Exhibitions

Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky

March 23, 2023 – December 2025
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Night sky (detail) © Babak Tafreshi, TWAN

National Museum of Natural History
10th St. & Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC

2nd Floor

See on map Floor Plan

Artificial lights have become such common nighttime fixtures that we take them for granted. But what do brighter nights mean for people and wildlife? The effects of light pollution go beyond our diminishing view of the stars, but the solutions can have an immediate impact.

Through over 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, interactive experiences, tactile models, and a theater program, discover why dark nights matter, rekindle your connection with the night sky, and consider how much light at night is enough—for whom, for what purpose, and who gets to decide?