International Dark Sky

Happy International Dark Sky week! While we should celebrate the clear night skies all year, I’m happy that there’s a week dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of clear skies and reducing light pollution. Can you imagine what the world was like before the invention of electric light in the late 19th century? EVERY place in the world would have been designated an international dark sky location. Imagine walking out of your door, looking up and seeing billions of stars every night? Now, we have to seek out these dark places to gaze into the universe. Remember to turn off outside lights often (or put them on timers)...it not only saves energy costs but also keeps the skies clearer of light pollution. I love photographing at night...astrophotography is so fun. I was incredibly lucky to visit some places where the brilliant stars shine clearly on our road trip through the national parks...like the one pictured here: Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. Follow me @beumeuhase for more images like this and around the world.