Nightfaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness by Megan Eaves-Egenes, New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2026, ISBN 9780306835339, Hardbound, $30.00, US
The author, editor of the organization DarkSky’s magazine Nightscape, has long been a passionate advocate of dark skies, and the need to protect them around the world. To prove this she has spent time traveling around the world in search of the darkest regions she can find; in doing so, she not only found herself in areas very few persons venture to, but also was introduced to customs not often observed by travelers, and learning the varied myths concerning the sky, which often seemed similar to that of cultures around the world. The most common ones she learned mentioned the Pleiades, the cup-shaped open star cluster visible from most inhabited regions on Earth.
Eaves-Egenes also wished to learn more about astronomy, and its effects on history. She first goes back in time to 1420, where Ulugh-Beg, in his early 20s, established his observatory. Though he did become ruler of the Timurid Empire, his love of the sky never wavered. The author traveled to the site of this ancient wonder, now virtually gone, but was able to note why this was such an invaluable observing place.
She then returned to Mount Everest (Qomolangma), the highest point on Earth where, as she noted, is the closest to the stars someone can be while still on our planet. Then, in searching for complete darkness, she learned of a “modern monastery” where persons can be in solitary darkness for several days, a feat she came to learn is not as easy as first assumed, but did have her better appreciate the balance of night versus day.
From there, the author continues her journey around the world, finding joy in dark skies in Japan and South America, all the while meeting and enjoying the camaraderie of those who are also doing everything possible to secure dark skies.
The author admits that her background, although not as conventional as many readers, did help her in her ventures across continents to learn the history and culture of dark skies, and the need to preserve them, could not have been so perfectly written by others who might have attempted to do a trek of this kind. Her background, and love of the sky, which started in her youth, made this book one that all who want to continue the DarkSky philosophy must read.
