ABSTRACT
Dark Skies addresses a significant gap in knowledge in relation to perspectives from the arts, humanities, and social sciences. In providing a new multi- and interdisciplinary field of inquiry, this book brings together engagements with dark skies from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, empirical studies, and theoretical orientations.
Throughout history, the relationship with dark skies has generated a sense of wonder and awe, as well as providing the basis for important cultural meanings and spiritual beliefs. However, the connection to darks skies is now under threat due to the widespread growth of light pollution and the harmful impacts that this has upon humans, non-humans, and the planet we share. This book, therefore, examines the rich potential of dark skies and their relationships with place, communities, and practices to provide new insights and understandings on their importance for our world in an era of climate emergency and environmental degradation.
This book is intended for a wide audience. It will be of interest to scholars, students, and professionals in geography, design, astronomy, anthropology, ecology, history, and public policy, as well as anyone who has an interest in how we can protect the night sky for the benefit of us all and the future generations to follow.
The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part 1|31 pages
Introduction
part 2|49 pages
Creative engagements with dark places
chapter 2|18 pages
Creative approaches to dark skies research
chapter 3|13 pages
Dark skies in southern Scotland and northern England
part 3|36 pages
Sensing dark landscapes
chapter 7|14 pages
Considering festive illuminations in dark sky places
part 4|42 pages
Non-human entanglements with dark skies
part 5|41 pages
Dark sky communities
chapter 12|12 pages
Who is afraid under dark skies?
part 6|45 pages
Dark sky tourism
part 7|19 pages
Conclusion