\n\t\t\t\t\t\tJames Bruton grew up in rural Texas where the night skies were full of constellations.As he moved to larger cities, before ultimately settling in Des Moines, evening star gazing faded away for Bruton and could only be found with intentional trips away from the light-polluted metropolitans. Video above: Beautiful timelapse video of northern lights in Des MoinesBruton hopes rural Iowa can keep that sense of wilderness, lower its electricity costs, help out local wildlife and even benefit from the growing astrotourism market, by enacting \u201cdark sky\u201d ordinances that limit light pollution. While the effort in Iowa is just getting off the ground, across the globe, nearly 200,000 square kilometers, or more than 77,000 square miles, are recognized as dark sky places by the international, volunteer organization, Dark Sky International. The open spaces of the west and national parks are the spots most people think of for prime stargazing, but Bruton said Iowa can develop its own dark sky areas and give people that same sense of wonder, but without a 10-hour drive. \u201cMost of our days are spent looking at screens \u2026 being able to step away from that and truly just take in something as magnificent as a clear, dark night sky and everything that it beholds, it just creates (a) perspective that we don\u2019t get when we live in so much light pollution,\u201d Bruton said. Dark sky doesn\u2019t mean lack of visibility \u201cIt\u2019s not about turning off the lights,\u201d Bruton said. \u201cIt\u2019s just about using light wisely so that communities can thrive.\u201d A 2023 published study, analyzing citizen science observations, found that on average the night sky got brighter by 9.6% annually, from 2011 to 2022. According to the National Park Service the light pollution increase \u201cexceed(s) the population growth rate\u201d and has been caused by more light emitted per capita and more \u201cuplight\u201d or light that is directed or reflected upwards, emitted from fixtures. Dark Sky International recommends communities be more intentional with their outdoor lighting, in terms of brightness, direction, purpose and warmth. The organization has five principles for \u201cresponsible\u201d lighting, which Bruton said would inform dark sky ordinances in a community. Dark Sky calls for lights that have a \u201cclear purpose\u201d and are only used when needed. It says light should also be \u201ctargeted\u201d so that it doesn\u2019t spill beyond where it is needed. Targeted lights could be something like street or parking lot lights that have a cover over the top to direct light down on the street and not up into the sky. The third principle is that lights should be \u201cno brighter than necessary\u201d with the idea that when something is excessively lit, it causes glare on surrounding surfaces and can be less effective than a dimmer light. An ordinance could specify, for example, that outdoor light fixtures not exceed 25% of guidelines set by the Illuminating Engineering Society, a technical and educational authority on lighting.The fourth principle asks for controlled lights, those on a motion censor, timer or dimmer so that light is only used when it\u2019s needed. These principles help to reduce energy costs by eliminating unnecessary lights.The final principle calls for warm colored lights \u2013 below 3000 Kelvin \u2013 because they are less disruptive to wildlife and don\u2019t travel as far into the sky, according to Dark Sky International. A city could add an ordinance with guidelines on where cool colored lights are allowed, like in a public safety setting or a sports arena, to adhere to this principle. \u201cAn ordinance \u2013 it\u2019s about protecting what we have,\u201d Bruton said.He said dark sky ordinances shouldn\u2019t be prohibitive to new businesses or economic development and can actually make a community appear \u201cmore forward thinking.\u201dPotential benefits of dark sky initiativesRural areas have fewer lights to manage, but they aren\u2019t the only targets for dark sky initiatives. In fact, Flagstaff, Arizona, was the first city recognized as an \u201cInternational Dark Sky Place\u201d by the organization. In the past two decades, other urban areas like Breckenridge, Colorado, Moab, Utah and several suburbs of Chicago have earned dark sky designations of their own.Recently, Thousand Hills State Park in Kirksville, Missouri, was named an Urban Night Sky Place, one of just 12 in the world. Bruton believes a dark sky designation could be a \u201cboon\u201d for rural Iowa towns. Modeling in a 2019 published study found that dark skies would generate additional $5.8 billion from non-local tourists that visited the Colorado plateau over a 10 year span. \u201cWe\u2019re not Colorado, we don\u2019t have the landscape, that they may have \u2026 but it\u2019s still really beautiful here in Iowa,\u201d Bruton said. \u201cThere aren\u2019t (many) protected dark night skies in the Midwest, and I believe that we have the potential here in Iowa to help preserve our dark skies.\u201d Astrotourism, or the cross of astronomy and tourism, relies on dark sky places. Bruton said this could make a small rural town a destination during an astrological event like an aurora borealis, meteor shower or eclipse. It is estimated that millions of people traveled to the path of totality in 2024 to view the total solar eclipse, AirBnb rentals in the path were booked solid and entire festivals cropped up for the astronomical event. While the eclipse was historic, Bruton said it seems like astrotourism is growing. Beyond a potential camera and telescope-wielding tourist market, Bruton said a dark sky can help to protect the \u201crural heritage\u201d of a community and sense of community pride.While some states and communities create their own Dark Sky nonprofits to advocate for reducing light pollution, Bruton said he hopes to partner with an existing wildlife or conservation nonprofit that is interested in the cause. \u201cThere\u2019s no downside, there\u2019s truly just a lack of awareness right now,\u201d Bruton said. \u201cI think that as people become more aware of this and recognize how easy it is and how simple it can be, that we can get people on board.\u201d Learn more about Bruton\u2019s initiative at the Dark Sky Iowa page on Facebook.Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
James Bruton grew up in rural Texas where the night skies were full of constellations.<\/p>\n
As he moved to larger cities, before ultimately settling in Des Moines, evening star gazing faded away for Bruton and could only be found with intentional trips away from the light-polluted metropolitans. <\/p>\n
Video above: Beautiful timelapse video of northern lights in Des Moines<\/p>\n
Bruton hopes rural Iowa can keep that sense of wilderness, lower its electricity costs, help out local wildlife and even benefit from the growing astrotourism market, by enacting \u201cdark sky\u201d ordinances that limit light pollution. <\/p>\n
While the effort in Iowa is just getting off the ground, across the globe, nearly 200,000 square kilometers, or more than 77,000 square miles, are recognized as dark sky places by the international, volunteer organization, Dark Sky International<\/a>. <\/p>\n The open spaces of the west and national parks are the spots most people think of for prime stargazing, but Bruton said Iowa can develop its own dark sky areas and give people that same sense of wonder, but without a 10-hour drive. <\/p>\n \u201cMost of our days are spent looking at screens \u2026 being able to step away from that and truly just take in something as magnificent as a clear, dark night sky and everything that it beholds, it just creates (a) perspective that we don\u2019t get when we live in so much light pollution,\u201d Bruton said. <\/p>\n Dark sky doesn\u2019t mean lack of visibility <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not about turning off the lights,\u201d Bruton said. \u201cIt\u2019s just about using light wisely so that communities can thrive.\u201d <\/p>\n A 2023 published study<\/a>, analyzing citizen science observations, found that on average the night sky got brighter by 9.6% annually, from 2011 to 2022. <\/p>\n According to the National Park Service<\/a> the light pollution increase \u201cexceed(s) the population growth rate\u201d and has been caused by more light emitted per capita and more \u201cuplight\u201d or light that is directed or reflected upwards, emitted from fixtures. <\/p>\n Dark Sky International recommends communities be more intentional with their outdoor lighting, in terms of brightness, direction, purpose and warmth. <\/p>\n The organization has five principles<\/a> for \u201cresponsible\u201d lighting, which Bruton said would inform dark sky ordinances in a community. <\/p>\n Dark Sky calls for lights that have a \u201cclear purpose\u201d and are only used when needed. <\/p>\n It says light should also be \u201ctargeted\u201d so that it doesn\u2019t spill beyond where it is needed. Targeted lights could be something like street or parking lot lights that have a cover over the top to direct light down on the street and not up into the sky. <\/p>\n The third principle is that lights should be \u201cno brighter than necessary\u201d with the idea that when something is excessively lit, it causes glare on surrounding surfaces and can be less effective than a dimmer light. <\/p>\n An ordinance could specify, for example, that outdoor light fixtures not exceed 25% of guidelines set by the Illuminating Engineering Society, a technical and educational authority on lighting.<\/p>\n The fourth principle asks for controlled lights, those on a motion censor, timer or dimmer so that light is only used when it\u2019s needed. <\/p>\n These principles help to reduce energy costs by eliminating unnecessary lights.<\/p>\n The final principle calls for warm colored lights \u2013 below 3000 Kelvin \u2013 because they are less disruptive to wildlife and don\u2019t travel as far into the sky, according<\/a> to Dark Sky International. <\/p>\n A city could add an ordinance with guidelines on where cool colored lights are allowed, like in a public safety setting or a sports arena, to adhere to this principle. <\/p>\n \u201cAn ordinance \u2013 it\u2019s about protecting what we have,\u201d Bruton said.<\/p>\n He said dark sky ordinances shouldn\u2019t be prohibitive to new businesses or economic development and can actually make a community appear \u201cmore forward thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n Potential benefits of dark sky initiatives<\/p>\n Rural areas have fewer lights to manage, but they aren\u2019t the only targets for dark sky initiatives. In fact, Flagstaff, Arizona, was the first city recognized as an \u201cInternational Dark Sky Place\u201d by the organization. In the past two decades, other urban areas<\/a> like Breckenridge, Colorado, Moab, Utah and several suburbs of Chicago have earned dark sky designations of their own.<\/p>\n Recently, Thousand Hills State Park in Kirksville, Missouri, was named an Urban Night Sky Place, one of just 12 in the world. <\/p>\n Bruton believes a dark sky designation could be a \u201cboon\u201d for rural Iowa towns. <\/p>\n Modeling in a 2019 published study<\/a> found that dark skies would generate additional $5.8 billion from non-local tourists that visited the Colorado plateau over a 10 year span. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not Colorado, we don\u2019t have the landscape, that they may have \u2026 but it\u2019s still really beautiful here in Iowa,\u201d Bruton said. \u201cThere aren\u2019t (many) protected dark night skies in the Midwest, and I believe that we have the potential here in Iowa to help preserve our dark skies.\u201d <\/p>\n Astrotourism, or the cross of astronomy and tourism, relies on dark sky places. Bruton said this could make a small rural town a destination during an astrological event like an aurora borealis, meteor shower or eclipse. <\/p>\n It is estimated<\/a> that millions of people traveled to the path of totality in 2024 to view the total solar eclipse, AirBnb rentals in the path were booked<\/a> solid and entire festivals cropped<\/a> up for the astronomical event. While the eclipse was historic, Bruton said it seems like astrotourism is growing. <\/p>\n Beyond a potential camera and telescope-wielding tourist market, Bruton said a dark sky can help to protect the \u201crural heritage\u201d of a community and sense of community pride.<\/p>\n While some states and communities create their own Dark Sky nonprofits to advocate for reducing light pollution, Bruton said he hopes to partner with an existing wildlife or conservation nonprofit that is interested in the cause. <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no downside, there\u2019s truly just a lack of awareness right now,\u201d Bruton said. \u201cI think that as people become more aware of this and recognize how easy it is and how simple it can be, that we can get people on board.\u201d <\/p>\n Learn more about Bruton\u2019s initiative at the Dark Sky Iowa<\/a> page on Facebook.<\/p>\n Iowa Capital Dispatch<\/a> is part of States Newsroom<\/a>, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com<\/a>. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t