Our Vision
FDSC envisions a world in which everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, can see the Milky Way in a dark sky that is cherished by their community and beneficial for all life.
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Help us make this vision a reality!
Night skies do not need to get relentlessly brighter! Flagstaff has proven it!
Flagstaff sky glow has been measured as more than 90% less than other towns of similar size. The Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition is documenting the processes and standards that have led to this result – The Flagstaff Solution – to provide vital guidance for other communities to take advantage of what we have learned to protect, even restore, their own night skies – to bring the Milky Way home!
— Henry Beston, The Outermost House (1928)
Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition
Our Mission: To celebrate, promote, and protect the glorious dark skies
of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona
To demonstrate by example strategies that are proven to protect and improve dark skies
Setting the Gold Standard for night sky protection
A dark, star-filled night sky is often thought of as important for astronomy or research. Though this is true, the grandeur of the night sky is much deeper and broader, and accessible to anyone. We find the beauty and meaning of natural night is best expressed by poets and writers, such as Henry Beston.
Photo by Tyler Nordgren, courtesy of the Grand Canyon Association
Although astronomers and astronomy are important (some of our best friends are astronomers), protecting the night sky just for astronomers would be like protecting Grand Canyon just for geologists. Yet no one ever seems to think so narrowly about the Canyon; it is our hope that after looking through our website you may think more broadly about the night sky.
As the international dark sky movement began in Flagstaff in 1958, our community has always been keenly aware of the special value of the night sky. The Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition and the greater community of Flagstaff are proud to remain world leaders in practical and successful dark sky protection.