Subscribe
  • News
    • Wildfire News
    • Local
    • Bozeman
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners News
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Wildfire News
    • Local
    • Bozeman
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners News
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Reflections: Preserving Big Sky’s dark skies

in Arts & Entertainment, Opinion
Reflections: Preserving Big Sky’s dark skies
Outlaw Partnersby Outlaw Partners
March 26, 2020

By Kathy Bouchard EBS CONTRIBUTOR

For nearly a week each winter month, fair skies are rinsed of all but the brightest stars by the gleaming splendor of the full moon. It is the perfect time to strap on skis or snowshoes and experience the ethereal vistas of cool white mountains touching the blue-grey heavens. Everything casts deep moon shadows and all the contours of landscape are rendered otherworldly by lunar brilliance on the snowy world. The often bitingly cold night absolutely glows.

None of this happens without pure white snow, one of the most reflective substances known. Snow bounces about 90 percent of any light which strikes it in all directions, mostly up, thus dimming the stars, but thoroughly illuminating a good deal of real estate. The reflective quality of a substance is named albedo. The albedo of the polar caps during summer months once prevented melting by bouncing light away. The albedo of loamy black dirt is almost non-existent. And perhaps our snowy albedo is under appreciated by perfectly wonderful planners and designers who don’t spend six months every year happily living with snow as we (mostly) do.

October 6 - 10 2025 Big Sky Community Week October 6 - 10 2025 Big Sky Community Week October 6 - 10 2025 Big Sky Community Week
ADVERTISEMENT

How else to explain the loss of darkness in Big Sky? Despite the need for security, publicity or safe streets, Big Sky is overlit because every watt from any bulb is nearly doubled in the presence of snow. Virtually every new commercial building is made festive with what once looked like fairy lights, but now have a more determinedly industrial aspect. Big Sky is suffering from light pollution. I can’t believe it is intentional, but it needs to be remedied. Before a single new home or business is built or completed anywhere in our community in the future, please let it be dark-sky compliant. Please let it have just enough soft lighting to be snug and cozy and no more. For those who recently built and have more light than you expected, blame the snow, and please reduce your wattage.

I have heard from a number of residents about this issue. One told me he actually moved recently to escape the lighting situation. There really is no reason for this problem to continue or worsen. If you are developing property, speak to your architects. If you are in a subdivision, including commercial subdivisions along Highway 191, learn about the International Dark Sky Association and reduce your wattage. With all the newest technology of cameras, motion detectors and security apps, bright unshaded lights are wasteful and unneighborly. If you are a concerned resident becoming more aware of the glories of darkness, share your values with your neighbors and home-owner associations. Like tanning, glittering city lights are so last century.

Preserving dark skies is one way to preserve wilderness. It increases the value of the Montana experience. Many people treasure what we are in danger of losing—the dark. We can’t control the spheres but we must control our lights, because for nearly a week each winter month, fair skies are studded with all the brightest stars in the absence of the moon, and the night absolutely glows.

One way to monitor your light is to turn on your indoor and outdoor lights per your normal usage. Walk around the perimeter of your property and see if you can see the filaments, the light producers, in any of your bulbs. If you can, then light is escaping from your property. Shades or curtains could help for indoor lighting, dark-sky compliant fixtures will help outside. And don’t forget the light magnifying quality of snow, which means a little goes a long way in winter.

Kathy Bouchard is a member of the Rotary Club of Big Sky’s Sustainability Committee. She has been a Montana resident for 20 years and is inspired to work for sustainability on behalf of her grandchildren.

Yellowstone National Park Lodge Yellowstone National Park Lodge
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Outlaw Beat Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes
outlaw realty montana outlaw realty montana
ADVERTISEMENT
Outlaw Realty Big Sky Bozeman
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 30
September 30 @ 3:00 pm - October 2 @ 5:00 pm Event Series

Big Sky Octoberfest

Oct 1
October 1 @ 3:00 pm - October 3 @ 5:00 pm Event Series

Big Sky Octoberfest

Oct 2
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

“FALL COLORS” Big Sky Artists’ Collective

Oct 2
October 2 @ 3:00 pm - October 4 @ 5:00 pm Event Series

Big Sky Octoberfest

Oct 2
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Manhattan Short Film Festival

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Thriving Landscapes: Wildlife Lives Here Too—Rethinking Your Outdoor Spaces
Environment

Thriving Landscapes: Wildlife Lives Here Too—Rethinking Your Outdoor Spaces

October 1, 2025
County Commissioners support Zinke’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Bill
Environment

County Commissioners support Zinke’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Bill

October 1, 2025
Seizing a once-in-a-generation chance to protect the Gallatin and Madison rivers
Environment

Seizing a once-in-a-generation chance to protect the Gallatin and Madison rivers

September 29, 2025
WMPAC announces fall performances 
Arts & Entertainment

WMPAC announces fall performances 

September 29, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Bozeman News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners News
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Wildfire News
    • Local
    • Bozeman
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners News
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube