Dark Sky Research
Monitoring night skies to better understand light pollution, ecosystem health, and the value of natural darkness.
Westcave collects sky quality data and offers public programs that connect people to the night sky.
As part of its commitment to preserving natural nightscapes, Westcave collects quantitative data about our night sky in addition to holding educational events for the public. Collaborative efforts with the Globe at Night Monitoring Network and the International Dark Sky Chapter- Dark Sky Texas utilize this data on a global basis to look at continuous changes in our night sky quality.
Protecting Natural Landscapes
How We Measure Darkness
SQM
By tracking sky brightness with a Sky Quality Meter (SQM) at consistent intervals and under clear, moonless conditions, we are able to assess the effectiveness of lighting policies and document the quality of our night skies. These efforts aim to illuminate the impact of artificial light on natural ecosystems and human well-being.
Observation
Observational measurements can be taken to show the “darkness” of the sky, following the Bortle scale, where 1 is an excellent dark sky, similar to what one might see at Big Bend NP, and 9 is what one may see in downtown Austin. Night sky averages at Westcave fall under the Bortle Scale class 4, or a range of 20.8-21.3 on the SQM mag/arcsec2.
In addition to quantitative surveys, Westcave incorporates night sky programming to raise awareness of light pollution and its ecological effects. This includes star parties with local astronomers and educational nightly walks.