Virtual and in-person. Register to attend on Zoom here.

Light pollution, simply put, is any unnecessary or excessive outdoor illumination. Sadly, it’s become a pervasive and ugly consequence of modern 24/7 society. Light pollution robs us of the night sky’s beauty, negatively affects the ecosystem, impacts human health, and creates a glaring waste of energy. But a new mindset and new technology are poised to slow — and perhaps reverse — this bane of modern life. Come learn how you can safely light up your home, business, and community without wasting energy, disturbing your neighbors, or creating an unhealthy environment for humans and wildlife.

Sponsored by Green Maynard

A free talk by Kelly Beatty of Dark Sky Massachusetts

J. Kelly Beatty has been explaining the science and wonder of astronomy to the public since 1974, when he joined the staff of Sky & Telescope magazine. A national-award-winning writer and communicator, he specializes astronomy and space exploration. In 2018, after 43 years of pounding the keyboard, he retired from full-time work but remains actively involved in many of the magazine’s articles, tours, and other projects.

You'll occasionally hear Kelly interviewed as an astronomy expert on National Public Radio and The Weather Channel, and his work has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedias. In fact, Kelly enjoys speaking to audiences of all ages and interest levels about his passion for astronomy. He observes the night sky when he can through one of his 10 telescopes — one of which fits in a carry-on and is optimized for viewing the Sun and stars aboard cruise ships.

Kelly holds a Bachelors degree from the California Institute of Technology and a Master's degree from Boston University. During the 1980s he was among the first Western journalists to gain firsthand access to the Soviet space program. Asteroid 2925 Beatty was named on the occasion of his marriage in 1983, and in 1986 he was chosen one of the 100 semifinalists for NASA's Journalist in Space program.