This episode's guests:

• Tatsiana Thomson, Brome Bird Care.
• John Barentine, Dark Sky Consulting.
• Lynne Peeples, Author of the Inner Clock.

Bill's News Picks:

• Spectacular drone show over Vatican recreates Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam,’ Virgin Mary, Ariel Zilber, New York Post.
• As more cities get Dark Sky label, these Indigenous communities apply the same tenets, Mark Brodie, KJZZ-FM.
• The First Dark Sky Map of Thailand: International Comparisons and Factors Affecting the Rate of Change, PrePrints.org.
• Our night skies are worth fighting for: petition for national action, Mandy Ellis, Western Plains App. 
• Why Sleep Tourism Is The Trend We’ve Been Dreaming About, Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes. 

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A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

 This episode's guests:

• Yana Yakushina, Lawyer and Researcher.
• James Lowenthal, Astronomer.
• Vicky Derksen, Night Sky Tourist.

Bill's News Picks:

• Randomised trial reveals a mismatch between preferences for and hormonal responses to anthropogenic light colour temperatures, PLOS One. 
• Light Wavelength Modulates the Effects of Lighted Nights on Sleep, Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Female Zebra Finches, Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology. 
• The Great New Zealand Road Trip: ‘You New Zealanders take your stars for granted’ - the striking words of a tourist that helped turn this Kiwi region dark, Shayne Currie, The New Zealand Herald. 
• This Chappell Roan song boosted interest in a Canadian dark sky preserve by 1,800%, Elizabeth Howell, Space.com. 
• Inside New Brunswick's ambitious plan for the world's densest dark-sky corridor, Jamie Carter, Space.com. 

Subscribe:

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• Youtube

Send Feedback Text to the Show!

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

 This episode's guests:

• Yana Yakushina, Lawyer and Researcher.
• James Lowenthal, Astronomer.
• Vicky Derksen, Night Sky Tourist.

Bill's News Picks:

• The endangered night: the challenge of light pollution within the international environmental legal context, Journal of Environmental Law. 
•  On National Space Day, Fadnavis pledges India's first state Dark Sky Policy, and what it could unlock for Maharashtra, ANI, Tribune. 
• Appeals court rules Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" detention site can stay open, Joe Walsh, CBS News.
• Is Starlink Bad for the Environment? FCC Doesn’t Think It Should Weigh In, Michael Kan, PC Mag. 
•  Light Pollution as Antichrist, The Imaginative Conservative. 

Subscribe:

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• Youtube

Send Feedback Text to the Show!

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

 In this episode, Bill McGeeney interviews Vasu Menon, a NC State computer science student who created Stargazer.org - a revolutionary web app that solves every amateur astronomer's planning nightmare. Born from a frustrating full-moon stargazing trip to Virginia's Stanton River park, this tool combines dark sky locations, weather forecasts, and lunar data into one simple interface. 

The Problem

• Multiple apps needed for stargazing planning
• Moon interference ruining viewing experiences
• Difficulty finding certified dark sky locations

The Solution: Stargazer.org Features

• Zip code-based dark sky location finder
• Integrated weather forecasting via OpenWeather API
• Lunar phase and brightness tracking
• Percentage-based scoring system for optimal viewing conditions
• Mobile-optimized interface

How It Works

• Enter your US zip code or use browser location
• Browse certified Dark Sky parks with distances
• View optimal dates with weather/astronomy scoring
• Plan trips based on comprehensive data

Future Development

• Community-submitted locations with reviews
• Upvoting/downvoting system for spots
• Open source GitHub repository for contributors
• Expanded Bortle scale coverage

Episode Quotes

"I realized like there has to be like a kind of like a one stop solution to like, you know, for like amateur people just to click a button and see the best times to go stargazing." - Vasu Menon

"This right here... I just punch in my zip code, it brings up some good spots, and then it tells me even better what the opportunities might be, what percentage opportunities I have at those nights." - Bill McGeeney

Send Feedback Text to the Show!

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

Episode Summary

Discover how one artist is tackling light pollution through whimsical street art. Berlin visual artist Alona Rodeh joins the show to discuss her viral "Nightcaps" project - 3D-printed "hats" that transform unshielded street lamps into community art while reducing light pollution.

Key Topics Covered

• The Nightcaps Project: 15 sculptural lamp covers installed throughout Berlin's Brunnenvierteljat neighborhood
• Community engagement: Workshops with local families and children incorporating cultural designs
• Environmental impact: Practical solutions for reducing artificial light at night (ALAN)
• Placemaking through art: How creative interventions build neighborhood identity
• Night walks: Guided darkness experiences as feminist environmental practice
• Future expansion: Plans for Israeli kibbutzim and sports stadium applications

Notable Quotes

"Instead of throwing away these lanterns and putting in new ones... thinking of adapting and of raising awareness"

"It does what is called in public art placemaking - it brings things out of their anonymity"

Guest Info

Alona Rodeh specializes in light-based installations at the intersection of visual, virtual, and physical space. Her work includes nocturnal walks, immersive environments, and community-driven environmental art.

Send Feedback Text to the Show!

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

This episode's guests:

• Steve Mariconda, MPH.
• Frank Turina, Educator / National Park Service / Night Sky Resource Center.

Bill's News Picks:

• Natural experiments from Earth Hour reveal urban night sky being drastically lit up by few decorative buildings, Scientific Reports.
• Night lights versus conservation dreams: balancing human preferences with conservation goals in protected areas for sustainable nature-based noctourism, Journal of Sustainable Tourism.
• Noise pollution and artificial light at night alter selection pressures on sexual signals in an urban adapter, Journal of Evolutionary Biology.
• Association between outdoor artificial light at night, circadian health, and LDL-C in intracranial artery atherosclerotic stenosis, Clinical Epigenetics.
• On the Use of Lights as Night Navigation Aids During Antiquity, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology.

Subscribe:

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• Youtube

Tag Us and Share with a Friend:

• Instagram
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• TikTok
• Facebook

Connect:

• [email protected]
• Join our Mailing List

Send Feedback Text to the Show!

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

This episode's guests:

• Steve Mariconda, MPH.
• Frank Turina, Educator / National Park Service / Night Sky Resource Center.

Bill's News Picks:

• ‘This is a big win’: Planning Commission embraces ‘dark skies’ for Rappahannock County, Bob Hurley, Rappahonnock News.
• A CT man claims state courts don’t comply with a certain law. Why he says it matters., Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courient.
• City denies environmentalists’ appeal, greenlights new Oaks Park ride and lights, Maddie Khaw, The Oregonian.
• Fears over impact of wind farm lights on Dark Sky Park, BBC News.
• Caring China shop owner keeps store lights on for 13 years to aid women coming home late, Fran Lu, South China Morning Post.

Subscribe:

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• Youtube

Tag Us and Share with a Friend:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• Facebook

Connect:

• [email protected]
• Join our Mailing List

 

Send Feedback Text to the Show!

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

This episode's guests:

• Kelly Beatty, Sky and Telescope.
• Kerem Asfuroglu, Dark Source.
• David Smith, BugLife.

Bill's News Picks:

• Darkness is crucial to Everglades habitat: Could Alligator Alcatraz threaten it?, Max Chesnes, Phys.org. 
• A183 Coast Road cycleway to get new street lighting to boost safety despite wildlife and dark skies fears, Nic Marko, Shields Gazette. 
• Lunar cycle and moonlight intensity influence nocturnal migration patterns in a small songbird, Scientific Reports. 
• Bogong moths use a stellar compass for long-distance navigation at night, Nature.

Subscribe:

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• Youtube

Tag Us and Share with a Friend:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• Facebook

Connect:

• [email protected]
• Join our Mailing List

 

Send Feedback Text to the Show!

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

This episode's guests:

• Kelly Beatty, Sky and Telescope.
• Kerem Asfuroglu, Dark Source.
• David Smith, BugLife.

Bill's News Picks:

• Citizen science illuminates the nature of city lights, Nature Cities. 
•  Does darkness increase the risk of certain types of crime? A registered report article, Plos.org. 
•  To Determine if Changing to White Light Street Lamps Reduces Crime: A Multilevel Longitudinal Analysis of Crime Occurrence during the Relighting of Leeds, a UK City, Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy. 
•  Lipid metabolic adaptations during inflammation are controlled by the circadian clock and impaired by light at night, Inflammation Research. 

Subscribe:

• Apple Podcast
• Spotify
• Youtube

Tag Us and Share with a Friend:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• Facebook

Connect:

• [email protected]
• Join our Mailing List

 

Send Feedback Text to the Show!

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.

 In this episode of Why It’s So Bright at Night, host Bill McGeeney explores the growing movement in Norfolk, Virginia, led by Citizens for Responsible Lighting, a grassroots group advocating for smarter, healthier, and more environmentally responsible LED streetlighting.

The group formed after residents were disturbed by overly bright 3000K–4000K LEDs installed across the city starting in late 2023 as part of a $5 million retrofit project funded by a $3 million federal grant. Rather than thoughtfully implement the upgrade, Dominion Energy inserted high-CCT LEDs into existing fixtures—including decorative ones, causing excessive glare, poor light distribution, and widespread light trespass into homes and over Norfolk’s coastal waterways.

The guests—Mary Frances Bellman, Joe Reynes, and Lori Baccanari—stress that they are not anti-LED, but are pushing for thoughtful, expert-guided implementation. Their five key requests include:

• Using 2700K or lower CCT lighting (2400K in environmentally sensitive areas)
• Specifying Type II distribution
• Limiting lumens
• Applying effective shielding
• Adopting adaptive lighting controls

A thoughtful reimplementation would protect Nighttime visibility, reduce environmental harm to migratory species and amphibians, and minimize health risks like disrupted circadian rhythms, cancer, and dementia.

Despite presenting to over 40 civic leagues and briefing elected officials, the group faces institutional resistance rooted in outdated 2016–2017 lighting guidelines. Yet, they argue that their proposed approach is not only safer and healthier but cost-neutral, offering a generational opportunity to get urban lighting right from the start. 

Send Feedback Text to the Show!

Support the show

A hearty thank you to all of our paid supporters out there. You make this show possible.

For only the cost of one coffee each month you can help us to continue to grow. That’s $3 a month. If you like what we’re doing, if you think this adds value in any way, why not say thank you by becoming a supporter!

Why Support Light Pollution News?

• Receive quarterly invite to join as live audience member for recordings with special Q&A session post recording with guests.
• Receive all of the news for that month via a special Supporter monthly mailer.
• Satisfaction that your support helps further critical discourse on this topic.

About Light Pollution News:

The path to sustainable starry night solutions begin with being a more informed you.

Light Pollution, once thought to be solely detrimental to astronomers, has proven to be an impactful issue across many disciplines of society including ecology, crime, technology, health, and much more!

But not all is lost! There are simple solutions that provide for big impacts. Each month, Bill McGeeney, is joined by upwards of three guests to help you grow your awareness and understanding of both the challenges and the road to recovering our disappearing nighttime ecosystem.