Light Pollution News Podcast

It’s another episode of Light Pollution News, and you won’t want to miss this line up today! From the forests of Oregon, I welcome back Michael Calhoun to the show! And with us today, we also have two people heavily involved in outreach: the Dark Sky Discovery Center’s Ted Blank and astronomer Amy Oliver! This episode, we talk about community relations, specifically in regards to the Powell Observatory out in Kansas City. Did you know that there’s a satellite out there that will allow you to spell your name in satellite images? Oh, and how would you feel about renting out an Airbnb with its own observatory? All this and much more, including a tale in how you may be able to find your future spouse!- coming up next on today’s episode of Light Pollution News!

It’s Light Pollution News, my friends! This episode we have an important study on mosquitoes, you won’t want to miss! And we also have an important study on eye damage and light, you won’t want to miss that one either! And since we’re being all sciency, what does the science say about our understanding of ‘awe?’ Back with me this episode are the Columbia Soil & Water Conservation District’s Michael Calhoun; Astronomer extraordinaire, Amy Oliver; and outreach / side walk astronomer and Dark Sky Discovery Center’s Ted Blank. Settle in, this is going to be a good one!

It’s a new Light Pollution News! This episode, I welcome back Night Light Consulting’s Ken Walczak; along with author and naturalist – and all around fascinating fella – Charles Hood; oh and straight from the Soft Lights Foundation, Mark Baker joins us! Today, what is going on at Big Bend?! Some good news in the policy world...and some troubling news in the policy world. We also have some health news this episode! Join us for all this and more, starting now!

Hey there, it’s Light Pollution News! This episode, I welcome three great guests: Author and naturalist, Charles Hood; from the Soft Lights Foundation, I welcome back Mark Baker; and, out and about, starting his own thing, I welcome back Night Light Consulting’s Ken Walczak! This episode we talk bridges, some good, some….maybe not so good. And...headlights...have we been down this road before? You’ll have to listen to find out! Oh...and we have some ecology news this month, it’s a bit bat laden! All this and much more in this episode of Light Pollution News!

Today, I’m welcoming back statistician, Paul Marchant; the founder of DarkSkySites.com, Barrington Russell; and, welcoming back to the show, one of my favorite guests, lawyer (and from the Plan-B team), Yana Yakushina! This episode, New York reps put forth a new light pollution bill, so what’s all the fuss about? We’ll dive into precisely what it means for New Yorkers! Also, we talk rigorously about rigorousness of crime study methodologies. And lastly, what’s 70% larger than the ISS and comes in 1M quantities? You’ll find out next, on another Light Pollution News!

Discover how one artist is tackling light pollution through whimsical street art. Berlin visual artist Alona Rodeh joins the show to discuss her viral "Nightcaps" project - 3D-printed "hats" that transform unshielded street lamps into community art while reducing light pollution.

Do we need a new satellite in the sky for monitoring light pollution? What does light at night really mean in terms of economic growth research? And…have you ever heard of the Rhea constellation? We finish up our July show with Light Justice’s Lya Osborn, Award Winning Photographer Josh Dury, and Dark Sky International’s own Ken Walczak!

Illuminance – luminance, tomato – tomato! What a show we have today! Conflict over bridge lighting in Jacksonville, it’s not what you think! Is there a standard lighting level most people feel comfortable with? And have you seen a positive representation of night in cinema recently? This month, from Light Justice, Lya Osborn, Photographer extraordinaire, Josh Dury, and from Dark Sky International and the Adler Planetarium, Ken Walczak!

Boy do we have a show for you today! A wonderful panel of guests including lawyer Yana Yakushina, from Buglife: Mr. David Smith, and the Dark Sky officer for Cumbria, England – Mr. Jack Ellerby! This month, how did animals fare during the solar eclipse? Are indicator lights making your nights extra bright? And a marvelously devious scheme to power solar energy 24 hours a day.

We talk birds, eclipses, and are you interested in purchasing land in a Dark Sky sanctuary... An incredibly enlightening show on birds today! Joining me from the University of Delaware Aeroecology lab, Mr. Jeff Buler, from the Actual Astronomy Podcast, Mr. Shane Ludke, and making his triumphant return after finding the darkened orb in the sky, Mr. Matthias Schmitt!

The Great American Eclipse Part II is nearly upon us! Hope you have your plans set! Joining from all the way in Trinidad and Tobago, Isa Mohammed! From an undisclosed space in the desert, Dark Sky’s own, Bettymaya Foott. And educator – astrophotographer, Mr. Frank Turina! This month, there’s a ferry station in Seattle that appears to have it all figured out! And should we bundle that lighting ordinance with bird legislation, or leave unbundled?! And…when’s the last time you used all of your senses?

Plenty on the plate this afternoon! We learned new details on how nighttime flying insects use light at night. Colorado’s wealthiest ski town decided to create a new Dark Sky ordinance, but should 311 be the mechanism of enforcement? A couple pays 100 in legal fees after they fail to convince a judge of light trespass. And what to make of a new glow in the dark park in Dallas? This month, host Bill McGeeney is joined by Interlochen Radio's Mary Stewart Adams, Dark Sky Consultant, John Barentine, and fresh off of the publishing of her new book, Dani Robertson!

'Why It's So Bright at Night' is a periodic episode of Light Pollution News, where host Bill McGeeney sits down and chats to understand the positions of people who advocate for light. The show's intent is to spur conversation and understanding, helping all of us work together to a common unified goal of a better tomorrow for people, plants and animals.

This Month, calling in live from Sydney, Lauren Collee adds a unique cultural view of night! As well does a man who converted dark sky skeptics to believers in his home Massachusetts town, astronomer, Tim Brothers! And…the brains behind one of the most talked about recent documentaries in Dark Skies, Ms. Tara Roberts Zabriskie! We have a lot to go over about tonight, including holiday lights mistaken as an alien invasion to the preferences of light temperatures of Boulder residents! And is the City of Davis, California simply too dark!?

This month, from AstroBackyard, we have Ashley Northcotte! Diane Turnshek joins us and details some fun news about a video game you cannot win! And Dark Sourced, Mr. Kerem Asfuroglu joins us all the way from Ireland! We’re putting the pedal down to start the New Year! Astrotourism may be at risk for Ely, Nevada! Is there a balance between art and the night sky? And the EU releases a 75 paged All-Things-Environmental Brief for mitigating light pollution! All this including some truly enlightening conversations! There’s a lot in this one! Let’s jump in to the first Light Pollution News of 2024!

Happy Holidays from Light Pollution News! Here's a special gift episode as a thank you for your continued support in 2023! In this special mini-episode, host Bill McGeeney shares six articles left out of the normal month to month cycle! Stay tuned to for a post-show wrap up montage!

We finish out 2023 with a great panel! Youth Advocate Bonnie Peng returns! Stephen Hummel of the McDonald Observatory and Mr. Travis Novitsky of the Grand Portage Anishinaabe Nation join us for a vibrant discussion asking if Light Pollution really is a pollutant. We discuss the mental health effects of dislodged circadian rhythms. Drone shows have arrived, now what? All that and much much more!!

The Sphere is alive! Will the Sphere be the shape of things to come? How do Animals like sea turtles and deer see the world? Chicago's house of horrors continues its gruesome march through history! And, how would you feel about a lit ring atop your car? Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Ben Chappell of the Narrowband Youtube channel, Matthias Schmitt of Cedar Breaks National Monument, and environmental educator, Frank Turina!

This month – are we talking about Light Pollution all wrong? What is a Dark Sky Resort, and is it a good thing? Bird Migration is in full swing – what is your community doing to help birds safely pass through? And, is Environmental Justice really a thing with regards to Light Pollution? Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Ziz Knight, co-founder of the newly formed Dark Sky Los Angeles and the astrophotography master himself, Drew Evans!

This month – we look at Cleveland’s new plan to breath life into its downtown! Are Net Zero Light Pollution Goals commendable? Starlink is now photobombing radio observatories! Is Astro-Tourism good for parks? Listen to two very pertinent poems you’ll not want to miss! And, there’s been a theft! Care to know what has gone missing?

This month – Big changes in store as the incandescent light bulb bites the dust! Light at night is shown to reduce estrogen levels! Ever want to go to a star party with a Drag show? Is Unistellar the answer? And what on Earth is going on at the Arizona border? Host Bill McGeeney is joined by Bill Green of the Philadelphia Moon Men / Brussels Lunatics and one of New Jersey’s premier environmental documentary film maker, Jared Flesher. Bonus this month – we share a segment of Jared Flesher’s recent video ‘Dark Sacred Night!’

This month, we share with you the ultimate summer road map for your Space themed Flagstaff trip! There’s a French Town where YOU have the power to turn ON street lights! What does Scripture say about Light Pollution? Corals are in trouble! And much more! Join us for Light Pollution News. This month, host, Bill McGeeney is joined by Daylon Burt of Astro Escape and Scott Morgan of the PA DCNR!

This month, we ask Texas, is 7 enough? Leave some dark sky reserves for the rest of us, Texas! We learn that birds are not only remarkable meteorologist, but they have on-time departure numbers that’ll make American Airlines blush. John Barentine, of Dark Sky Consulting joins us on the show, along everyone’s favorite birder-conservationist, Kaitlyn Evans!

Today, we surmise about the coming Lumen apocalypse. And we take a journey to learn about the history of light temperatures. We learn about light pollution’s impact on mosquitos. A new study casts doubt on street light’s impact on melatonin. Plus, is darkness becoming a luxury? We have an excellent panel this month featuring Dark Sky’s Michael Rymer and Youth Advocate, Bonnie Peng!

This month, we talk about one town's lighting dilemma, warning for pregnant women, join lights out, and learn about light's impact on birds! Light Pollution. Joining us, Brendan Happe of the Philadelphia Moon Men and Daylon Burt of Astro Escape!

This month, I’m joined by youth advocate, Bonnie Peng, and, conservationist and avid bird enthusiast, Kaitlyn Evans. We take a look at some of the most interesting articles to grace the topic of light pollution! Today, learn about the first African American astronomer. Take a ride on the Stargazer train, complete with a glass of wine and a heated flatbed railcar! And, MSG wants to build a giant glowing orb…maybe in your neighborhood.

This month, ‘Why Falling Asleep with the Lights on is bad for your health,’ How ‘Red Lighting could rewild night skies plagued by light pollution,’ ‘Urban light pollution could be a threat to marine ecosystems,’ ‘How Pollution is rising faster than anyone predicted!’ and much more!

In this episode, California Governor Gavin Newsome says light must shine on! Vetoes responsible lighting bill for gov't buildings. Plus, Automatic measurement of LP, Spooky Street Lights, and a VA town struggling to protect its skies!

Light pollution reaches far and wide, impacting the natural order of wildlife to possibly affecting human health, and more.