Projects
Our projects promote night sky education and conservation and expand our understanding of the impacts of light pollution.
Education
- Stargazing Programs
Astronomy is the oldest science and serves to inspire children to develop an interest in Science and Math and provides an opportunity for kids and adults to experience nature at night. Since 2012, we have provided astronomy education to Central Texas and beyond. Our programs provide an opportunity to learn about the night sky in a nurturing, small outdoor classroom environment to provide individualized attention. Through learning about our night sky through stargazing programs, storytelling and hands-on experiences, children and adults are able to develop a personal connection with the cosmos and an interest in keeping our night skies dark.
- Children’s Book
Star stories serve to inspire us to understand our place in the universe and understand our relationship with the night sky. In 2017, Starry Sky Austin started spreading a reinvented star story far and wide through Amy Jackson’s published children’s book Cassandra and the Night Sky. The second story, Little Sky Bear and the Dragon, is coming soon! These star stories were written to inspire children young and old to go outside at night, look up and wonder! Purchase your copy today.
- Documentary Film
We enjoyed being part of the creation of The Stars at Night documentary film. The film explored the connections between astronomy, mythology and original storytelling, with a perspective that we are connected to one another over time and space- through the night sky. Learn more about this project and how to screen the film here.
Research
Our research helps to better understand the impacts of light pollution and dark sky friendly practices through collecting and interpreting sky brightness data with remote sensing and data collection using sky quality meters. We also apply the capabilities of Geographic Information Systems to map sky brightness trends. We are finding answers to questions such as: How does night sky brightness created by light pollution change over time in Texas? Through collaboration with the Freeman Center at Texas State University, the Hays County Friends of the Night Sky and Dark Sky Texas, we are beginning to answer this questions. Results from the recently completed study “Sky Brightness in Texas: A Comparative Analysis between Dark Sky Places and Control Communities” will be published soon. Go here to see Sky Brightness Change in Texas from 2012-2022 using the National Park Service ALR (All Sky Light Pollution Ratio) Model. See the StoryMap of 2015 Texas Dark Sky Quality created in collaboration with the Hill Country Alliance Night Skies Team. A poster of this map was presented at the 2020 Texas State University Women in STEM Conference.
Conservation
We have experience consulting for Dark Sky International’s Dark Sky Place designation applications. Amy helped Reimers Ranch Park become the closest Dark Sky Park to Austin, TX. Other current projects include Shield Ranch Barton Creek Urban Night Sky Place and the City of Liberty Hill Dark Sky Community applications.
Donate
Spread night sky education and promote dark sky conservation and research by donating to our work today!