The University of Utah in Salt Lake City has formally recognized the Consortium for Dark Sky Studies, an academic center dedicated to discovering, developing, communicating and applying knowledge about the quality of night skies.

The multi-institutional research group, based in the university's College of Architecture and Planning, consists of over 25 university, industry, community and governmental partners. Members will research light pollution and the health, economic, and environmental impacts it has, with efforts made to preserve dark skies.

The International Dark-Sky Association has designated more Dark Sky places in Utah than in any other state, province or country, so it's fitting that the consortium is headquartered there.

The consortium is partnering with ALAN (Artificial Light at Night), an international research group, to host their annual conference in November 2018.

For more information on the Consortium for Dark Sky Studies, visit Utah.edu. For more information on Dark Sky places in Utah and around the world, visit darksky.org.