In short
- Two light beams shone from Mount Washington, New Hampshire, September 9 to 12 for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, with a bird-mitigation system and thermal scopes in place. Light Pollution News reported no birds were impacted.
- The Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg, a Nebraska college and Davenport’s Centennial Bridge cut lights to protect migrating birds.
- A study at Westhavelland Nature Park in Germany found 1800K LEDs attracted 38% to 44% fewer insects than high-pressure sodium lights.
- DarkSky International’s Capture the Dark photo contest ended in controversy after entrants flagged two winning photos for mixing focal lengths.
- Reflect Orbital received FCC approval for Earendil-1, a test satellite with a mirror of roughly 3,500 square feet.
This month, I had a ton of fun with three really great guests: Steve Mariconda of Dark Sky New Jersey, yes – there are folks who advocate for responsible lighting practices in the Garden State!; Researcher, astronomer, fiction writer, and much more, the great Diane Turnshek; and a guest who helped create and preserve two dark sky designated places (Bryce Canyon and Rio Grande del Norte National Monument), Gina Pearson! Below is a summary of the stories that we covered. However, as always, there are so many more facts, details, and discussions on the recorded shows. So be sure to have a listen at LightPollutionNews.com: Luminance Lace and A Sparkle of Starlinks.
Mount Washington’s 9/11 Tribute Beams Draw Bird Safeguards in New Hampshire
On September 9-12, two light beams shot to the sky memorializing the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. These lights pierced upwards on Mount Washington, located outside of North Conway, NH. Mount Washington sits as the highest peak in the Northeastern United States. As such, these light beams were reported to be visible upwards of 135 miles away. At permitting, New Hampshire State Parks raised no environmental concerns. Then, in July, Cornell ecologist Andrew Farnsworth raised the alarm. The NYC Bird Alliance, New Hampshire Fish and Game, and New Hampshire State Parks collaborated to come up with a mitigation system should birds get trapped in the beams. The runtime of the event was even shortened from 3 AM to midnight. Thermal scopes monitored bird activity throughout the memorial. No reported birds were impacted.
Harrisburg State Office Building Turns Off Lights Midnight to 6 AM for Bird Migration
In other bird migration news, the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg shut its lights off between midnight and 6 AM until November 15th.
Nebraska Student Documents 51 Bird Collisions, Then Helps Add Bird Dots and Light Cuts
A Nebraska community college student named Dorian Dunham documented 51 bird collisions back in May 2025 from a glass building on campus, then partnered with US Fish and Wildlife to apply bird dots and implement light reductions.
Davenport’s Centennial Bridge Switches Off Decorative Lights for Migration
The Centennial Bridge in Davenport, Iowa turned off its decorative lights for migration through to November 1st.
Amber 1800K LEDs Attract Fewer Insects Than Sodium Lights at Westhavelland Nature Park
A study at Westhavelland Nature Park in Germany found that 1800 Kelvin colored LEDs attracted 38% to 44% fewer insects than high-pressure sodium lights and 45% to 51% fewer insects than 4000K colored LEDs.
Each Added Streetlight Cut Firefly Abundance 37% in a Kuala Lumpur Park
A firefly study out of a Kuala Lumpur park found that each additional streetlight in a 100-meter section reduced firefly abundance by 37%. Improvements in tree canopy increased the odds of firefly abundance.
DarkSky International’s Capture the Dark Contest Ends in Controversy Over Focal Lengths
DarkSky International’s Capture the Dark competition ended in quite the controversy when entrants flagged two winning photos for mixing focal lengths to compose their images. DarkSky International even closed social media comments for fear over harassment of their staff. DarkSky International acknowledged inconsistencies in rule interpretation.
Camp Bullis Medic Training Faces Persistent Twilight From San Antonio Sprawl
Camp Bullis, which sits outside of San Antonio, trains military medics in nighttime operations. Urban sprawl now produces persistent twilight on the facility’s southern end. A retired combat-medic instructor partnered with the Hill Country Alliance to push the military buffer zone beyond the current 5-mile limit. Due to the centralized structure of certain policies in Texas, that effort will head to Austin in 2027.
New York’s Dark Skies Protection Act Stalls in Both Chambers and Needs 2027 Reintroduction
New York’s Dark Skies Protection Act stalled in both legislative chambers. Media outlets appear to have misunderstood the bill, claiming that it would result in the extinguishing of all lights statewide after 11 PM. In reality, the bill required shielded fixtures or motion sensors for lights remaining on past that hour. The bill requires reintroduction in 2027.
Reflect Orbital Wins FCC Approval for Earendil-1 Test Satellite With a Giant Mirror
Everyone’s favorite satellite company, Reflect Orbital, received FCC approval for Earendil-1, a test satellite unfurling a 3,500-square-foot mirror, making it potentially the largest satellite in orbit. The company plans on-demand illumination of 3-mile areas. In alignment with the Trump administration policy of “Delete, Delete, Delete,” the FCC further signaled plans to strip NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) review requirements from space-based activities.
Quick Answers From This Month’s Light Pollution News
Did the Mount Washington 9/11 tribute lights harm migrating birds?
Light Pollution News reported that no birds were impacted. After Cornell ecologist Andrew Farnsworth raised concerns in July, the NYC Bird Alliance, New Hampshire Fish and Game and New Hampshire State Parks built a mitigation system, the runtime was shortened from 3 AM to midnight, and thermal scopes monitored bird activity.
What is Reflect Orbital’s Earendil-1?
Earendil-1 is a test satellite that will unfurl a mirror of roughly 3,500 square feet, which could make it the largest satellite in orbit. The FCC approved it, and Reflect Orbital plans on-demand illumination of areas about 3 miles across.
Would New York’s Dark Skies Protection Act turn off all lights at 11 PM?
No. Light Pollution News reported that the bill required shielded fixtures or motion sensors for lights remaining on past 11 PM, not a statewide shutoff. The bill stalled in both chambers and needs reintroduction in 2027.
Which streetlight color attracts fewer insects?
A study at Westhavelland Nature Park in Germany found 1800 Kelvin LEDs attracted 38% to 44% fewer insects than high-pressure sodium lights and 45% to 51% fewer than 4000K LEDs.
What happened with DarkSky International’s Capture the Dark contest?
Entrants flagged two winning photos for mixing focal lengths. DarkSky International closed social media comments over harassment of its staff and acknowledged inconsistencies in how the rules were interpreted.
