APRIL 15-22, 2023
International Dark Sky Week
Join us for a week of night sky inspired activities!
Share Your Adventures on Socials! #rlht #darkskymaine #IDSW2023 #DarkSkyWeek #DiscoverTheNight
Lights Out, Rangeley!
Saturday | Join us for an evening of turning on the stars!
Scavenger Hunt
Sunday | See how many boxes you can check off this week!
Discover the Night Posters
Monday | Stroll Main St. and enjoy out-of-this-world creativity!
Home Light Inventory
Tuesday | Walk around your house and take a look!
Documentaries
Wednesday | These documentaries will open your eyes to regional issues.
Globe At Night
Thursday | Become a Citizen Scientist for the night sky.
Night Sky Tour
Friday | Join us virtually for a tour of the visible night sky.
Dark Sky Trail
Saturday | Go stargazing along the Dark Sky Trail!
Dark Sky Poster Awards
Sunday | Join us for an award ceremony.
Let's Take Action Together
Turn on the Stars! 
On Saturday night we’re asking Rangeley to go LIGHTS OUT for one hour! We’re encouraging individuals and businesses to turn off non-essential lights from 8-9 PM.
Dark Sky Scavenger Hunt
Print out the scavenger hunt and see how many boxes you can check off this week. Find them all and share your results with Dark Sky to receive a prize!
Have a nature & neighbor friendly home?
Follow the guide and use the inventory sheet to inventory your home lighting. See if the lighting you currently have at your residence is by IDA! We’re here to help with questions and resources!
Discover the Night Student Poster Contest
The Poster Contest is open to all students through grade 9 in the Rangeley Lakes Region. All artwork must be submitted by Friday, April 13. Submissions will be displayed at businesses along Main Street in Rangeley.
Prizes will be given to the top entry for grades K-9 and the top entries in these groups: Grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-9.
The winners will be showcased in regional news outlets and social media.
A panel of judges will judge all submissions to determine the prize winners. All winners will be announced, and prizes awarded on Sunday, April 22 at 1 PM at Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.
Watch These Documentaries
Losing the Dark
“Losing the Dark” introduces and illustrates some of the issues regarding light pollution and suggests three simple actions people can take to help mitigate it.
Defending the Dark
This dark sky film educates viewers on why it is crucial to preserve dark sky areas, emphasizing the unique dark sky environment of the north Maine woods.
Be a Citizen Scientist
Night Sky Tours
Watch a Night Sky Tour
Throughout the year we host Night Sky Tours within the Rangeley Lakes Region in partnereship with Northern Stars Planetarium.
Please join us in the field on a clear night or enjoy the stars from the comfort of your couch with our videos unlocking the night sky.
Visit our Events page for upcoming programs.
Catch a Shooting Star on the Dark Sky Trail
With 60,000 acres of conserved lands, the Rangeley Lakes Region is the perfect place to plan your stargazing adventures. Explore these spots on the Dark Sky Trail.
CONTACT
Dark Sky Community Certification Inquiries
Linda Dexter
Dark Sky Community Certification Coordinator
Our Partners in Conserving the Night Sky
The International Dark-Sky Association promotes win-win solutions that allow people to appreciate dark, star-filled skies while enjoying the benefits of responsible outdoor lighting.
Globe at Night is an international citizen-science campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen scientists to measure & submit their night sky brightness observations.
A 501c3 nonprofit that promotes an appreciation of the night sky through education and by supporting measures that use appropriate lighting to provide security on the ground and promote the health of humans and nocturnal wildlife.
Northern Stars Educational Services is an educational astronomy and science outreach service for schools, libraries, and non-profits throughout central and mid-coast Maine.
