It’s that time of year again–time for the GLOBE at Night 2008 observation event. It’s something everybody can do, no matter whether you live in a city or out in the country. It’s an easy, 5-step procedure to help determine just how much light pollution is affecting our views of the night sky:
Find your latitude and longitude (the site helps you do this)
Find Orion (the constellation) in the sky by going outside an hour after sunset (your time);
Match your nighttime sky to one of the GLOBE at Night magnitude charts;
Report your observation;
Compare what you see with what others around the world can see.
It’s as easy as that. You can do this as part of a classroom activity, or with your family or friends. But the important thing is to do it. You’ll learn about the sky, about how human activity affects our view of the stars, and where the darkest places are on Earth. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or a student, the GLOBE at night site has something to offer; and you have something to offer back: your ability to observe and make reports.
Check it out! Help explore patterns of light pollution on a global scale.
A couple of years ago you might recall there was a huge uproar about the supposed “demotion” of Pluto from its status as a planet and its re-characterization as a “dwarf planet.” The International Astronomical Union adopted a definition of the term “planet” that continues to be batted around in science and public debates about the meaning of “planet.”
Its purpose is to discuss science as a process, and use the ongoing debate about what should or should not be a planet as a framework for discussion. It looks like an excellent way for science teachers to get an inside look at the working processes of science that don’t always get enough attention in the classroom. If you’re interested, check out the web page and contact information. As an added bonus, there will be continuing education credit offered for teachers who attend.
