On April 25, 2025, at the steps of the Texas Capitol, DarkSky Texas organized DarkSky Day at the Texas Capitol.
As part of the larger International Dark Sky Week celebrations, DarkSky Day was created to raise awareness about the work done by DarkSky advocates educating Texans about the harmful effects of light pollution and to celebrate the natural grandeur of the Texas Night Sky.
The festivities brought together volunteers, students, policy leaders, and community members from across Texas. Let’s take a closer look at what DarkSky Day involved and the milestones it helped us achieve.
What DarkSky Day Covered?
DarkSky Day combined a gathering of DarkSky members, educational opportunities, and a smattering of work meetings, both inside and outside the Texas Capitol.
The Morning Gathering
The agenda started early, as supporters of the dark sky movement gathered on the south steps of the Texas Capitol. Under the warm Austin sun, enthusiasm ran high among our volunteers, as the resolution proclaiming it DarkSky Day at the Capitol was read for all to hear.
Meanwhile, our leaders encouraged participants to communicate directly to lawmakers and explain why dark skies matter to each community.
The Legislative Endeavor
Throughout the day, small groups of DarkSky Texas activists made their way through the Texas State Capitol’s corridors, meeting with State Senators and representatives. This offered the opportunity to pass on the importance of our key issues with light pollution to the people who can make reduction of light pollution a reality.
Armed with fact sheets, data, and drive, we highlighted the impact of glare and light trespass on safety and property rights. We emphasized the negative impact of artificial light on public health, wildlife habitats, and even our household energy bills. We made sure that legislators knew the far-reaching impact of light pollution on nearly every aspect of Texas’s environment: from our sleep patterns to the migratory patterns of local birds.
Senate Resolution Recognition
A hard day of advocacy left us with a tangible, public milestone: the Texas Senate passed an official resolution recognizing DarkSky Day at the Texas State Capitol. Senator Cesar Blanco proudly presented the signed resolution to the public, which formally acknowledged our cause.
This means our concerted efforts are now part of the official annals of our Capitol’s agenda, and it showcases the growing support for anti-light-pollution initiatives. An excellent way to reward years of grassroots advocacy!
The Cherry on Top: A House Shoutout for DarkSky Texas
The final boost for DarkSky Texas came during the House session: there, Representative Ellen Troxclair took a moment to publicly recognize DarkSky Texas in front of the entire floor. You can watch the exact moment this happened HERE.
Why Events Like These Matter
In 2025, more than 80% of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way from their homes, as skyglow has dimmed starlight around us. Although this problem affects mainly urban and well-developed areas, it has now made its way to every region of the country.
But Texas, with its wide plains and clear skies, now stands out as a haven for dark nights. Across the state, we have been able to recognize International Dark Sky Places and communities, where our children can continue to gaze at the same stars that have been above us for millennia.
So far, these efforts have provided us with a boost in tourism and science funding. By increasing public awareness of it, events like DarkSky Day can help cement these gains and expand the areas in which we merge sustainable development with the millennia-old tradition of stargazing.
What’s Next for Us?
Our volunteers continue to advocate for better outdoor lighting with our public officials. By putting it at the forefront of public discourse, their efforts will be much more impactful.
This is where the average dark-sky lover can be effective: help us make light pollution a recognizable priority in our communities. You can do this by:
- Submit instances of invasive lighting to our growing database for use in discussions with officials.
- Taking the DarkSky Texas Pledge.
- Learning about responsible outdoor lighting practices.
- Sharing personal stories with your local lawmakers.
- Volunteer or donate to make our next events larger.
Final Thoughts
DarkSky Day may just look like a typical day at the Texas Capitol, but it is truly the culmination of years of advocacy. Its impact goes well beyond a one-day event: it is a statement of unity for a cause that affects people, animals, and our land alike.
At DarkSky Texas, we are immensely proud and thankful of every volunteer, partner, legislator, and supporter who made this day possible. Together, we can ensure that Texas skies stay dark and that future generations still look up in wonder.
