IDA Texas is now DarkSky Texas
Photo: Rui Horta
Soll Sussman
New Initiative for Texas Chapter of International Dark-Sky Association
DarkSky Texas in April 2023 announced its new name along with a new initiative intended to reach more Texans about ways to improve outdoor lighting to benefit ourselves, the economy, and nature.
DarkSky Texas is the only Texas chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association, which is adopting the new name DarkSky International. The statewide organization’s announcement came before the start of International Dark Sky Week, April 15 to 22.
Photo: Mimi Cavender
“As noted by our parent organization, we represent the recognized authority on better lighting to reduce light pollution,” said Cindy Luongo Cassidy, Hays County Master Naturalist and president of DarkSky Texas. “Reducing the negative impact of man-made light at night benefits wildlife and human health, and insures our natural heritage. It conserves energy and improves safety.” Steadily increasing use of artificial light at night now means that 99 percent of people in Europe and North America live under light polluted skies. Dark-sky friendly lighting can be used without polluting our natural night skies and allows us to see better.
Photo: Rui Horta
The all-volunteer organization also announced that it is accepting applications to a statewide Advisory Council and will hire staff to increase its reach throughout Texas. The plan for its next major initiative is to work with statewide conservation leadership, uniting conservation and business leaders, to facilitate the implementation of improved outdoor lighting and to spread educational information on better lighting practices.
DarkSky Texas, the organization formerly known as IDA Texas (the Texas chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association) brings together volunteers who want to encourage lighting that allows you to see better, to protect our Texas heritage of starry skies, to decrease energy waste, and to reduce the negative impact of artificial light on wildlife and human health. It has hundreds of members throughout the state. Learn more at www.idatexas.org and follow us on Facebook @idatexas, Twitter @idatexas and Instagram @ida_texas for the latest information.