Nebraska Dark Sky

Nebraska Dark Sky is a three-site installation created for the University of Nebraska Omaha’s STEM TRAIL Center. Inspired by the federally protected dark skies in Northwest Nebraska, the work began with photographs taken by astronomers who gather there each summer.

The hallway leading to the atrium features glass panels covering a star mural. Each pane of glass is engraved with hand-drawn images of Merritt Reservoir’s botanical specimens as seen under a microscope. They are then surrounded by 360 LEDs wired to a custom circuit board with a microcontroller and sensor activated by human motion. As people walk down the hall, their presence illuminates the drawings and obscures the stars. When they are still, the glass sunsets, revealing the stars again.

This project incorporates open-source electronics, sensors, programming, circuit building, photography, mapping, and citizen science—all elements taught in STEM Trail courses. These installations explore the excitement of lenses and illumination to allow us to witness surprising and beautiful elements of the natural world while reminding us that to see the furthest we have to preserve the darkness. This balance is important not only for humans but for all species.

Project Partners

Here is the full copy for this space: Omaha Project Partners:

• Nebraska Arts Council
• Chris Russell – Circuit Design and Fabrication, Programming
• Sonali Deshmukh- Image of Milky Way
• John Poole – Image of Nebula
• Pat Weeks, John Blackburn, Paul Garner – Install Nation Glass Panel Fabrication and Installation
• Bob and Jeanne Smith – Wooden Ways and Old Days Glass Etching
• Quality Glass – Glass cutting and tempering