Spring is just around the corner, and so, too, is that time when we get outside and count the stars!
How many stars can you see in your sky?
All across the world, one of the greatest frustrations for astronomers is light pollution. But did you know that light pollution affects more than our views of the night sky? Irresponsible outdoor lighting not only threatens dark skies, it has been linked to dramatic adverse effects on nocturnal wildlife and plants and serious behavioral disorders and physical diseases, including cancer, in humans. And, of course, we all know that irresponsible lighting wastes energy and our hard-earned dollars.
The preservation of dark skies is important for many reasons, including astronomy, wildlife, human health, and energy conservation.
Globe at Night is an annual international campaign to raise awareness about light pollution. This event is as simple as counting stars, but it is an effort that requires the participation of citizen scientists like you.
Join the Globe at Night campaign this month, anytime between March 3rd through March 16th, to make your count, count! Visit the Globe at Night website for activity packs, instructions for recording your observations, and printable community flyers and postcards. You can also visit the Dark Skies Awareness website to learn more about the negative impacts of light pollution and what you can do to effect responsible lighting around your home, your neighborhood, and even in your town.
So, what are you waiting for? Get outside, look up, and count the stars in your sky!
* Tune in to AFM*Radio, March 3 – March 16, for the audio version of this post. AFM*Radio will also feature a special Night Sky Network presentation, Globe at Night, by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory’s Connie Walker, on March 4 and March 5. Check the Astronomy.FM radio page for “AFM*AstroClass” air times.
Guest author, Thomas Kennedy, features a twice-monthly series, Quantum Leap, wherein he guides readers through the fascinating world of quantum mechanics. This is issue 004.
