The Dark and Quiet Skies Act of 2024 establishes a Center of Excellence for Dark and Quiet Skies to research and develop mitigation techniques that reduce optical and radio interference from satellite activity with federally funded astronomical research. The bill authorizes the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology to award a competitive grant to an eligible entity (nonprofit, federal laboratory, university, Native entity, observatory, or consortium) to operate the Center for up to 5 years. The Center would work with the satellite industry and astronomical community to develop best practices, conduct research on interference mitigation, publish results, and develop voluntary guidelines to protect scientific observations of the sky and celestial bodies. The bill authorizes $20 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 and requires annual reports to Congress on the Center's effectiveness.
