HJ 74 — International Dark Sky Week; designating as week of new moon April 2024.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24105129D I HOUSE JOfferedJOINT JanuaryRESOLUTION 17,NO. 2024 N Designating the week of the new moon in April, in 2024 and in each succeeding year, as International Dark Sky Week in Virginia.

T74 ––––––––––E RDesignating Patrons––Reid,the Higginsweek of the new moon in April, in 2024 and McNamara;in each succeeding year, as International N Dark Sky Week in Virginia.

Senators:R AgreedAgreed to by the Senate, February 27, 2024 2024 O L WHEREAS, the beauty and majesty of a natural night sky is a shared heritage of all humankind, and L theWHEREAS, many people in Virginia live under a dome of light pollution––excessive artificial E nighttime lighting that disrupts natural darkness––and may never experience the joys of stargazing or the ecological and health benefits of living under a natural, dark sky;

Suetterlein and Surovell O –––––––––– Referred to Committee on Rules D WHEREAS,impacts the beautyecology and majestyhuman ofhealth a natural night sky is a shared heritage of allaffected humankind,communities; and the experience of standing beneath a starry night sky inspires feelings of wonder and awe;

andlight WHEREAS,pollution manyrepresents people in Virginia live under a domewaste of lightresources pollution––excessiveamounting artificialto Croughly nighttime$3 lightingbillion thatper disruptsyear naturalof darkness––andwasted mayenergy neverin experience the joysUnited ofStates; stargazEng or the ecological and health benefits of living under a natural, dark sky;

and WHEREAS, lightVirginia pollutionis hashome provento economicseveral andrenowned environmentalastronomical consequencesobservatories, andincluding significantlyFan resourcesObservatory amountingin toCharlottesville, roughlyGeorge $3Mason billionObservatory perin yearFairfax, ofWinfree wastedObservatory energy in theLynchburg, Unitedand States;Stokesville Observatory in Stokesville;

andsteand ofH WHEREAS, Virginia is home to severalfour renownedstate astronomicalparks, observatories,Staunton includingRiver FanState MountainPark, ObservatoryJames inRiver AlbemarleState County,Park, Keeble7 ObservatoryNatural inBridge Ashland,State LeanderPark, McCormickand ObservatorySky inMeadows Charlottesville,State GeorgePark, Masonthat Observatoryare inall Fairfax,designated Winfreeas ObservatoryInternational inDark Lynchburg,E SkyWHEREAS, DarkSky International is the globally recognized authority on light pollution and Stokesvillehas ObservatoryR increated Stokesville;International Dark Sky Week to raise awareness of light pollution;

andthe WHEREAS,organization Virginiaprovides isfree homeeducation, resources, and solutions to fourfacilitate statethe parks,protection Stauntonand Riverenjoyment Stateof Park,dark Jamesskies Riverand Stateencourage Park,resWHEREAS, International Dark Sky Parksweek byprovides DarkSkyan International;opportunity for all Virginians to learn more about light pollution, support efforts to protect dark skies, and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the night sky above and ponder the cosmic eons beyond;

andowsnow, Statetherefore, Park,be thatit arethe allweek designatedof asthe InternationalJDarknew WHEREAS,moon DarkSkyin InternationalApril, isin the2024 globallyand recognizedin authorityeach onsucceeding lightyear, pollutionas and has created International Dark Sky Week toin raiseVirginia; awareness of light pollution;

theand, organizationbe providesit freeRESOLVED education,FURTHER, resources,That andthe solutionsClerk toof facilitate the protectionHouse andof enjoymentDelegates transmit a copy of darkthis skiesresolution andGeneral encourageAssembly responsibleof outdoorVirginia lighting;in this matter;

andand, WHEREAS,be Internationalitation Darkmay Skybe weekapprised providesof anthe opportunitysense forof allthe VirginiansRESOLVED toFINALLY, learnThat morethe Clerk of the nightHouse skyof aboveDelegates andpost ponderthe designation of this week on the cosmicGeneral eonsAssembly's beyond;website.

now, therefore, be it to appreciate the beauty RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate the week of the new moon in April, in 2024 and in each succeeding year, as International Dark Sky Week in Virginia;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution :

35 to DarkSky International so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the 37 GenRESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this week 38 on the General Assembly's website.