, and we’re so grateful to everyone who came out to support the cause.
A big shoutout to the Temecula Valley Astronomers, who brought their telescopes and expert guidance to help guests explore the night sky. We also had two amazing speakers: Emma Garrett, who gave a fascinating talk on globular clusters and black holes, and Ron Bissinger, a National Park Ranger who leads their Dark Sky program and shared stories from his work preserving natural nightscapes. Everyone left a little more inspired, a little more informed, and definitely more connected to the stars.
- Check out this Beautiful Short Video of Event
Mission Trails Regional Park – Urban Night Sky Place - Application IN PROGRESS
Our DarkSky chapter is excited to hear the following update from Taylor. The Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Foundation, in collaboration with park volunteers, is actively pursuing designation for Mission Trails as an official Urban Night Sky Place. The team is currently conducting a lighting inventory and audit, with plans to partner with the San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA) to begin sky quality measurements in support of the application. Educational programming about dark sky protection and nocturnal habitats is also provided to park users—from pre-K through adult learners—through the MTRP Trail Guides and Foundation staff.
In April 2025, the MTRP Foundation hosted a Night Sky Celebration in honor of International Dark Sky Week (April 21–28). The event featured the U.S. premiere of A Starry Walk, a documentary by Olivier Bleys about California’s night skies. Two screenings were held in the 94-seat Visitor Center theater, both of which were near full capacity. Community organizations, including the San Diego and Julian/Borrego Springs chapters of DarkSky International, Project Wildlife, the San Diego Spider Society, and MTRP Trail Guides, staffed educational tables with resources on dark sky conservation and local wildlife. The evening concluded with public stargazing on the Visitor Center terrace, led by SDAA volunteers.
The MTRP Foundation hopes to host another night sky event this fall! Stay tuned.
Photo credit: Angie Ollman
Also at Mission Trails Regional Park, educational materials on the wildlife impacts of artificial light were recently installed in the kiosk outside the Visitor Center. The thanks for this fantastic display goes out to Julie, a Trail Guide volunteer at MTRP and fellow DarkSky member.
Photo credit: Julie Deming
Laguna Mountain Recreation Area – International Dark Sky Park - Application IN PROGRESS
Outreach has begun to engage a number of stakeholders in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area (LMRA) including the Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association (LMVA) which supports the U.S. Forest Services in many different capacities, including staffing the Visitor Center. Eric, the chef and owner of the Pine House Café & Tavern, is open to partnering with us and the Pacific Crest Trail Association for a showing of The Starry Walk. Calls have taken place with the Sierra Club San Diego Chapter and WESTREK, the concessionaire of Burnt Rancheria, Laguna, and El Prado campgrounds, as well as the Mount Laguna Improvement Association (MLIA) which provides a range of services to owners of 175 cabins on land leased from the U.S. Forest Service in the Mount Laguna portion of the Cleveland National Forest. There’s still much to do, but we are making progress on revising the application from the entire Descanso Ranger District, to focus only on LMRA.
Back in June, I had a wonderful evening attending Mount Laguna Observatory’s summer visitor’s program including a lecture by SDSU student astronomers and taking in the educational exhibits at the Harrington Visitor Center. I was thrilled to see some displays and handout materials on light pollution! Their summer program ends on August 16, the same evening as our San Diego Dark Sky Festival. If you can’t make it before then, put it on the calendar for next year!
Encinitas – Bernard is building a coalition of dark sky supporters in Encinitas and is actively engaging with City Councilmembers and the Mayor on the importance of reducing light pollution in this coastal community. One person’s passion can ignite change!
Escondido – Shanzeh is making strides in Escondido. She sent a letter to the Toyota dealership to raise awareness about the impact of the brights lights at their location. Follow up is needed, but that first step is the biggest one! She also secured a spot for our DarkSky San Diego County chapter to have a booth at the San Diego Children’s Museum in November for their Space Night event. We did this a couple of years back and it was great to venture out to a municipality where we had not had any recent outreach. Her efforts will go a long way, great job!!
City of San Diego – I drafted a letter to voice our opposition to San Diego’s desire to make money from digital billboards but was informed by a fellow environmental group that the initiative was halted. The letter has NOT been sent to Mayor Gloria yet. We need confirmation that this initiative will NOT go forward.
Digital Billboards Are Bad for Our Communities
Read this insightful article by Scenic America which outlines dangers of driver distraction and the impacts of bright billboard lighting and provides results from research studies.
DRAFTED LETTER
We say, “No!” to digital billboards and respectfully ask San Diego to focus on Night Sky Preservation rather than brightening of the night sky. The harmful impacts and potential loss to regional astronomical research investment and astro-tourism dollars will far exceed the financial benefit from this endeavor.
According to DarkSky International, electronic billboards can be up to ten times brighter than traditional billboards. Light is emitted in all directions and up into the sky, wasting energy and creating light pollution.
There is SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BENEFIT from Night Sky Preservation and the tourism it brings!
San Diego County has three certified International Dark Sky Places: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, and Julian. Additional locations are seeking this prestigious designation: Mission Trails Regional Park, Laguna Mountain Recreation Area, and Fallbrook.
San Diego hosts migrating monarchs which are vulnerable to disorientation from light pollution. We are the largest metropolitan area to receive the Bee City USA title - bees are harmed by light pollution! More than a million birds may traverse the Pacific Flyway on a single night during spring migration – all vulnerable to San Diego’s growing light pollution problem.
Our world class observatories, Palomar and SDSU’s Mount Laguna Observatory, and private astronomical researchers deserve our commitment and support, not glaring, bright city lights which detract from their ability to observe the cosmos and draw acclaim for our region from discoveries like the ‘green comet’.
San Diego has long neglected light pollution, and the detrimental effects spill beyond our city limits.
We ask San Diego to honor its commitment to minimize negative impacts from light pollution including light trespass, glare and urban sky glow in order to preserve enjoyment of the night sky. Citizens deserve to experience nighttime for health and well-being. Wildlife requires natural darkness to survive and thrive.
We learned to be water-wise, we can learn to “Light Wisely”. Our DarkSky chapter has proposed multiple light pollution remedies to City leadership. It’s time to act. We can save money, reduce our light footprint, and keep San Diego from becoming “America’s Brightest City”.
Have a wonderful day, and a tranquil, star-filled night!
Cathy Handzel
DarkSky San Diego County, Chapter President
619-504-5139
Advocating to restore the night sky and protect all living things from the harmful effects of light pollution.
DarkSkySanDiego.org Join us on
DarkSky Earns ‘Spotlight Prize’ at LIT Lighting Design Awards 2023 for Harmonious Approach to Sustainable Lighting
DarkSky International strives to promote lighting practices that reduce the negative impacts of light pollution on wildlife, biodiversity, climate change, and human health. This recognition from the lighting design community beautifully illustrates the relationship between good lighting design and responsible dark sky-friendly practices.
