DarkSkySites

DarkSkySites is a platform designed for astronomers and astrophotographers to discover dark sky locations, analyse light pollution, and plan imaging sessions anywhere on Earth. It combines satellite observations, atmospheric modelling, and community data to provide detailed insights into sky quality and the impact of artificial light.

At its core is a custom data pipeline that processes satellite imagery—primarily from NASA—to track global light emissions over time. This data powers the LUMIX engine, a physically based model that simulates how light travels through the atmosphere, accounting for factors such as scattering, terrain, altitude, and aerosols. The system is continually calibrated using user-submitted SQM measurements and sensor stations, allowing predictions to improve as more real-world data is collected.

In addition to light pollution mapping, DarkSkySites offers a variety of analytical tools for evaluating observing conditions and equipment setups, along with an API that allows other platforms to query sky quality metrics for any location.

Created by astrophotographer and software developer Barrington Russell, the project aims to provide the astronomy community with accurate data and powerful tools for exploring and preserving the night sky.

Visit the DarkSkySites website.

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