Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is darksky.org legit or a scam?
darksky.org was registered Apr 24, 1995 (31 years old), per public registration records. AboutUs doesn't label sites "legit" or "a scam": this page lists the dated registration, DNS, HTTPS, mail-authentication and safety checks we could verify, each with its source, so you can decide for yourself.
Who owns darksky.org?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for darksky.org. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
When was darksky.org registered?
darksky.org's registration dates to Apr 24, 1995 (31 years old), per public registration records. Cloudflare, Inc. is the registrar on record today.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
The site's bot protection blocked AboutUs's HTTPS check; all 1 of the other checks passed (Nov 14, 2026).
Registered 1995 · AboutUs's live check was blocked by the site's bot protection
DarkSky.org advocates quality outdoor lighting to fight light pollution
) was incorporated in 1988 as a tax-exempt non-profit organization operating exclusively for educational and scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the lawfully solicits donations and applies for grants in order to maintain the organization and further its mission; see our page on funding sources for details.
AboutUs has not vetted this site. Everything below is what we could measure automatically. Anything you do on the site — paying, sharing personal details, downloading — is between you and the site, not AboutUs.
Current facts
Latest available measurements; dated entries retain their dates. These are measurements, not an endorsement of the site.
latest result
Domain registered Apr 24, 1995 — 31 years old.
latest result
Registrar on record: Cloudflare, Inc. — unchanged since AboutUs began tracking (Sep 3, 2026).
checked Sep 30, 2026
The site names DarkSky International as the organisation behind it.
checked Sep 30, 2026
The live front page reads as a non-profit, association or religious site that is funded by donations or members, mainly for a general audience.
Authority 80/100— ahead of 80% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
80 is a percentile: higher than 80% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #31,801)+7
Verified continuity: 31.6 years (RDAP registration)+11
Identity corroboration (capped)+4
Security & email hygiene+5
Calibration adjustment (published map)+14
Model score: 41/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 80/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date; self-description below is the 2013 record.
1995
Domain registered (Apr 24, 1995).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 19, 2006); profile edited 4 times through 2013.
2013
Self-description at the time:
“DarkSky.org advocates quality outdoor lighting to fight light pollution”
2026
Checked today — The site's bot protection blocked AboutUs's HTTPS check; all 1 of the other checks passed (Nov 14, 2026).
✓ domain continuity 31 years registered– live check blocked the site's bot protection turned the check away Nov 14, 2026
Safety evidence
No unexpired threat-feed result; name-similarity check available (recorded about 5 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 5 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
No caution flags in the available scoring observations; this is not a complete safety assessment
Lifeline · darksky.org over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 31 years ago · on AboutUs since 2006 · 2 registrar changes since Aug 15, 2016 · no registrant change on record since 2016 · last checked Nov 9, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredApr 24, 1995darksky.org was registered on Apr 24, 1995.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 19, 2006 – Nov 4, 2013An AboutUs wiki page described darksky.org from Jun 19, 2006 to Nov 4, 2013 (4 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023Said about itself in 2006
Registrar
Network Solutions, LLCAug 15, 2016 – Jan 4, 2018Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for darksky.org, from Aug 15, 2016 to Jan 4, 2018.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)TUCOWS, INC.Aug 4, 2018 – Apr 7, 2022
Registrant
Registrant recordsAug 15, 2016 – Jun 26, 2026Registration records for darksky.org are held from Aug 15, 2016 to Jun 26, 2026 (85 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
No registrant changes recorded, 2016–2026
Zone file
Nameservers: GoDaddyAug 15, 2016 – May 28, 2017Registration records listed GoDaddy nameservers (ns05.domaincontrol.com, ns06.domaincontrol.com) for darksky.org from Aug 15, 2016 to May 28, 2017.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Certificate
AmazonAmazonJun 20, 2025 – Nov 14, 2026Amazon issued 6 certificates for darksky.org from Jun 20, 2025, the latest valid until May 6, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)Let's EncryptMar 24, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026
200020102020Jan ’26Oct ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (18)
Apr 24, 1995Registration: darksky.org was registered on Apr 24, 1995.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
Jun 19, 2006 – Nov 4, 2013AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described darksky.org from Jun 19, 2006 to Nov 4, 2013 (4 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “) was incorporated in 1988 as a tax-exempt non-profit organization operating exclusively for educational and scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Aug 15, 2016 – Jan 4, 2018Registrar: Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for darksky.org, from Aug 15, 2016 to Jan 4, 2018.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Aug 15, 2016 – Jun 26, 2026Registrant: Registration records for darksky.org are held from Aug 15, 2016 to Jun 26, 2026 (85 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Aug 15, 2016 – May 28, 2017
Jul 1, 2006
“) was incorporated in 1988 as a tax-exempt non-profit organization operating exclusively for educational and scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Current AboutUs recordJun 25, 2026 – Nov 9, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 9, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Registrar TUCOWS, INC. (IANA 69) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for darksky.org, from Aug 4, 2018 to Apr 7, 2022.
Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Cloudflare, Inc.Cloudflare, Inc.May 8, 2022 – Nov 12, 2026 (latest)Registrar Cloudflare, Inc. (IANA 1910) in the registration data recorded, first on May 8, 2022 and most recently on Nov 12, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
Nameservers: worldnic.com
May 29, 2017 – Jan 4, 2018
Registration records listed worldnic.com nameservers (ns59.worldnic.com, ns60.worldnic.com) for darksky.org from May 29, 2017 to Jan 4, 2018.
Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to worldnic.comMay 29, 2017darksky.org's nameservers moved from GoDaddy to worldnic.com between May 28, 2017 and May 29, 2017. Last seen at GoDaddy: May 28, 2017 (registration record). First seen at worldnic.com: May 29, 2017 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: hover.comAug 4, 2018 – Nov 2, 2021Registration records listed hover.com nameservers (ns1.hover.com, ns2.hover.com) for darksky.org from Aug 4, 2018 to Nov 2, 2021.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to hover.comAug 4, 2018darksky.org's nameservers moved from worldnic.com to hover.com at some point between Jan 4, 2018 and Aug 4, 2018. Last seen at worldnic.com: Jan 4, 2018 (registration record). First seen at hover.com: Aug 4, 2018 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 7 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: CloudflareNameservers: CloudflareDec 18, 2021 – Jun 26, 2026Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (julissa.ns.cloudflare.com, kobe.ns.cloudflare.com) for darksky.org from Dec 18, 2021 to Jun 26, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to CloudflareDec 18, 2021darksky.org's nameservers moved from hover.com to Cloudflare at some point between Nov 2, 2021 and Dec 18, 2021. Last seen at hover.com: Nov 2, 2021 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Dec 18, 2021 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 46 days in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Let's Encrypt issued 86 certificates for darksky.org from Mar 24, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 8, 2027.
Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Google Trust ServicesApr 20, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026 (latest)Google Trust Services issued 12 certificates for darksky.org from Apr 20, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 13, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 30, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 30, 2026
Zone file: Registration records listed GoDaddy nameservers (ns05.domaincontrol.com, ns06.domaincontrol.com) for darksky.org from Aug 15, 2016 to May 28, 2017.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
May 29, 2017 – Jan 4, 2018Zone file: Registration records listed worldnic.com nameservers (ns59.worldnic.com, ns60.worldnic.com) for darksky.org from May 29, 2017 to Jan 4, 2018.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
May 29, 2017Zone file: darksky.org's nameservers moved from GoDaddy to worldnic.com between May 28, 2017 and May 29, 2017. Last seen at GoDaddy: May 28, 2017 (registration record). First seen at worldnic.com: May 29, 2017 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Aug 4, 2018 – Apr 7, 2022Registrar: Registrar TUCOWS, INC. (IANA 69) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for darksky.org, from Aug 4, 2018 to Apr 7, 2022.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Aug 4, 2018 – Nov 2, 2021Zone file: Registration records listed hover.com nameservers (ns1.hover.com, ns2.hover.com) for darksky.org from Aug 4, 2018 to Nov 2, 2021.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Aug 4, 2018Zone file: darksky.org's nameservers moved from worldnic.com to hover.com at some point between Jan 4, 2018 and Aug 4, 2018. Last seen at worldnic.com: Jan 4, 2018 (registration record). First seen at hover.com: Aug 4, 2018 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 7 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Dec 18, 2021 – Jun 26, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (julissa.ns.cloudflare.com, kobe.ns.cloudflare.com) for darksky.org from Dec 18, 2021 to Jun 26, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Dec 18, 2021Zone file: darksky.org's nameservers moved from hover.com to Cloudflare at some point between Nov 2, 2021 and Dec 18, 2021. Last seen at hover.com: Nov 2, 2021 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Dec 18, 2021 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 46 days in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
May 8, 2022 – Nov 12, 2026Registrar: Registrar Cloudflare, Inc. (IANA 1910) in the registration data recorded, first on May 8, 2022 and most recently on Nov 12, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
Jun 20, 2025 – Nov 14, 2026Certificate: Amazon issued 6 certificates for darksky.org from Jun 20, 2025, the latest valid until May 6, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Mar 24, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 86 certificates for darksky.org from Mar 24, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 8, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Apr 20, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 12 certificates for darksky.org from Apr 20, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 13, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 30, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 30, 2026
Jun 25, 2026 – Nov 9, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 9, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks