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What Are Dark Skies?
On November 9th, 1965 the East Coast was hit by a blackout that lasted 3 days. I was 12 at the time. Before this happened I knew most of the constellations because you could actually see most of them then. When the lights went out, though, the sky came alive. I remember it being bright outside. The stars were vibrant and brilliant. Even though it was early November in Connecticut, I spent a lot of time outside after dark (dark came early, of course, that time of year). The night sky was mesmerizing and I remember it to this day. While we can't expect or even wish to never have nighttime outdoor lighting, we can improve upon the lighting we currently use. The International Dark-Sky Association recommends (and approves as IDA compliant) lighting fixtures that reduce light trespass and glare by focusing the light downward and to the specific areas they are meant to light. Security spotlights are one of the worse examples of home outdoor lighting. People purchase them because they are available everywhere and cheaply. However, you pay dearly over time for the electricity those 400 watt bulbs consume. Not only that, but there are studies to indicate that security is actually hampered by the glare they produce. When you purchase dark sky compliant outdoor lighting fixtures you are also doing your neighbors a huge favor by not exposing them to the glare of your outdoor lights. Astronomers are big advocates of dark skies initiatives because it is becoming more and more difficult for them to see the night sky even through powerful telescopes. Light pollution is becoming a problem around the world, but we can help to turn this problem around. Towns and cities across the US are beginning to adopt dark sky ordinances to help address this growing concern. When I was in Kauai a few months ago I saw the Milky Way. It's the second or third time I'd ever seen it in my entire life. It is my hope that someday the night sky will become vibrant again, even in the city. |
International Dark-Sky Association
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I'm glad that you got to experience one of the wonders of the world, an absolutely star filled night sky. It is highly uhnfortunate that more people don't truely know what they're missing. Viewing the Milky Way from a dark site location is a mind altering event. More stars than you've ever seen all spread out in plain site.
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This intel was contributed by Cheryl
Cheryl
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May, 2012
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