Preserving the Dark
In the darkest skies in the country it is possible to see up to 5,000 stars throughout the night with the naked eye. By contrast, fewer than 100 stars may be visible from more urban environments. What many people don’t realize is that light pollution affects more than just astronomers. Nocturnal animals need darkness for survival, and the circadian rhythms of humans and plants rely on an unaltered night sky.
DarkSky International works to preserve the skies and educate the public about light pollution and how they can make a difference in protecting dark skies in national parks, sanctuaries, cities and communities like ours here in the Capitol Creek drainage of Old Snowmass.
The DarkSky Initiative in Old Snowmass embraces the protection of and conservation of our wild dark sky at night in this spectacular corner of the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado. We are working to become the first designated DarkSky International Community in our valley, hoping to inspire other neighboring communities, towns and cities to strongly embrace and advocate for smart nighttime lighting necessary for safety using low-energy, low-impact bulbs directed to the ground and shielded to prevent light trespass and pollution into the landscape and into our sky. To ensure smart lighting we are working with the Pitkin County Building and Planning Department codes that govern lighting regulations within the county as a whole and to introduce information on just how to light your home to insure safety without flooding the night ~ and your neighbors’ homes ~ with unnecessary light trespass. We advocate strongly for respecting both Pitkin County lighting codes, any HOA guidelines for neighborhood lighting and respect for neighbors’ desires to do the same and enjoy the wild, dark sky at night.
The end result is that we will be able to protect the safety of our residents, and help to protect and conserve the wild kingdom in our neighborhood that rely on the darkness of night to survive. And to be able see and enjoy into the future all those stars, planets and constellations at night with the naked eye, ensuring a healthy biodiversity for all. We feel the sky at night is a precious and ever-more-rare resource to guard.
DarkSky International works to protect the night skies for present and future generations. The program’s work is to guard wildlife, human health, energy, heritage and safety. Please see attached information and videos above outlining the science of these topics that affect all elements of life. To learn more information about DarkSky International, visit their webpage here.
View of Capitol Peak and Mt. Daly in the Old Snowmass Drainage. Photo Courtesy of Pete McBride
Our Mission
Our mission is to preserve and protect Old Snowmass’ nighttime environment and heritage of dark skies by raising awareness about light pollution and advocating for environmentally responsible outdoor lighting.
We currently have support from the Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus, the Pitkin County Commissioners, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Aspen Education Foundation, Aspen Skiing Company, Design Workshop, Wilderness Workshop, Roaring Fork Audubon, Aspen Valley Land Trust, the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association, the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ and more. We have many volunteers working to ensure our dark sky viability. Positive change also comes down to individual action to contribute to our beautiful dark skies at night which include sensible and easy steps to prevent light pollution (please see below).
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2025 (expand arrow to the left)
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
- January 3, 4 – Quadrantids Meteor Shower. The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. The crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- January 10 – Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 47.2 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the bright planet in the western sky after sunset.
- January 13 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 22:28 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps. This moon has also been know as the Old Moon and the Moon After Yule.
- January 16 – Mars at Opposition. The red planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Mars. A medium-sized telescope will allow you to see some of the dark details on the planet’s orange surface.
- January 29 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 12:37 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- February 12 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 13:55 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Snow Moon because the heaviest snows usually fell during this time of the year. Since hunting is difficult, this moon has also been known by some tribes as the Hunger Moon, since the harsh weather made hunting difficult.
- February 28 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 00:46 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- March 8 – Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 18.2 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.
- March 14 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 06:56 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reappear. This moon has also been known as the Crow Moon, the Crust Moon, the Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon.
- March 14 – Total Lunar Eclipse. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth’s dark shadow, or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then take on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible throughout all of North America, Mexico, Central America, and South America. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
- March 20 – March Equinox. The March equinox occurs at 08:58 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
- March 29 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 11:00 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- March 29 – Partial Solar Eclipse. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun’s reflection. This partial eclipse will be visible throughout Greenland and most of northern Europe and northern Russia. It will be best seen from Canada with 93% coverage.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information) - April 13 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 00:24 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Pink Moon because it marked the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the first spring flowers. This moon has also been known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon, and the Egg Moon. Many coastal tribes called it the Fish Moon because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.
- April 21 – Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 27.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
- April 22, 23 – Lyrids Meteor Shower. The Lyrids is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. The shower runs annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year on the night of the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The thin crescent moon will not pose much of a problem so this should be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- April 27 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 19:32 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- May 6, 7 – Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquarids is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley, which has been observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of May 6 and the morning of the May 7. The waxing gibbous moon will block out some of the fainter meteors this year. But if you are patient, you should still should be able to catch a some of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- May 12 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 16:57 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Flower Moon because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance. This moon has also been known as the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon.
- May 27 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 03:04 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- May 31 – Venus at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 45.9 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the bright planet in the eastern sky before sunrise.
- June 11 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 07:45 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Strawberry Moon because it signaled the time of year to gather ripening fruit. It also coincides with the peak of the strawberry harvesting season. This moon has also been known as the Rose Moon and the Honey Moon.
- June 21 – June Solstice. The June solstice occurs at 02:40 UTC. The North Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.
- June 25 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 10:33 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- July 4 – Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 25.9 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.
- July 10 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 20:38 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Buck Moon because the male buck deer would begin to grow their new antlers at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Thunder Moon and the Hay Moon.
- July 24 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 19:13 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- July 28, 29 – Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Delta Aquarids is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The shower runs annually from July 12 to August 23. It peaks this year on the night of July 28 and morning of July 29. The crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- August 9 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 07:56 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Sturgeon Moon because the large sturgeon fish of the Great Lakes and other major lakes were more easily caught at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon.
- August 12, 13 – Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a large number of bright meteors. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It peaks this year on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. The waning gibbous moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. But if you are patient, you may still be able to catch quite a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- August 19 – Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 18.6 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
- August 23 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 06:08 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- September 7 – Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 18:10 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Corn Moon because the corn is harvested around this time of year. This moon is also known as the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the September equinox each year.
- September 7 – Total Lunar Eclipse. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth’s dark shadow, or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then take on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible throughout all of Asia and Australia and the central and eastern parts of Europe and Africa. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
- September 21 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 19:55 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- September 21 – Partial Solar Eclipse. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun’s reflection. This partial eclipse will only be visible in New Zealand, Antarctica, and the southern Pacific Ocean. It will be best seen from New Zealand with 76% coverage.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information) - September 21 – Saturn at Opposition. The ringed planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons. A medium-sized or larger telescope will allow you to see Saturn’s rings and a few of its brightest moons.
- September 22 – September Equinox. The September equinox occurs at 18:17 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
- September 23 – Neptune at Opposition. The blue giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Neptune. Due to its extreme distance from Earth, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.
- October 7 – Full Moon, Supermoon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 03:49 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Hunters Moon because at this time of year the leaves are falling and the game is fat and ready to hunt. This moon has also been known as the Travel Moon and the Blood Moon. This is also the first of three supermoons for 2025. The Moon will be near its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
- October 7 – Draconids Meteor Shower. The Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered in 1900. The Draconids is an unusual shower in that the best viewing is in the early evening instead of early morning like most other showers. The shower runs annually from October 6-10 and peaks this year on the the night of the 7th. Unfortunately the glare from the nearly full moon will block most of the meteors this year. Combined with the low hourly rate it would probably be best to skip this one unless you are really patient. Best viewing will be in the early evening from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- October 21 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 12:26 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- October 21, 22 – Orionids Meteor Shower. The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley, which has been known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7. It peaks this year on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. This is an excellent year for the Orionids. The moon will be absent all night long, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- October 29 – Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 23.9 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.
- November 4, 5 – Taurids Meteor Shower. The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams. The first is produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke. The shower runs annually from September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year on the the night of November 4. Unfortunately the glare form the full moon will hide most of the meteors this year. If you are really patient, you may still be able to catch a few bright ones. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- November 5 – Full Moon, Supermoon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 13:21 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Beaver Moon because this was the time of year to set the beaver traps before the swamps and rivers froze. It has also been known as the Frosty Moon and the Dark Moon. This is also the second of three supermoons for 2025. The Moon will be near its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
- November 17, 18 – Leonids Meteor Shower. The Leonids is an average shower, producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th. This should be an excellent year for the Leonids. The thin, crescent moon won’t be much of a problem and skies will be dark enough for what should be an great show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- November 20 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 06:49 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- November 21 – Uranus at Opposition. The blue-green planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view Uranus. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.
- December 4 – Full Moon, Supermoon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 23:15 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Cold Moon because this is the time of year when the cold winter air settles in and the nights become long and dark. This moon has also been known as the Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before Yule. This is also the last of three supermoons for 2025. The Moon will be near its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
- December 7 – Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 20.7 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
- December 13, 14 – Geminids Meteor Shower. The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The second quarter moon will block some of the fainter meteors this year, but the Geminids are so numerous that it should still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
- December 20 – New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 01:45 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
- December 21 – December Solstice. The December solstice occurs at 15:02 UTC. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.
- December 21, 22 – Ursids Meteor Shower. The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd. The thin, crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be a good show. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
Information thanks to seasky.org
Support from Snowmass Caucus
Dear Neighbors,
A little piece of heaven! We bet you love living in the Capitol/Snowmass Creek Valleys as much as we do! The Snowmass-Capitol Creek Caucus is an elected volunteer board of Snowmass residents that has been working to preserve the natural beauty of our valley for nearly 50 years. If you live or own property in our Caucus area, you are a member of the Caucus. You can get involved in your neighborhood, and help us achieve our goals…one of which is to preserve our dark skies.
We care very deeply about our dark starry night skies. We are so lucky to be able to observe the Milky Way, planets, eclipses, comets, and phases of the moon. More importantly, dark skies are needed for the proper functioning of natural ecosystems, including migration of birds, and safe passage of deer, elk, and other wildlife between pasture and stream. Thus, in our Master Plan to guide the development in our valleys, to be in sync with the Pitkin County Updated Lighting Code, it is required to use low-impact outdoor lighting. Lights that shine in all directions, the upward lighting of trees, driveway lighting, and extended holiday lights are incompatible with Pitkin County’s lighting code, as well as the Caucus Master Plan.
Turn off your lights, let your eyes adjust to the darkness, and enjoy the wondrous night skies of Snowmass!
Thank you! Your neighbors, The Snowmass-Capitol Creek Caucus Board and WildSky Old Snowmass
Our Goals
Preserve our Dark Starry Nights
Today, we can too easily take dark skies for granted. The naturally dark, star-studded sky at night is a priceless gift of nature. Nothing can beat the magic of the wild skies over Old Snowmass on a clear night! But that velvety blackness and the celestial bodies we are able to see now are rapidly becoming lost to us…future generations may no longer be able to see the Milky Way, the stars and constellations unless we move forward now with a darkness sustainability plan. Ask someone living practically anywhere else where there is limited visibility – dark night skies should never be taken for granted. By advocating the control of light pollution in Old Snowmass we can preserve the wonder and beauty of the stars for those who live and visit here into the future.
Protect Public Health and Safety
Excessive light at night is damaging to human health.
- Problems occur with:
- Disrupted sleep due to suppression of the production of melatonin.
- Glare from poorly shielded (or worse, unshielded) lights that bounce up and shine into neighbors’ homes, bedrooms and private yards, and on the road which can temporarily blind drivers and users of the road. This is called light trespass.
- Glare makes visibility worse, not better and can provide shadows for intruders to hide.
Guard our Wildlife
All life needs the darkness at night to thrive. The rhythms of life on Earth have been orchestrated for millennia by the consistent diurnal/nocturnal patterns of light and dark, day and night. Disruption to these patterns — beginning around 1880 with the advent of electric light bulbs — has impacted the ecological balances of almost every living creature. Humans, animals, birds, insects… even coral have been negatively affected by too much light. The wild kingdom is experiencing survival challenges and extinctions at an alarming rate because, in part, age-old patterns to ensure survival have been interrupted with new and bright light patterns erasing cloak-of-night protections many depend upon. Earth’s ecology is interconnected and changes or imbalances to it creates a cascading effect.
Where Does Colorado Stand on Preserving Our Dark Skies?
Governor Jared Polis signed a proclamation establishing June 2023 as “Dark Sky Month” in Colorado in recognition of the growing problem of light pollution. Appropriately, the Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus is urging for darker skies and designation within the Roaring Fork Watershed.
View of the Northern Lights, Photo Courtesy of Ann Driggers
Events
We are focused on becoming the Roaring Fork Valley’s first Dark Sky community! Old Snowmass has pioneered an initiative within our community in Pitkin County through the International Dark Sky Association (www.darksky.org) helping many cities, towns, communities, preserves and national parks to restore the nighttime environment that protects people and the entire ecosystem from the effects of light pollution. Light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels as opposed to those occurring naturally (for instance, moonlight). The International Dark Sky Association oversees a rigorous program for interested places on the planet to address light pollution via simple means — smart lighting!
We are focused on becoming the first community in the Roaring Fork Valley to earn International Dark Sky Community designation through this organization to ensure that which is outlined above: safe lighting for the human population without destroying the dark environment needed by all living creatures for health and longevity. We in Old Snowmass covet the darkness of night that remains intact however as time passes, light pollution is beginning to encroach here. Thus our quest to keep any more light pollution at bay, even working to take it down a notch or two. Our first official light readings of the sky above our community taken in November 2023 range from a Bortle Scale 3 at the St. Benedict’s Monastery to Bortle Scale 4 in the Little Elk Creek Subdivision, all the up to a 6-7 (where no stars are visible) at the corner of Highway 82/Snowmass Creek Road (Conoco Gas Station and RFTA Park/Ride).
Upcoming Local Events:
2025
February 6, 2025 Presentation for Living Lab.Earth: Living Planet Group. Online 1 pm Eastern Time
April 21 – 28, 2025 International Dark Sky Week: Celebrate the Night Awareness
Past Events:
2024
January 31, 2024 ACES Presentation: Preserving the Dark of Night: Chasing the Midnight Rainbow. Join Martha Ferguson, Ann Driggers and Aaron Watson for an interactive evening of information on protecting the dark of night with dark sky photography and a word from the Chair of DarkSky Colorado, Aaron Watson.
March 14, 2024 Dark Sky Presentation for the Rotary Club of Aspen. 8 a.m.
March 20, 2024 Presentation at Basalt Public Library 7 p.m.
May 16, 2024 Stars an Stripes: Preserving the Dark of Night with Dr. Jeffrey Hall/Lowell Observatory. TACAW 7 p.m.
May 29, 2024 WildSky Old Snowmass Talk in Partnership with Pitkin County/Updated Lighting Code – Carbondale Public Library 6PM MT
May 30, 2024 WildSky Old Snowmass Talk in Partnership with Pitkin County/Updated Lighting Code – Pitkin County Library Aspen 12PM MT
August 12, 2024 Stars Over Aspen in Partnership with Aspen Center for Environmental Studies – Top of Aspen Mountain
September 10, 2024 Presentation before the Pitkin County Planning & Zoning Commission in conjunction with the update of the Pitkin County Lighting Code
September 17, 2024. Annual Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus Picnic and Annual Star Party
Decmber 18, 2024. Presentation before the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners in conjunction with the update and vote of the updated Pitkin County Lighting Code
Need further information?
Let’s guide you in the right direction