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Dark Skies: Do YOU Have Them?
Would You Like to Have Them?
A couple of years ago, my partner and I produced a video called Losing the Dark to help the International Dark-Sky Association reach out to the public about light pollution through planetariums as well as online. The show has been a great hit, and it’s now in 14 languages. It talks about light pollution, its causes, effects, and—very important here—what we can all do to stop shining light into the sky. I invite you to watch it here, download it here (if you’re a planetarian), and support the International Dark-Sky Association in its work to help people use light safely and effectively.
Among IDA’s biggest outreach projects is International Dark Sky Week. They didn’t start this annual event, it was the brainchild of a high school student named Jennifer Barlow, who started it in 2003. It is now a world-wide event, and is a part of Global Astronomy Month (this month, in fact).
How dark are YOUR skies? Use this chart to figure out how much light pollution is affecting your view. Courtesy http://wordlesstech.com/2014/04/07/dark-skies-interactive-map/ (Click image to get a bigger version.)
The idea behind this special week of dark skies is to remind people that the beauty of the night sky is slowly going missing due to light pollution. The night sky is something people around the world share in common, and if we all figure out ways to mitigate light pollution, that beauty will return to us. Another tenet of the celebration is to help people understand the negative aspects of light pollution: to our health, to the environment—and if that doesn’t convince you—to your pocketbook. It costs MONEY to get the fossil fuels to run the power plants that generate the electricity that powers the lights that wash out the sky—which is silly when you think about it. There are better ways to safely light the areas we need.
So, check out Losing the Dark and learn more about Dark Sky Week, and give a little thought to what you can do (even if it’s just your own back yard or front doorstep) to decrease the light we send upwards. Great beauty is worth the effort!
By the way, this month is full of things to celebrate space-wise, as well: Yuri’s Night is Sunday, April 12th, Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22, Astronomy Day is April 25th, and this entire year is the International Year of Light.
Source: http://thespacewriter.com/wp/2015/04/09/dark-skies-do-you-have-them/
