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The Appalachian Mountains of have stood as silent witnesses to the uninterrupted rain of starlight for nearly a half-billion years, but artificial light now threatens this nightly show. In honor of notable local efforts to preserve the natural nighttime landscape of North Carolina, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced today it has designated the first International Dark Sky Park in the southeastern United States.

The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) announced today that it has provisionally named Eifel National Park as the first International Dark Sky Park in Germany. The western German park now counts dark-sky status as a tourist draw alongside its untamed wilderness and storied history.

Millions of Berliners who seek a respite from bright city lights now have an option close to home. The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) announced today it has named Westhavelland Nature Park the world’s newest International Dark Sky Reserve. In Germany, the Reserve will be known as “Sternenpark Westhavelland.”

The stars at night remain big and bright deep in the heart of the Texas – thanks to the hard work and dedication of Texas Hill Country residents. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced today it has designated the first International Dark Sky Community in Texas. In naming the Dripping Springs International Dark Sky Community, IDA is pleased to recognize local efforts to protect and preserve the character of the nighttime sky over central Texas.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced today it has named the first International Dark Sky Place in the Republic of Ireland. Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve is the first of its kind in the northern hemisphere awarded “Gold-tier” status, placing it among an elite group of the darkest locations to receive IDA recognition. In designating the Reserve, IDA recognizes the exceptional achievements by local communities to protect and preserve dark night skies over southwest Ireland. The award will be formally presented in a reception at the Ring of Kerry Hotel in Cahersiveen, County Kerry, at 7:30pm GMT tonight.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is proud to announce a new partnership with Celestron, one of the world’s leading telescope designers and manufacturers. In celebration of the upcoming event television series COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY, airing on FOX and National Geographic Channel, Celestron is introducing the COSMOS 60AZ Telescope and partnering with IDA to help save endangered starry skies for generations to come. In support of IDA’s mission, Celestron is donating a portion of the COSMOS 60AZ Telescope proceeds to IDA.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced today the designation of the first International Dark Sky Place in France. In naming the Pic du Midi International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR), IDA is pleased to recognize the immense local efforts to preserve and protect the exceptionally dark night skies over the Pyrénées Mountains.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced today it has designated two new International Dark Sky Places in the United Kingdom (UK), including one representing the largest land area of protected night skies in all of Europe. This brings to six the total number of IDA International Dark Sky Places in the UK, second only to the United States.

Light pollution is a serious environmental problem. It wastes billions of dollars each year, harms wildlife and jeopardizes human health. Thanks to recent coverage by national media outlets, this important message is reaching more people than ever before.

Astronomers and dark sky-advocates take note—you can now measure the brightness of the night sky using your smartphone. A new app for the iPhone called Dark Sky Meter uses the phone’s camera to accurately measure the brightness of the night sky and deliver the results to a central database that will, in time, create a worldwide map of light pollution.