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| This promotional flier states that two-thirds of all people in the world and 99% of all people in the United States NEVER get to see truly dark skies! |
All
week long, the International Dark-Sky Association wants us to notice,
celebrate, and champion the nighttime sky!
This
is a part of Global Astronomy Month, so all of April may have some
special programs at your local observatory and planetarium!
Light
pollution is a growing problem, the IDA points out. Of course, it
hinders the work of visual astronomers and lessens the enjoyment of
amateur astronomy buffs. But it also harms wildlife and wastes
energy. It can cause problems for air travel and, in some cases, in
human health. Some people argue that light pollution cuts modern city
dwellers off from an important source of awe and wonder—the
beautiful night sky that is our birthright.
Here
are a few easy activities you can do to celebrate this week:
Check
outdoor lighting to make sure you are only lighting up what you
intend to illuminate. Most light fixtures should be angled downward
or shielded so that their light doesn't go upward, and so that it
doesn't “trespass” beyond your property.
- Consider getting a motion detector for security lights. This can save you money as well as eliminate unnecessary light pollution.
- Take a nighttime walk to discover problem lighting in your neighborhood. Really bright, glaring lights don't add to anybody's safety, because they shrink our pupils and make it harder to see things.
Go
someplace far from city lights to do some star gazing.
- Make a plan to use fewer lights most nights. It's fun to light up the backyard once in a while or to make your house a blaze of lights during a party, but most over-lighting is just lack of awareness.
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| Flagstaff has worked to reduce light pollution, and it has become the world's first International Dark Sky City! |
For
more ideas and resources—including handouts, a light audit, the
Adopt-a-Street program, a video, and booklets—go to this Universe Today page.
See how bright stars are in Flagstaff's nighttime sky nowadays.
For more on light pollution, check out this earlier post.
Also on this date:
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