Fleischmann Planetarium Celebrates Dark-Skies Awareness at Earth Hour Event

On Saturday, March 28, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., as many as 1 billion people and organizations around the world will turn off their lights as part of Earth Hour, a global initiative led by the World Wildlife Fund. In addition to saving energy, the lights-out event will raise awareness of the issue of light pollution and provide an opportunity to view stars often rendered invisible to the human eye by artificial light filling night skies.

In Reno, Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center at UNR will celebrate Earth Hour and Dark Skies Awareness from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the River School, 7777 White Fir St. in Reno. The evening of free events will include a dark-skies film at 7 p.m., lights-out stargazing at the River School amphitheater for Earth Hour, 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and a bonfire and celebration starting at 9:30 p.m. Refreshments will be available for a donation to the River School, which is lending its facilities in support of Earth Hour and Dark Skies Awareness. For more information, call (775) 784-4811.

The City of Reno will celebrate Earth Hour Reno by dousing the Reno Arch lights on Saturday between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. We will be joining cities and famous locations worldwide, including the Great Pyramids of Giza. At this writing, 1,189 cities and towns across 80 countries have committed to participate. Reno citizens are encouraged to turn off all non-essential lighting in government buildings, schools, landmarks, businesses, and households between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. as part of this city-wide green event.

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