Chad Moore

Chad Moore holds degrees in Geography and Earth Science and has a longtime interest in the beauty and science of the night sky. Mr. Moore co-founded the U.S. National Park Service Night Skies Program in 1999 and led that team through 2014. This team of scientists, naturalists, and educators developed methods and instrumentation for measuring light pollution, sponsored several outdoor lighting retrofits in parks, and developed policies for the cooperative protection of night skies in parks and communities. The Night Skies Program was awarded the International Dark-Sky Association’s Dark Sky Defender Award in 2013 and their work has appeared in documentary films and books. Mr. Moore was instrumental in developing the concept of Dark Sky Parks and Dark Sky Reserves, popularizing astronomy festivals, and elevating the practice of night sky ranger programs in over a hundred national and state parks. He has served as chair of two International Dark-Sky Association committees, the Dark Sky Places committee and the Technical Committee, and remains engaged in international dark sky conservation efforts and the application of better outdoor lighting practices. His favorite hobby is sharing the night sky with others.