Documenting the desert’s dark skies
By Jadyn Bauer, WISDOM intern
“Participating in the dark night sky survey through the WISDOM internship was more than just a chance to collect data—it was a formative step in my journey as an aspiring conservationist.”
Jadyn Bauer looking for the zenith.
Data is a crucial piece of conservation. Without accurate data, it is difficult to relay and justify the importance of conserving our public lands. Public lands are shared places where all should be able to come and enjoy the raw presence of nature in its best condition. Part of my experience with the Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) internship was collecting integral data on our dark night skies in Mojave Trails National Monument.
WISDOM is a paid internship opportunity offered by the Mojave Desert Land Trust to provide underrepresented communities with equitable access to research. Femme-aligned students can experience what it is like to work with a team in the field collecting data and analyzing what is collected.
From September 2024 through April 2025, dark night sky surveys took place across Mojave Trails National Monument. The surveys were carried out by myself, Jadyn Bauer, and my colleagues Sierra Vasquez and Shawnta Akins. This project’s objective is to collect accurate sky quality readings from seven designated locations throughout the monument. This study was intended to help the Bureau of Land Management in its efforts to seek International Dark Sky Sanctuary recognition for the monument.
Taken March 1, 2025 in Newberry Springs.
How we worked
Each field night would begin an hour before sunset at MDLT’s headquarters in Joshua Tree. There, we would load up the equipment into the vehicle and prepare for the night ahead. After driving roughly 40 minutes to the first data point, Sheephole Pass, the team assembles necessary tools: a Sky Quality Meter (SQM), a camera, and the field night data sheet. The work is divided up: one intern captures long-exposure photos facing each cardinal direction, another takes five SQM readings to measure light pollution, and a third fills out the field sheet with key variables such as time, date, location, cloud coverage, moon visibility, and other factors that could influence the sky view.
This routine is repeated at all seven data collection points: Sheephole Pass, Amboy Crater, Bagdad, Siberia, Ragtown, Pisgah Crater and finally, Afton Canyon, the westernmost data collection point in the monument. There, the team camps until morning.
Once back in the office, interns enter the previous night's data into a master spreadsheet. If information is missing, we consult resources like National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or Time and Date to verify weather conditions and moon phases. Once complete, each site’s median SQM reading is submitted to Globe at Night—a free, public citizen-science database dedicated to tracking sky brightness around the world.
The data collected over the six months was mostly consistent with previous years, slightly straying with Amboy Crater being designated the darkest of all points, but consistent with Afton Canyon being one of the lightest. The consistency between previous years’ data and our current data were further evidence that the night skies in these beautiful areas should be protected.
2024-2025 data highlights:
Darkest current site: Amboy Crater – 19.89 (previously Sheephole Wilderness – 21.9)
Lightest current sites: Pisgah Crater and Afton Canyon – 19.144 (previously Afton Canyon – 21.38)
Readings of 20, 21 and higher indicate a dark sky where stars are most visible. Readings of 17, 16 and lower indicate a light sky, this could be due to artificial light or moon glow. Readings in between indicate a mix of visibility of the two. These declining values of past and current surveys may indicate the spread of artificial light and its encroachment on once-pristine areas. Light pollution is more than just an aesthetic issue. It directly affects both human and environmental health.
Shawnta Akins, WISDOM intern (right). Mackenzie Nelson, WISDOM Mentor (middle). Sierra Vasquez, WISDOM intern (back left). Jadyn Bauer, WISDOM intern (front left). Photo taken in Sheephole Canyon by Jessica Graybill.
Loss of dark skies, a scientific concern and cultural loss
Exposure to artificial light, especially blue light from LEDs and screens, disrupts our circadian rhythm—the natural internal clock that governs our sleep and hormone cycles. As research by Zeman et al. (2023) supports, disrupted circadian rhythms lead to sleep issues, hormonal imbalances, and increased stress. Constant exposure to artificial light suppresses melatonin production, which plays a role in metabolism, immunity, and the body’s stress response. Moreover, pollutants like smog and particulate matter that influence our visibility also can cause inflammation, leading to higher risks of heart attacks and strokes (CDC, 2023).
Humans aren’t the only ones with circadian rhythms. Wildlife, too, rely on the natural cycles of light and dark. In the desert, an extremely large percentage of the fauna is primarily active at night to evade the striking heat and harsh desert sun. Excessive artificial light in natural habitats can disrupt animals' internal clocks, leading to irregular sleep patterns and missed migration or mating windows. Many animals' survival is contingent on their ability to follow these natural rhythms.
Mojave Trails National Monument is rich in history and cultural significance. It includes lands sacred to the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Shoshone, Serrano, Kawaiisu, Cahuilla, and Paiute peoples (Digital-Desert, n.d.). The monument also protects an undeveloped stretch of Route 66, remnants of the World War II-era Desert Training Center, and a network of ancient trade routes used by Indigenous people and early settlers.
Preserving the night sky in this region means preserving the landscapes, traditions, and ecological processes that have existed here for generations. The desert night sky has long served as a vital tool for navigation, storytelling, timekeeping, and spiritual reflection. Its disappearance isn’t just a scientific concern—it’s a cultural loss.
A formative step in my journey
I had been involved in previous restoration projects and conservation initiatives before, but none like WISDOM. From the very beginning, WISDOM and the Mojave Desert Land Trust team that I was working with were nothing but helpful, informative and supportive of my goals and long-term career aspirations. Because of this internship I was able to have my first fieldwork experience as an undergraduate Environmental Science and Biology major in one of the smallest Community Colleges in California, where opportunity can be scarce and not easily accessible.
Participating in the dark night sky survey through the WISDOM internship was more than just a chance to collect data—it was a formative step in my journey as an aspiring conservationist.
This experience gave me tangible skills, a deeper understanding of conservation science, and a renewed sense of purpose. Having the opportunity to work alongside inspiring mentors and peers, I was able to witness firsthand how science, community, and cultural respect intersect in the field.
The work we did to document and protect the Mojave’s dark skies wasn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet—it was about safeguarding something sacred, for both present and future generations. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and look forward to continuing this kind of meaningful, community-based research as I move forward in my academic and professional career.
References and further reading:
Digital-Desert. (n.d.). History of Native Americans in the Mojave Preserve. https://digital-desert.com/mojave-preserve/native-american-history.htmlDigital Desert+1Digital Desert+1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, March 14). About air quality. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/air-quality/about/index.html
Zeman, M., Okuliarova, M., & Rumanova, V. S. (2023). Disturbances of hormonal circadian rhythms by light pollution. Neuroendocrinology, 112(11), 1116–1128. https://doi.org/10.1159/000524235
What I learned in studying the night sky
Former intern Shawnta Akins describes her experience in WISDOM’s dark night sky surveys.
Preserving the night
Our dark night skies are fading, but this team of researchers is helping to understand how we can protect them.
Click the image to access a free downloadable zine about the importance of night sky conservation by Sierra Vasquez, former WISDOM intern with the Dark Night Sky survey project.
Established in 2019, Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) is an MDLT internship that provides women from underrepresented communities with opportunities to engage in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields by gaining experience and conducting scientific research. The program fosters an environment of mentorship and career exploration by connecting female students with researchers and professionals, helping to develop the next generation of scientists.
WISDOM is supported by the Conservation Lands Foundation and is a collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management.