Starry Skies North presents first Dark Sky Friendly Business Certifications in Cook County during event with AstroBob
Dec 16, 2025 11:27AM ● By Content Editor
Bob King demonstrates the difference between shielded light and non-shielded light during his Dark Sky presentation at the Johnson Heritage Post during the Dark Sky Festival. All photos by Alex Dobbins
By Alex Dobbins and Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - December 16, 2025
Visit Cook County hosted the annual Dark Sky Festival this past weekend, featuring a series of events timed perfectly with the peak of the Geminiad Meteor Shower, even as clouds moved in and out of the area. There were glimpses of the aurora this weekend as well.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is the largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world. People travel here from around the world to experience the untouched wonders of the night sky, a new form of tourism called astro-tourism.
Bob King, also known as AstroBob, is a Duluth resident and a dark sky lover. He is passionate about spreading ways to minimize light pollution. His passion for the dark sky has led him to write for news sites and magazines like Sky & Telescope and the Duluth News Tribune. He enjoys teaching and hosts astronomy community education classes in the Duluth area. AstroBob came to Grand Marais for the Dark Sky Festival to lead multiple events.
Bob King, also known as "AstroBob," demonstrates what shield lights look like during the presentation.
On Saturday night at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery in Grand Marais, King held a captivating presentation on light pollution. There were about 30-40 people in attendance. In his presentation, he shared ways to address light pollution, highlighting both cultural and environmental impacts. He argued that reclaiming the dark sky allows us to reconnect with our heritage while warning that current levels of artificial light are destroying our ability to view the night sky.
Beyond human impact, he noted that light pollution causes habitat loss and disorients wildlife, especially during migration periods. Additionally, he pointed out that unshielded lighting is wasteful, with only 40% of the energy providing useful illumination, while the remaining 60% is lost to the sky.
Image: Starry Skies North
The presentation ended with an awards ceremony hosted by Starry Skies North, a local organization dedicated to dark-sky preservation. The ceremony recognized local businesses that successfully completed an application process proving their buildings are dark-sky compliant.
Mark Morgen, representing Starry Skies North, presented a round of certifications - the first ever. Moving forward, the organization aims to make this an annual event to celebrate the local commitment to reducing light pollution.
To qualify for the Dark Sky Friendly Business certification from Starry Skies North, businesses must adhere to specific lighting standards designed to reduce light pollution and glare. According to the Starry Skies North website, specifically, all indoor and outdoor lighting must be shielded or directed so that no light escapes above the horizon or crosses property lines as light trespass. Furthermore, businesses must use bulbs with a warm, golden color temperature of 2,700 Kelvin or lower to minimize environmental impact. In addition, certified businesses must commit to responsible lighting management, ensure all future installations remain dark-sky compliant, and agree to periodic recertification to maintain their status.The local Grand Marais businesses that were awarded these certificates were:
Lake Superior Trading Post
Cook County Higher Education
The North House Folk School
Click here to see how your business can qualify to be dark sky certified.
Lake Superior Trading Post owner Eric Humphrey (right) and Mark Morgen (left).
Karen Blackburn (right) accepts the Dark Sky Certification award for Cook County Higher Education. Pictured with Mark Morgen (left).
Liv Sulerud (right) accepts the Dark Sky Certification award for North House Folk School. Pictured with Mark Morgen (left).
