JACKSON, Wyo. — Out in Grand Teton National Park or on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, stars sine brilliantly against deep blue-black skies and the Milky Way feels close enough to touch.
But even in the small town of Jackson, light pollution steals their shine. Wyoming Stargazers is trying to imagine a town where stars are as visible on the Square as they are in the wilderness, during one of the most spectacular astronomical phenomena observable: the Perseid Meteor Shower.
On Wednesday, Aug. 11, Wyoming Stargazers is asking Jackson to turn off its lights for one hour – from 10:30-11:30 p.m. — and look up at the sky. The Perseid Meteor Shower should be at its peak right around then, said Samuel Singer, executive director of Wyoming Stargazers. He and the Stargazers will be on the Center lawn to observe it, and the public is invited to watch with them. And there will be no moon in the sky, which makes viewing opportunities even better.
“It should be a really dark night,” Singer said. “We’ve already started seeing meteors… It’s just going to keep getting better and better.”
The chance to see a meteor shower in downtown Jackson could be reward enough, but Singer’s vision reaches for higher stars. “Lights Out Challenge” is a teaser, Singer said, of what Jackson could be. It’s part of Wyoming Stargazer’s ongoing campaign to reduce light pollution in Jackson. Despite having a year-round population of nearly 11,000 people, according to the 2021 census, light pollution in Jackson is equal to Flagstaff, Arizona — a city of more than 70,000 people. It’s less that Jackson is bad at managing light pollution as much as Flagstaff is really good at it, Singer said. It’s a big astronomy hub, and the city has made concerted efforts to limit its light pollution. Still, Singer said Jackson can do better. And he’d like to see us try.
“My personal passion [is] keeping night skies beautiful,” Singer said. “I don’t know why this part of conservation is not in the psyche of westerners yet.”
Anyone who’s spent time in a city knows you can’t see stars under city lights like you can in Wyoming. But bright night skies are more than just an aesthetic nuisance, Singer said. They’re bad for migratory birds, nocturnal and crepuscular animals (animals that are most active at dawn and dusk), and human sleep cycles. Singer said he hopes the Lights Out challenge lets Jackson residents “see the beauty of the night sky for what it really can be” and inspires them to be more mindful about their personal light pollution.
That is, if people participate. Singer said he doesn’t expect a full blackout for the event’s inaugural year. He’s deployed a volunteer to spread the word to business around town, and is asking businesses and individuals alike to take the “lights out” pledge. He also plans to measure the sky’s brightness the night before, so, Aug. 10, and the night of. He said he’s not anticipating much, but is hoping for at least a slight reduction.
And maybe “some” will be enough to “light a spark,” Singer said.
“Well… maybe that’s the wrong turn-of-phrase.”
