Entry bubble Is Light Pollution Ruining Your Starry Night?

By: Joanne | June 10, 2008 | Category: General

starry night sky

Saturday night I found myself lying on a blanket and staring up at the starry sky. Whenever I do this, I invariably think of all the people who are robbed of this simple pleasure because of light pollution. According to NASA, two thirds of the world’s population can’t see the Milky Way in the night sky because of light pollution.

There are many sources of light pollution, like street lamps, sports fields, billboards and parking lots, but exterior home lighting is a primary source. Light maps clearly show how urbanized areas give off the most light at night.

The good news is that there are things that you can do to ease your personal impact on global light pollution. We’re learning to consider energy efficiency when buying new light fixtures, but don’t forget to consider light pollution when selecting exterior lighting for your home or business. The International Dark Sky Association even has light fixture design recommendations to help consumers make dark sky friendly lighting choices.

So the next time you’re counting stars and gazing at constellations on a summer night, don’t forget that the starry night sky is something we could lose if we’re not careful in our choices.

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: constellation   joanne   light   moon   night   pollution   sky   star  

 

Entry bubble The Sky's the Limit

By: Stephanie | June 09, 2008 | Category: Fun

I'm a bit of a space geek sometimes. I stood on the sidewalk in my neighborhood a couple of weeks ago, staring up in the middle of the night with my cocker spaniel, waiting for a bright light to appear and slowly streak across the sky. Astronaut tethered to Space Shuttle Discovery starboard sideWhen the International Space Station did appear (right on time), I got goosebumps. To think that people are living and working in the sky, so far away! And I loved that I was able to know what that moving light was—and the best time it was to appear—courtesy of NASA's sighting information, personalized for my location.

It seems like space folks really try to help you understand their work, in so many creative ways. For example, NASA's website features live coverage of major events such as the Space Shuttle landing or docking with the Space Station; a virtual tour of the International Space Station (complete with a music video); and a neat game where you go on your very own space mission led by a virtual astronaut. And you have until June 27 to send your name to the moon aboard a future lunar mission (yes, this space geek's name is on the list).

NASA also offers e-mails that let you know when certain satellites will be visible in your particular location, and e-mails and RSS feeds on general NASA news (with intriguing titles such as "The Physics of Whipped Cream" and "Moondust and Duct Tape" ). Several NASA blogs also keep you in the know; be sure to check out Chris and Blair's fun posts.

If you visit or live in the Washington, DC, area, you might enjoy attending the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum's excellent, free planetarium shows that showcase which constellations are currently prominent in the night sky. Or drive to their skywatching presentation at a state park. The museum's relatively new Udvar-Hazy Center is also a must see (my favorites are viewing the Space Shuttle Enterprise and riding the nausea-inducing flight simulators).

Visit USA.gov's FAQs to learn more about eclipses and astronomy in general, satellites, and the International Space Station. Rocket science can be fun! And with the help of great websites, you just might turn into a bit of a space geek, too.

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: air   astronaut   astronomy   eclipse   lunar   moon   nasa   planetarium   rocket   satellite   science   shuttle   simulator   sky   space   station   stephanie