Dark Skies

New from the popular In the Moment series--in search of the darkest night skies, Anna Levin uncovers a sense of wonder about the universe that will help you to understand more about our own pale blue dot.

The darkness of the night represents something unknowable and mysterious. But when we look up, we can find celestial light shows, whole galaxies, and even a new perspective on our Earthly concerns. The night sky offers us an essential connection to something bigger than ourselves, a vast, timeless expanse that extinguishes our individual concerns.

Humans have tried to make sense of the night sky since ancient times. From physicists and meteorologists to astrologists, artists, philosophers and poets, it has been a source of inspiration, wonder, and exploration. Now, our access to darkness is under threat, and many of us are flocking to see the stars while we can--in a new wave of 'astrotourism'.

In this concise volume, Anna Levin looks at how we can learn from and nurture our relationship with the night sky, even--especially--in the context of our changing world.

Anna Levin is a writer with a special interest in the natural world and people's connection with it. She makes complex scientific subjects accessible to a general readership. A former section editor with BBC Wildlife, Anna writes for a variety of publications and environmental organizations including eight years as a contributing editor with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. Her book Incandescent, a deep dive into our relationship with artificial light, was published by Saraband in 2019. She is a caption writer for the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and runs creative writing workshops through the charity Open Book.