SAN DIEGO (FOX 5\/KUSI) \u2014 NASA\u2019s historic Artemis II moon mission may have come to a close, but the excitement around astronomy and space continues this week with International Dark Sky Week.<\/p>\n
International Dark Sky Week, which lasts for one week through Monday, April 20, celebrates efforts to protect the night sky and ecosystems from light pollution through events and activities.<\/p>\n
Dark skies matter because scientists say artificial light at night interferes with the natural way of life, including plant growth, wildlife and human sleep.<\/p>\n
Although it is celebrated around the globe, there are plenty of ways to get involved from right here in San Diego County.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Borrego Springs will hold an open house for the new Dark Sky Welcome Center<\/a>. It will come with educational displays and videos on night sky preservation, as well as light refreshments and networking opportunities.<\/p>\n Celebrations continue on Tuesday at the Borrego Springs Library with free presentations from 2 to 4 p.m. on dark sky photography and stargazing.<\/p>\n On Saturday, April 18, DarkSky San Diego and partner agencies will host an afternoon of presentations and an evening of observing the night sky through telescopes and binoculars at the Santa Ysabel Nature Center.<\/p>\n From 2 to 10 p.m., the center, located at 22135 Highway 79 in Santa Ysabel, will have a full evening of activities and presentations for the International Dark Sky Week Celebration<\/a>.<\/p>\n Local astronomers and guest speakers will educate guests about topics such as circadian rhythms, the night\u2019s effect on human health and the impact of large-scale satellite projects, such as Starlink, on scientific research.<\/p>\n Plus, aspiring nighttime photographers can get tips from professionals on how to shoot photos of the night sky with their own equipment.<\/p>\n Also on Saturday, there will be a Daytime Solar Telescope and Nighttime Star Party at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs).<\/p>\n The daytime event will last from 9:30 a.m. to noon, while the nighttime event will go from 8 to 9 p.m. More details about the Daytime Solar Telescope and Nighttime Star Party can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n More events being held in San Diego County to celebrate International Dark Sky Week can be found on DarkSky San Diego\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n