Commission for Dark Skies

The Commission for Dark Skies (CfDS) (formerly the Campaign for Dark Skies; the name was changed on March 29, 2015) is the United Kingdom's largest anti-light-pollution campaign group forming part of the international dark-sky movement.

It is run by the British Astronomical Association^[1] (BAA) and affiliated with the International Dark-Sky Association^[2] (IDA), and composed of a network of local officers (and other members) who try to improve lighting in their areas and advise local people.

The campaign was founded in 1989 by amateur astronomers as a sub-section of the BAA specialising in combatting skyglow.^[3] It is now open to non-members of the BAA, includes lighting engineers and environmentalists, and campaigns on the wider effects of light pollution.

In April 2023, the founder and coordinator of CfDS, Robert Mizon MBE died. Following a period of mourning and readjustment, the Commission was relaunched in November 2024 with new officers and committee members, tasked to reinvigorate the campaign to reduce light pollution and preserve and protect the UK's dark skies.

Legislation

CfDS's work with the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on legislating against light pollution has resulted in the government including provisions in their Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill.^[4]^[5]

Dark sky park, island and reserve

Members of the CfDS have been involved in the following International Dark-Sky Association designations:

Galloway Forest Park – Dark Sky Park (2009)^[6]
Sark – IDA's first international dark-sky island (Silver tier) (2011)^[7]^[8]
Exmoor – Dark Sky Reserve (2011)^[9]
Elan Valley Estate (mid-Wales) Dark Sky Park (2015)
Tomintoul and Glenlivet-Cairngorms Dark Sky Park (2018)

Publications

In 2009, the CfDS published its handbook Blinded by the Light?.^[10]

Conferences

CfDS 2006: Dark-Skies Symposium, Portsmouth, UK, September 15–16, 2006.
Exterior lighting, statutory nuisance and light pollution, De Montfort University, April, 2006.
Planning, Exterior Lighting and the Environment, De Montfort University, 20 April 2012.

Notes

^ British Astronomical Association Archived 2012-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
^ International Dark-Sky Association
^ About the Campaign for Dark Skies
^ Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 c. 16 Part 9 Statutory nuisances Section 102
^ Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 c. 16 Part 9 Statutory nuisances Section 103
^ Forest park given Dark Sky honour
^ "Sark Island and Hortobágy National Park Earn Dark Sky Status From the International Dark-Sky Association" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
^ Lights Out: Tiny Sark Named First 'Dark-Sky' Island
^ International Dark Sky Reserve – Exmoor National Park Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Blinded by the Light? handbook description". Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2010-02-14.

References

Campaign for Dark Skies, Blinded by the Light - A Handbook on light pollution, Campaign for Dark Skies, 2009
Mizon, Bob, Light Pollution - Responses and Remedies, Springer, 2002. (ISBN 1-85233-497-5)
Mizon, Bob, Light Pollution - Responses and Remedies, 2nd Edition, Springer, 2012. (ISBN 1-46143-821-7)
Mizon, Bob, "20 years of fighting for the stars", Astronomy Now, September 2009. pp28–31
Mizon, Bob, 'Finding a Million-Star Hotel' Springer, 2018 (ISBN 978-3319338545)
Philip's, in association with the BAA Campaign for Dark Skies, Dark Skies Map, Philip's, 2004. (ISBN 0-540-08612-6)
Tabb, Michael, "Where are the UK's darkest skies", Astronomy Now, November 2004. pp75–6 (Article on the production of the Philip's Dark Skies Map.)
Various authors, "Focus - Light Pollution", Astronomy Now, April 2001. pp49–59

External links

Official website
The CfDS's online image library
CfDS - Facebook
CfDS - Twitter
Light Pollution and Astronomy - House of Commons Report, 2003. (pdf)
Conference Proceedings

CfDS 2006 (pdf)

Exterior lighting, statutory nuisance and light pollution, DeMontfort University, April, 2006

Light Pollution: Causes and effects (pdf)

Exterior Lighting as a Statutory Nuisance (pdf)

Is Lighting Needed to reduce Crime? (pdf)

Effective use of lighting as a crime deterrent (pdf)

[1] British Astronomical Association Archived 2012-09-25 at the Wayback Machine

[2] International Dark-Sky Association

[3] About the Campaign for Dark Skies

[4] Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 c. 16 Part 9 Statutory nuisances Section 102

[5] Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 c. 16 Part 9 Statutory nuisances Section 103

[6] Forest park given Dark Sky honour

[7] "Sark Island and Hortobágy National Park Earn Dark Sky Status From the International Dark-Sky Association" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-02-19.

[8] Lights Out: Tiny Sark Named First 'Dark-Sky' Island

[9] International Dark Sky Reserve – Exmoor National Park Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine

[10] "Blinded by the Light? handbook description". Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2010-02-14.

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