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International Dark-Sky Association
Night Watch
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Hot off the Press
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By IDA, YouTube - 5 March 2012
From the International Dark-Sky Association - a short look at the light pollution of North American cities as seen from the International Space Station.
By Yosemite National Park, YouTube - CA, USA, 27 August 2012
Yosemite's vast acreage and remote location protect some of the darkest night skies in the country. Astronomers, photographers and city dwellers flock to the park to take advantage of this unique opportunity to view planets, stars, and galaxies...
By Don Pettit, Flickr - Space
See the amazing images Astronaut Don Pettit has been taking from the International Space Station.
By McDonald Observatory, YouTube - TX, USA, 21 June 2010
Learn the causes and effects of light pollution, and discover ways to preserve darks skies...
By IDA, YouTube - September 2001
Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke speaks out on light pollution and in support of the International Dark-Sky Association. Recorded in September 2001...
By IDA, YouTube - Canada, 2 May 2011
Two robots discuss light pollution questions and answers. Ideal for classroom exercise - find the written quiz at this location:
IDA Press Releases (Click the Picture!)
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| 1 September 2012 - Vol. 4 Iss. 11 |
| Breaking News | |
'Open Air' Project Stirs Controversy
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is extremely concerned about the Open Air art project that will use twenty-four "powerful searchlights" to "create unique, dynamic light formations in the sky". The project, taking place in Philadelphia, PA from September 20 to October 14, will reportedly be visible up to ten miles away. It represents a tremendous waste of energy and is damaging to the nighttime environment....
Chris Kyba's letter to the Association for Public Art
 I was dismayed when I leaned that the Association of Public Art (aPA) in Philadlephia has commissioned a public art piece called "Open Air", which consists of lighting up the night sky with searchlights. While I expect that the piece will be visually astonishing, and that many people will find it beautiful, I am concerned that it sends the insidious message that polluting the sky with artificial light is not only acceptable, but desirable. I believe that artificial light is one of the most wonderful human inventions, and is a necessity of modern life. But it's easy to have too much of a good thing, and we now know that there are powerful reasons to avoid needlessly introducing excessive light into the environment.
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"Losing the Dark" Sneak Preview at IAU
Attendees of the International Astronomical Union Congress in Beijing are being treated to a special "sneak preview" of a fulldome video on light pollution called "Losing the Dark". The five and a half minute public service announcement showing at the Beijing Planetarum on August 29th, 2012 is a joint collaboration between the International Dark-Sky Association & Loch Ness Productions, a U.S.-based fulldome video production company. Science and technical advisor for the production is Dr. Connie Walker, National Optical Astronomy Observatory's Senior Science Education Specialist and chair of the IDA Education Committee...
Read more about this!
or see our website.
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Last Month for DarkSky Giveaway!
If your IDA membership will be valid on September 30, 2012 you are eligible for an online entry to Dark-Sky Giveaway for a set of Tele Vue Ethos Eyepieces (worth an estimated $5,665). Entries will be accepted until September 30, 2012. The winner will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on November 10th, 2012.
Not an IDA member?
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IDA Annual General Meeting
Plans for the International Dark-Sky Association's Annual General Meeting (open to the public) are in the works!
When to expect it: November 10th - 11th
Where: Astronomy & Science Expo at the Tucson, AZ Convention Center
During this AGM invited speakers and experts will address dark-sky issues. IDA will also host a dark-sky workshop. Tickets for an IDA reception will be available at the IDA booth during ASAE for anyone that would like to attend.
Look for more details soon on our website & future e-News.
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Facebook Raffle!
Enter the International Dark-Sky Association Facebook raffle! A simple click away, you get 1 entry for liking us on facebook and can achieve up to 64 entries by being an IDA member, following us on twitter, making a donation of $10 or more, or many other options. You can even enter every day by sharing the raffle post on your facebook page or tweeting about IDA!
The raffle prize includes 1-year free membership, a t-shirt, and a collection of IDA paraphernalia.
Raffle closes September 13th, 2012.
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Social Media Expansion - Pinterest!
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| Dark-Sky Updates | | In the News
By Dave Mosher, National Geographic News - 14 August 2012 Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, cast a bluish glow in the sky and are about 20 percent more efficient than industry-standard streetlamps, which generate red-colored light pollution. With LED efficiency expected to double to 40 percent in a few years, it's inevitable that governments worldwide will opt to save energy by switching to LEDs, which also last longer and require less maintenance, experts say...
HubPages - 19 August 2012
For the fist time in human history people are growing up without a view of the night sky. Over the last 200 years the effects of urbanization have led to the dimming of the starry beauty we used to be so familiar with...
By Erin Place,
Nashua Telegraph - NH, USA, 21 August 2012
Officials with the Merrimack Premium Outlets want to be good neigbors.
That is why General Manager Elaine Devine said they will be installing additional glare shields to tone down some of the unwanted light pollution spilling into local neighborhoods. Town officials recently sent outlets officials a letter regarding complaints from nearby residents...
Light pollution does affect observatory's work: astronomer
By Adam McLean, York Region - Canada, 20 August 2012
Former David Dunlap Observatory astronomer Dr. Tom Bolton gave his professional opinion Friday on the usefulness of the heritage telescope in the face of development...
Why is the Night Sky Turning Red?
Discover Magazine - 23 August 2012
The idea of a red sky at night used to invoke beautiful images of vibrant sunsets, the product of warm sunlight bathing the sky near the horizon. The adage of "red sky at night, sailor's delight" refers to a calm night ahead; a red sunset suggests a high-pressure system in the west is bringing calm weather. But red skies at night have taken on a new meaning in recent decades. As outdoor lighting become increasingly prominent, our night skies are gradually turning from black to red...
New law to tame bright lights near homes
Shanghai Daily - China, 29 August 2012
Glowing LED screens may add extra charm to the city's nighttime skyline but also can turn into a luminous nightmare to people living near the screens. A local law is expected to take effect later this year to set maximum degrees of brightness allowed from such facilities to control light pollution...
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Energy
By Candy Thomson and Jessica Anderson, The Baltimore Sun - MD, USA, 16 August 2012
Going block by block, crews in bucket trucks are converting 70,000 city streetlights from sodium vapor lights to long-lasting, energy-saving LEDs. The bright side: Baltimore expects to reap an annual savings of $1.9 million on its electric bill and $275,000 in maintenance costs. Also, advocates say the lights produce less glare and are more focused, meaning less light pollution that drowns out the night stars and can disrupt ecosystems...
Ringdale introduces ActiveLED fixtures that comply with MLO
By Laura Peters, LEDs Magazine - 24 August 2012
Ringdale Inc., a manufacturer of commercial LED luminaires based in Georgetown, TX, has introduced ActiveLED industrial-grade fixtures that protect night skies via built-in intelligence and controls. Designed to comply with the Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) and developed by the International Dark Sky Association and the Illumination Engineering Society, the fixtures and control systems allow cities, communities and farm owners to illuminate areas without the traditional light spill or compromise to performance or safety...
Is driving in the darkness the future?
itv News - UK, 28 August 2012
Motorway lighting is to be permanently switched off on a stretch of the M1 in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and light pollution...
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Education
Before it's News - MT, USA, 21 August 2012
The Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center at Glacier National Park is hosting a free brown-bag seminar on Thursday, August 23 from 12- 1:30 p.m. at the Community Building in West Glacier. The public is invited to view "The City Dark," an 84-minute documentary film chronicling the disappearance of dark skies. Join David Ingram, Chapter Leader for Dark Skies Northwest, representing the International Dark-Sky Association for an introduction to the film and information about light pollution...
Reclaim your sky
By Francois Lemieux, The West Island Chronicle - Canada, 27 August 2012
A non-profit organization composed of three young Beaconsfield residents is proposing a novelty way for citizens to reclaim their sky by diminishing light pollution. Light pollution in great urban centres has caused the stars to 'disappear' from sight at night since the advent of the night lighting. This group is proposing a way to reduce light pollution and reduce lighting costs for West Island cities as well...
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| International Dark-Sky Places Program | | |
9&10 News - MI, USA, 16 August 2012
Paths around Northern Michigan often lead us to beautiful places. And today, under a new law, hundreds of paths will lead us to beautiful, dark places. The Dark Sky Park in Emmet County has been wildly successful in its first year. Today, under a new law signed by Governor Rick Snyder more than 20, 000 acres in Northern Emmet County will be protected by light pollution...
Emmet County accepts observatory for Dark Sky Park
By Brandon Hubbard, Petoskey News - MI, USA, 17 August 2012
Emmet County was recently gifted a large, metal observatory for viewing the night sky by Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills, but, while the county board showed interest in accepting the donation, it never approved the donation or the financial cost associated with moving it across the state...
 Heroes of the Night: Health Center receives "Starry Night" award
Morris Daily Herald - IL, USA, 16 August 2012
Silver Cross Health Center in Homer Glen was recently honored with the "Starry Night" award by the village of Homer Glen. The International Dark Sky Association recognized the village of Homer Glen as the 4th International Dark Sky Community in the world and the first municipality in the State of Illinois to be awarded this designation...
Lake Tekapo International Dark Sky Reserve
Lake Tekapo Scenic Resort - New Zealand, 20 August 2012
One of the best things about Lake Tekapo's scenic location is that it is far away from the lights and glows of the major towns in cities. The isolation and flat plains provide beautiful clear skies that offer unparalleled views of the stars and planets. In fact, the area is so excellent for star gazing that in June 2012 it was named the world' largest International Dark Sky Reserve...
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Aspiring IDSP's
BBC News Scotland - 17 August 2012
Islanders on Coll are hopeful the island could be declared an official Dark Skies location. Coll's nearest street light is across the water in Tobermory which makes it especially attractive to stargazers. An inspection will take place in September when the Isle of Coll could join Galloway Forest Park as a designated dark sky site...
Forest chief backs Kielder dark skies bid as tourism body reports surging visitor interest
Forestry Commission - UK, 23 August 2012
Pam Warhurst, the Chair of the Forestry Commission, has praised Kielder's soaring ambitions after visiting Kielder Observatory to support a bid to create Europe's largest area of protected night sky in Northumberland...
Forestry Commission chief backs Kielder dark sky bid
By Tony Henderson, The Journal - UK, 24 August 2012
FORESTRY chief Pam Warhurst has praised the sky-high ambitions of rural allies in Northumberland. Ms Warhurst, chairwoman of the Forestry Commission, visited Kielder Observatory to support a bid to create Europe's largest area of protected night sky in Northumberland... |
| What are you Thinking? | |
Dark skies, great town keep visitors coming
By Pat Meloy and Rhonda Scott, Merritt Herald - Canada, 20 August 2012
However, the superb Merritt skies outdid themselves and we got a great shot of the Andromeda Galaxy (a mere 2.5 million light years away) with it's satellite galaxies M32 and M110.
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