If you walk outside tonight and look up, how many stars can you see?

For many of us, the answer is “not many.” The Milky Way, once a brilliant ribbon stretching from horizon to horizon, is now invisible to more than 80% of Americans. What was once a shared experience of awe and wonder has been diminished by the glare of poorly designed outdoor lighting. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Dark sky policies are not about turning off the lights. They’re about turning them the right way, using the right amount of light, only when and where it’s needed. Communities that adopt these policies gain more than just beautiful night skies. They protect wildlife, improve public health, save money, and reconnect people with something deeply human: the stars.