Under One Sky 2025 information and registration

Under One Sky is a 24-hour virtual conference hosted by DarkSky, the organization leading the fight against light pollution worldwide. The event brings together advocates, scientists, students, and people who care about preserving dark skies. Taking place entirely online, it follows the path of night across the globe, linking people from many time zones into one continuous event. This year’s Under One Sky will be held on Friday, November 7, and Saturday, November 8, 2025. The entire event is hosted over Zoom, making it accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.

Under One Sky 2025: A global event to unite the dark sky movement

The event includes a full lineup of live talks, community discussions, science updates, and personal stories. All of these sessions are focused on how people around the world are working to reduce light pollution and preserve the natural night sky. Speakers range from scientists and researchers to photographers and volunteers. Whether someone is new to the topic or has been involved for years, the conference provides ideas and motivation to take action.

One of the main draws of this year’s event is the keynote speaker, Lynne Peeples. Lynne is a science journalist and author of the book The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms. Her keynote will explore how artificial light affects human health, especially when it disrupts our natural sleep-wake cycles. This session will help attendees understand why dark skies matter not just for stargazing, but for health and well-being too.

Anyone with an interest in the night sky is encouraged to join. This includes amateur astronomers, scientists, educators, photographers, environmentalists, and curious individuals who are learning about light pollution for the first time. No previous experience is needed, and the event is designed to be welcoming to all.

Under One Sky aims to make the event accessible. That’s why tickets are only $25 during the early bird period, and there’s also a “Pay It Forward” ticket option. This allows one person to cover the cost for someone else who might not be able to afford the ticket. The idea is to keep the community growing and remove cost as a barrier to participation.

Early bird tickets are now on sale for $25. This rate is available through September 1, 2025. After that date, standard ticket pricing will go into effect. Attendees can also choose to make an additional donation during registration, though it’s not required.

Registration is handled through a secure online platform. After registering, participants receive access to the full conference agenda, live Zoom sessions, and links to recordings of the talks once the event ends. This makes it easy to catch up on sessions if a time zone difference or schedule conflict prevents live attendance.

Highlights from the program

• While the full speaker lineup hasn’t been released yet, DarkSky has shared some of what’s coming:
• Keynote by Lynne Peeples, covering light pollution’s effect on human circadian rhythms
• Workshops and panels discussing community advocacy, local policy changes, and success stories
• Science talks from researchers studying the ecological, health, and environmental effects of light pollution
• Personal storytelling from people involved in preserving dark skies around the world
• The event also usually includes breakout groups and opportunities for networking, so participants can connect with others in their region or area of interest.
   

Under One Sky is just one of many initiatives by DarkSky. In the weeks leading up to the event, several other community events are also scheduled. On August 14, 2025, DarkSky is hosting two sessions of “Lighting the Way to Darkness,” a community story shared by Dajana Bjelajac from Serbia. She’ll talk about how a small hiking group led to a nationwide dark sky movement in her country. These sessions are a good preview of the kind of grassroots action and local inspiration that Under One Sky aims to support.

Another big milestone is the announcement of winners from this year’s “Capture the Dark” photo contest. Over 2,200 entries from 22 countries were submitted. The winning photos will be revealed on Wednesday, August 13, and some will be featured in the next issue of Nightscape, DarkSky’s magazine. This contest helps show why the dark sky movement matters, not just through science, but also through art.

Additionally, DarkSky has just welcomed two new certified International Dark Sky Places: Bavarian Forest Nature Park in Germany and Liberty Hill in Texas. These additions bring the total number of Dark Sky Places to 249 worldwide. The annual report for the International Dark Sky Places program was also released, showing progress in the effort to reduce light pollution globally.

To get the most out of the conference, participants are encouraged to read The Inner Clock by Lynne Peeples before the keynote. The book helps explain how exposure to light affects sleep, mental clarity, and physical health. It ties directly into the theme of the event and offers background that will make her talk easier to follow.

Participants should also make sure Zoom is installed and up to date, and test their connection ahead of time if they plan to attend live. DarkSky will provide links and reminders closer to the event to help with access.

The night sky is fading due to artificial lighting. Many people can no longer see the Milky Way from where they live. Under One Sky is part of a growing effort to reverse that trend by bringing people together to learn, share, and act.

Each person who attends leaves with ideas they can use in their own neighborhood. Whether it’s pushing for shielded lighting, talking to local leaders, or joining a dark sky club, the event helps move the needle toward real change. And because it’s virtual, it’s open to anyone, anywhere.

Registration is simple and takes just a few minutes. Visit the official site through darksky.org and click the link to sign up for Under One Sky. If you already have a DarkSky account, you can log in to register. New users can quickly create an account through the same system. Once signed up, attendees will receive email confirmations and updates with session links.

The earlier you register, the better. Early bird pricing ends September 1, and space may be limited for smaller breakout groups.

Event Details Summary

• Event Name: Under One Sky Global Conference 2025
• Dates: Friday, November 7 to Saturday, November 8, 2025
• Location: Zoom web conference (online only)
• Host: DarkSky (darksky.org)
• Keynote Speaker: Lynne Peeples, science journalist and author of The Inner Clock
• Early Bird Ticket: $25 (available through September 1, 2025)
• Pay It Forward Ticket: $25 (covers someone else's attendance)
• Optional Donation: Additional contribution field available during signup
• Registration Platform: Powered by EveryAction
• Zoom Access: Provided via email after registration
• Contact Info Needed: Name, address, email (phone optional)
• Book Recommendation: The Inner Clock by Lynne Peeples
• Photo Contest: “Capture the Dark” winners announced August 13, 2025
• Related Events: August 14, 2025 - Advocate Action sessions with Dajana Bjelajac
   

Design After Dark

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