Category Archives: International Dark-Sky Association

astronomy, International Dark-Sky Association, light pollution

Dark Skies: Do YOU Have Them?

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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 NASA.
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.

Earth Hour, International Dark-Sky Association, losing the dark

Darkness is Cool

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Help Keep us from Losing the Dark

A few weeks ago my company, Loch Ness Productions, in collaboration with the International Dark-Sky Association, released a short video called Losing the Dark.  Since then we’ve seen it get downloaded thousands of times, including by planetarium folks who can show it in their domes.

I thought I’d bring it up again, particularly in light of Earth Hour, coming up on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013. From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. in each time zone, we’re being asked to turn off the lights in a show of concern about Earth’s environment — and the role that excess lighting plays in consumption of fossil fuels.

So, in honor of Earth Hour, participate by turning off your lights, and check out Losing the Dark. Download the flat-screen version and show it in your schools, or at community groups to engender conversations about what we can all do to preserve dark skies (and our health). If you have a planetarium dome and want to show it there, check out the downloads for that, too.  And, for that hour, go outside and check out the night sky (if the weather is clear).  See what we’re missing by lighting up the night.

 

 

Finally, if you’re interested in learning more about ways to mitigate light pollution, check out the many good reports and downloadable information at the International Dark-Sky Association Web site. They’re the world leaders in learning about and solving problems related to excess light at night.