Dark Sky Week brings stargazing—and light pollution—into focus for metro Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. (ATL Live) - Interest in space and skywatching has been ramping up again as NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission approaches, and International Dark Sky Week is giving Atlantans a timely reason to step outside after sunset.

Fernbank Science Center Director Janetta Greenwood and astronomy instructional specialist Rachael Lambert stopped by to talk with Ava Braatz and Andrew Tyree about why darker skies matter, what families can look for in the night sky right now, and how small lighting changes can reduce glare and skyglow.

Looking for a good spot to sky gaze in Georgia? Check out some of the best places in the state from Go Astronomy

• Brasstown Bald
• Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
• Cohutta Wilderness
• Cumberland Island National Seashore
• Fort Mountain State Park
• Kolomoki Mounds State Park
• Moccasin Creek State Park
• Okefenokee Wildlife Reserve
• Providence Canyon State Park
• Stephen C. Foster State Park

They also highlighted how light pollution affects more than astronomy—touching sleep cycles, wildlife behavior, and local ecosystems—while offering easy ways to get involved through community viewing nights and citizen-science efforts.

Event & visitor info:

• International Dark Sky Week: https://idsw.darksky.org/
• Fernbank Science Center Observatory: Thursday–Friday evenings, sundown–10 p.m.
• “Sky Tonight” planetarium program: Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m.
• Globe at Night participation encouraged: measure and submit sky-brightness observations (info typically found via International Dark Sky Week resources)
• Spring Splash into STEM: April 18, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., free family event (hands-on activities + planetarium shows)
• Fernbank Science Center address: 156 Heaton Park Dr., Atlanta, GA 30307

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