Starts Today (April 8th), and continues until April 15th.

National Dark-Sky Week is a week out of the year, usually sometime in April, during which everyone in the United States helps to temporarily reduce light pollution by turning off any unnessecary lights so that we can step back for a moment and realize the wonder that our universe holds.If everyone participates, NDSW will inspire us to use better lighting systems such that they emit only a small amount of light in the atmosphere. National Dark-Sky Week was founded not only to reduce light pollution, but to connect with the night sky.

To learn more, visit http://www.nationaldarkskyweek.htmlplanet.com/ .

I'm in favor of dark skies for multiple reasons. The ability to really see the stars is the first. When I was a child, the milky way was readily visible. Now, even at the farm where I grew up, it is scarcely discernable. The energy wasted lighting the sky is the second. Why burn the fuel and heat the planet to hide something as beautiful as the night sky? The better visibility while driving due to reduced glare from lighting that cuts off high-angle light is the third.

Big Al

hear! hear!

Excellent!

Just to add to the whole energy effiency thing. With proper lighting fixtures, you can cut down on light pollution while at the same time increasing the visibility on your local streets, and conserve energy. This (potentially), in the end, will saves tax payers money and indirectly cut down on the amount of cash being used to produce electricty, thereby lowering the cost of natural gas. This would ultimately bring gas prices down, with little to no long term hindrance (proper lighting fixture don't cost more in the long run, and are economically feasible for most private, commercial, and govenment situations).

I'll sign on.

There's nothing like a star-filled sky to give one some perspective...