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The renowned American author visited Chile in January to explore the world’s darkest skies, reflect on their importance, and learn about local advances in protecting this heritage.

During the second week of January, Paul Bogard, American writer and advocate for the conservation of the night sky, arrived in Chile with a clear purpose: to explore the world’s darkest and most pristine skies. The author of the book The End of Night not only seeks to marvel at the beauty of darkness but also to raise awareness about the need to protect it.

Paul’s connection with dark skies began in his childhood while living in the state of Minnesota, United States. At that time, he enjoyed dark nights and a starry sky that would inspire him for a lifetime. “Those stars were my source of inspiration when, after graduating from college, I questioned what I wanted to write about,” he commented.

However, those stars he observed as a child were no longer in the skies of the cities where he lived, affected by light pollution. “That was the spark that triggered the journey that led to the creation of The End of Night and everything I have done in my career. I have always written about nature, but I felt I had found a topic that had not been written about much,” he added.

How darkness impacts our health and the environment

During his career, Paul has published various books such as What If Night?, aimed at children, and To Know a Starry Night, a coffee table book. Additionally, he is the editor of the anthology Let There Be Night: Testimony on Behalf of the Dark. When sharing his work with different audiences, he faces a recurring challenge: the perception of darkness as something dangerous.

On this, he believes it is important to educate and make a cultural change, to leave behind the association of darkness as something negative, but rather something necessary for the health of our environment and ourselves. “Many people think that darkness is unsafe, but it is poor lighting that creates insecurity. Through my work, I seek to teach how important darkness is for environmental, ecological, and human health,” he emphasized.

The impact he has had on this perception is significant, as 83% of people in the world live under polluted skies, unable to appreciate the virtues of a dark sky. “Many people, especially young people living in cities, have never seen true darkness, so they have no idea of its value,” he explained.

Narrative as a tool to protect dark skies

For Paul Bogard, in addition to education, narrative is essential to generate this change because it allows humanizing the problem of light pollution and reaching broader audiences. “A friend of mine says that we didn’t protect the Grand Canyon in the United States just for geologists, but for everyone. The same goes for the night sky: it’s not just for astronomers, it’s for all of us,” he pointed out.

He adds that the ability to convey experiences related to darkness and the starry sky is a powerful tool: “It’s important for people to know that there is a lot of beauty in darkness. Feeling comfortable with it is a fundamental part of being human. The more we learn to appreciate it, the better our lives will be.”

Chile as an example in preserving dark skies

Paul’s trip to Chile was motivated not only by the beauty of its skies but also by the country’s leadership in protecting this heritage. According to the author, Chile has combined astronomy, tourism, and conservation in an exemplary manner, becoming a global reference.

In this regard, he commented that: “The new Chilean laws could be a model for other places. It’s important to show how protecting the night sky can benefit everyone.” He also highlighted that Chile has the opportunity to inspire other locations to value this resource. “There are many beautiful places that don’t realize what they have. Chile could lead by showing how people care for these skies and how important they are,” he concluded.