Night Light of the North Coast: Dark Skies of the North Coast

An evening on the hillside beneath the beautiful night sky. Driving to this spot, I passed three separate cars parked along the road with people enjoying the night stargazing or photographing. Humboldt County, California. July, 2020.

This time of year, on a clear night, it’s not uncommon for people to drive a few minutes out of town to enjoy our dark skies. Night is no reason to stay in, for how else would one see the stars? It is said, and I’ve experienced it, that spending time in the forests is rejuvenating; time spent beneath the stars is similarly rewarding. To go out at night and look deep into the cosmos is to find your place in the universe. How many poems, songs, works of art and prayers has the night sky inspired?

Rural California’s north coast region is blessed with an abundance of dark skies, as the relentless growth of the country’s population centers hasn’t yet impacted much our darkened surroundings with their formidable glows. Yet even in the hills, one may see in many of our vistas flares of light dotting the landscape from distant towns, or remote industries. Is encroachment of light on the sky, and the destruction of our view of the stars inevitable?

No. It’s not inevitable. There are many ways for individuals, communities, and agencies to minimize the amount of light that is spilled out into the surroundings, onto our neighbors, and into the sky from cities, businesses, and homes.

Some communities have taken it upon themselves to preserve the night sky. In Arizona, Flagstaff boasts of becoming the world’s first “International Dark-Sky City” in 2001, as recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association (https://www.darksky.org). Using light fixtures that prevent the spill of light into the sky or onto one’s neighbors’ properties, and using warmer color temperature lighting, are among the simplest of techniques used to greatly reduce city glow into the sky. Even people who never look at the sky can be happier without unnecessary glare intruding on their bedrooms from their neighbors’ unshielded lighting. Visit Flagstaff’s Dark Sky page for lots of information on how they did it, and why: http://www.flagstaffdarkskies.org .

While California’s north coast doesn’t contain any locations officially designated as Dark Sky sites by the International Dark-Sky Association, our remote location nevertheless provides many areas with richly star-studded dark skies. Let us hope that as we grow and develop the north coast, we can do so in a way that preserves the beauty of, and our connection to, the night sky.

Comet “Neowise” (Comet C/2020 F3)

If you’re lucky, you’ve been seeing photos of the comet “Neowise,” which lately has been gracing our pre-dawn skies – or better yet, you’ve been out watching it yourself. That’s a little early for me, but I’d do it — except that by mid-week we should start seeing it low in the northwest after sunset as the skies approach total darkness, which is much more my speed. My bioclock seems to have gotten skewed toward later night from all these nighttime photos… or maybe that’s the reason for all the photos. If Neowise hasn’t faded out by then, I hope to bring you a photograph with the comet in the composition in the coming “Night Light of the North Coast” stories.

A sky full of wonders. Humboldt County, California. July, 2020.

To read previous entries of “Night Light of the North Coast,” click on my name above the article. To keep abreast of my most current photography or purchase a print, visit and contact me at my website mindscapefx.com , or follow me on Instagram at @david_wilson_mfx and on Twitter @davidwilson_mfx.

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Joan Rainwater-Gish
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Joan Rainwater-Gish
3 years ago

Hi David,
As always, I enjoyed reading your words regarding the night sky.
I’m disappointed to say that given COVID-19 most of my group is not comfortable with getting together to caravan for stargazing with you.
So, in the meantime, I’d like to venture out with my husband to see the night sky.
With that in mind, can you give me directions to this spot you show in your July 2020 article?
Thanks,
Joan

Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago

🕯🌳I’ll second that. 🖖

David Wilson
Guest
3 years ago

I looked forward to the group getting together, Joan. I’m into it once the whole COVID-19 thing has settled down.

About finding a spot, there really is no single best place among the easily accessible places. Pretty much any turn out on a road up in the hills will be fine for good stars, but stay with the car because it’s likely private property off the road shoulder. Keep to the main roads, and/or find a public park. Respect people’s private property.

If it’s clear, even the coast can be great. I’ve had many good starry nights on the coast, but it’s a little more hit or miss weather-wise. But the Avenue of the Giants is my favorite, though there can be river fog, whether predicted or not — I’ve had so many nights that should have been ok, but weren’t, though one of my favorite images came on a night that should have been overcast, but wasn’t: https://kymkemp.com/2019/07/08/night-light-of-the-north-coast-eel-river-overlook-inside-the-snow-globe/ .

Lynth
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Lynth
3 years ago

Beautiful article as usual, Mr. David Wilson!! I wonder, do you notice more satellite activity these nights? Sounds like there are many satellites being rolled out in the lower atmosphere and beyond, for a global network to be tested by September….

David Wilson
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Lynth

Thanks, Lynth. I don’t know how much the satellite activity has picked up in recent years, but no doubt it has picked up. I think you’re referring to the huge project of SpaceX to put a “constellation” (they call it that) of communications satellites into place. Their regular launches are very visible, both from what I’ve heard and from what I experienced myself one night recently (read my experience with them in the Night Light of the North Coast article: STEAL THE NIGHT AWAY, https://kymkemp.com/2020/04/20/night-light-of-the-north-coast-steal-the-night-away/ ).

As I understand it, communications satellites become geosynchronous, meaning they find a place above a particular point on Earth and stay above that point forever. At that point (as it were), they are less visible because they aren’t moving across the sky. They would look like a small star to our naked eye, I suppose. I hope they can make them non-reflective. The last thing I want to see is advertisements in the night sky made from fake satellite “stars.”

s. savage
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s. savage
3 years ago

Hi David. The comet towards northwest sky at sunset looked great tonite!! I hope you can get one of your beautiful photos of it. and then please share so we all can see.
thanks for your work, it is always enjoyed.

David Wilson
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  s. savage

Thank you, s. That will happen!
🙂

Mike P.
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Mike P.
3 years ago

It’s the women who are demanding all this illumination. “I don’t feel safe without street lights.” Guys don’t care if it’s dark, but women fear for their safety. Soon there won’t be any dark skies left. Women are to blame.