The Methow Valley has some of the darkest skies in Washington state and the entire country.  This stunning video shows the effects of light pollution on our ability to see the stars across the full range of the Bortle scale with 1 being the darkest.  Our local skies currently range from 2-4 with 2 being the remote regions away from towns. The Methow Dark Sky Coalition is inspired to preserve this darkness for future generations even as the valley grows and to reduce light pollution where we can over time.    

 

Light pollution does more than deprive us of a connection to the immense universe around us.  It affects wildlife, human health, energy, and safety in surprising ways.