The UN Office of Outer Space Affairs, IAC, and the IAU are pleased to announce the Conference, Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society II, which will take place from 3–7 October 2021 in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). The Conference follows the online Workshop (with the same title), that took place last October. This time the Conference will focus on the implementation of the recommendations made by the Workshop in its comprehensive Report. Due to persisting COVID-19 restrictions, the in-person attendance will be limited to 150 participants. However, online attendance will also be provided in streaming mode. No Conference fee is foreseen. The key deadlines are as follows:

• 15 July 2021 — Deadline to propose an abstract and to apply for financial support to travel
• 30 July 2021 — Notification of abstracts selection and of award of travel grants
• 15 August 2021 — Registration deadline for those attending in person at La Palma
• 15 September 2021 — Registration deadline for those attending online 

The programme of the conference, the registration form and other details are available on the conference webpage. Sign up here to request to join one of the conference Working Groups. 

Looking forward to meeting you in October — in person or in streaming!

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Contacts

Connie Walker
NSF’s NOIRLab/IAU/AAS/IDA/Chair
President Commission B7
Email: connie.walker@noirlab.edu 

Piero Benvenuti
Conegliano, Italy
Tel: +39 3280117563
E-mail: piero.benvenuti@unipd.it 

Nathalie Ricard
UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA)
Tel: +43 1 26060 83280
Email: Nathalie.Ricard@un.org 

Casiana Muñoz-Tuñón
Email: cmt@iac.es 
José M. Rodríguez Espinosa
Email: jmr.espinosa@iac.es 

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer
Cell: +49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars@eso.org