[Lvas] FW: IDA e-News: Night Watch, Issue 6

Thu Aug 20 14:36:06 PDT 2009

All,

Excellent NL and a great organization that supports amateur astronomy. 

roger

Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:46:22 -0400
From: ida at darksky.org
To: drivester at hotmail.com
Subject: IDA e-News: Night Watch, Issue 6

International Dark-Sky Association

Night Watch

20 August 2009 - Vol. 1, Issue 6

2009 European Symposium for the Protection of the Night Sky  

Discounts available to IDA members. Register today!

Don't miss this exciting two-day event held in the richly historic city of Armagh, Ireland on 17-19 September 2009.

Attend the free public lecture in Dublin, Ireland! (16 September)

Leo Enright, Ireland's popular science commentator, answers the question "What is Light?" to kick off the 2009 European Symposium for the Protection of the Night Sky.

AGM

IDA 21st Annual General Meeting

Held Saturday and Sunday
14 & 15 November in Phoenix, AZ, USA 
after GreenBuild

See a partial list of AGM speakers

Discounts available for IDA members and Section Leaders! Email
ida at darksky.org for more information.

* * * 

AGM sponsorship opportunities 

'National Right to Starlight' Declared by 
International Astronomical Union

Save our dark skies, say scientists
by Paul Sutherland, Scientific American, USA, 17 August 2009
Access to a dark night sky is a basic human right that needs to be protected, a meeting of the world's professional astronomers has decreed. The International Astronomical Union passed a resolution calling on governments to give priority to safeguarding areas that allow observation of the stars. Scientists at the two-yearly gathering of space scientists, held this month in Brazil, warned that the light pollution went beyond the issue of studying the universe....

Starlight being eroded, say astronomers
ABC Science - Sydney, Australia, 17 August 2009
International Dark-Sky Association Asia-Pacific Director, Reg Wilson, says light pollution in Australia isn't as bad as other parts of the world, but we can do more.
"Local government is paying attention to it and our standards are among the best in the world," says Wilson. "Amateur astronomers would say otherwise."...

Read more on Australia's action against light pollution: 
Let there be night
by Sara Phillips, ABC Science - Sydney, Australia, 17 August 2009

Astronomers fight for unobstructed view of the sky
RedOrbit - USA, 15 August 2009
Light pollution compromises the ability of astronomers everywhere to see the stars clearly, which has prompted the International Astronomical Union to fight for the public's "right to starlight."...

Energy Edge: Federal Stimulus Money for Lighting Upgrades?

LED streetlights--a bright idea...but no break yet on a city's FPL bill
by Megan O'Matz, South Florida Sun-Sentinel - Lauderhill, FL, USA, 17 August 2009
The leader of this city of 3,000 streetlights had a bright idea: why not use federal stimulus dollars to pay for swapping out bulbs in the roadside fixtures for more energy-efficient units?
By using state-of-the-art LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, Kaplan estimated his municipality could save 40 to 60 percent on its street-lighting bill, which is expected to reach $420,000 next year...

Dark Sky Updates

IDA Associates in the News

Lunalilo Lighting Project Cause for Concern
by Natalie Iwasa and Richard Wainscoat, Ph.D, East Oahu Sun - HI, USA, 18 August 2009
Elizabeth Reilly, HKNB member, made several suggestions to Mr. Hamada at the meeting. His response was, "maybe we'll look into putting the shields on." The current (and new) lights are not properly shielded - they send 10% or more of their light directly into the sky (wasting energy), and create unnecessary glare that reduces visibility...

County moves to protect dark skies
by Jason Kaufman, Idaho Mountain Express and Guide - ID, USA, 07 August 2009
Sun Valley resident Dr. Steve Pauley, a stargazing enthusiast who also helped craft similar ordinances for Sun Valley and Hailey, noted the 10-year anniversary of Ketchum's "dark sky ordinance" in June. In an e-mail to the Idaho Mountain Express at the time, he said Ketchum takes pride in its beautiful night skies. 

During Tuesday's meeting, Pauley spoke in support of the county's move to regulate outdoor lighting. Blaine County officials have started drafting an ordinance to regulate light intrusion into the nighttime sky, which is sometimes called light pollution...

IDSPlaces

Galloway bids for first star gazing park
Galloway Gazette - Scotland, UK, 12 August 2009
GALLOWAY Forest Park could become Europe's first dark sky park if a bid by Forestry Commission is successful later in the year...

Special time to stargaze into skyscape
by Bruce Lieberman, San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego, CA, USA, 12 August 2009
Borrego Springs has embraced its night sky. Many of the hotels and resorts in town host star parties, and Mammana and other astronomy experts offer lectures. In November, members of a Riverside astronomy group will host their annual Nightfall star party at the Palm Canyon Resort...

Canada's Dark Sky Reserves

The importance of dark skies
by Gayle Carlyle, Lindsay Daily Post - Ontario, Canada, 15 August 2009
One of the results of this concern is the creation of dark sky reserves, areas of wilderness where there is little or no light pollution. The closest one to our area is the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve in southern Muskoka...

Manitoulin business brings you the stars
by Bonnie Kogos, Sudbury Star - Canada, 15 August, 2009
Gordon's Park in Tehkummah, has received an accreditation and a declaration as a dark sky preserve...

Night Sky Protection

Proposed Chatham County lighting ordinance
Chatham Journal Weekly - NC, USA, 16 August 2009
To minimize adverse offsite impacts including light trespass and obtruvisve light. 4. To curtail light pollution and preserve the nighttime environment...

Kalispell light law is making strides 
by Nancy Kimbell, The Daily Interlake - MT, USA, 10 August 2009
Kalispell's dark-sky ordinance has been in force for three years now, and the news is good.
"Dark sky is working great here for new construction, very few snafus," Planning and Building Director Tom Jentz said.
"Really, it's a matter of picking out Fixture A versus Fixture B. A dark-sky fixture doesn't cost more than the other. It's the design, just culling out the proper fixtures in advance."...

Dark sky ordinance to take effect in Whitefish
by Associated Press, Flathead Beacon  - Whitefish, MT, USA, 16 August, 2009
Whitefish's dark sky ordinance follows the philosophy of the International Dark Sky Association, which wants to reduce the energy used in lighting and leave the sky darker so more stars can be seen...

Whitefish's dark sky ordinance to take effect  
by Lynnette Hintze, The Daily Interlake - MT, USA, 10 August 2009 
The night skies should be a little darker in Whitefish next week when the city's dark sky ordinance takes effect.
It's been three years since the City Council passed the law requiring full cutoff light fixtures and stricter rules for commercial lighting. Now it's time to enforce the law, starting Monday...

Dennis looks for savings in streetlights
by Nicole Muller, Wicked Local Dennis - Dennis, MA USA, 06 August 2009
Owners of homes and businesses in Dennis may have the chance to "buy" their own streetlights.
Following the selectmen's decision last spring to look at turning off unnecessary street lights as a means of saving money and energy, the police department and road safety task force have been working on a plan...

Wildlife Watch

MOTE interns wrap up studies on Pine Island
by Marianne Paton, Pine Island Eagle - Pine Island, FL, USA, 12 August 2009
"We concentrated on inlets and the areas of Blind Pass, Redfish Pass and Boca Grande Pass. We followed fish (snook) activity by picking up their movement with radio receivers," said Coyne. "We did find some connection to the lunar phases, but felt that light pollution from coastal development could also affect the spawn much the same way as it does with sea turtles. Our study was consistent with the data that was collected during a similar study conducted in 2000."

Sea Turtle Workshop
WJHG-TV - Panama City, FL, USA, 11 August 2009
Artificial light can lure the hatchlings away from the water and that can be deadly for them. That's where the turtle lighting ordinance comes into play...

Canaries in the oceanic coal mine
by Jim W. Harper, Biscayne Times - Miami, FL, USA, 10 August 2009
Miami-Dade remains the only county in South Florida without a lighting ordinance to protect sea turtles...To remedy this embarrassment, the Miami-Dade County Commission can simply copy and paste the state's lighting ordinance, available online at www.myfwc.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/Seaturtle_Protection.htm. Send the link to your county commissioner at www.miamidade.gov/commiss/.
The ordinance can be adopted as is or customized to the Miami-Dade's needs. "The Florida Wildlife Commission would be pleased to guide them in drafting the ordinance," offers Blair Witherington, research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He can be reached at 321-674-1801...

Urban glow putting more sea turtle hatchlings in harm's way
by Eric Staats,  Naples Daily News - Naples, FL, USA, 09 August, 2009
Most beachfront hotels and condos know the summer drill.
Lights that shine on the beach must be shielded or turned off so they won't lure baby sea turtles away from the Gulf of Mexico when they emerge from their nests.
That's the law.It seems, though, that the trouble with bright lights is extending beyond the dune's e dge and into the heavens. It's called urban glow, and it's been blamed, at least in part, for hundreds of hatchlings from six sea turtle nests on Naples and Marco Island beaches going off course on their way to the relative safety of the Gulf this summer...

Want to have a yard full of fireflies? Turn off the lights, for starters
by Alyson Ward, Fort Worth Star Telegram -  Fort Worth, TX, USA, 06 August 2009
Nostalgic for fireflies? Researchers say they are falling victim to urban sprawl and light pollution. Here's how to draw them to your yard - or fake it...

Star Parties and More

Julian, CA Star Fest: 20-23 August, 2009
Julian Map and Starfest location

We now have another world class dark sky star party and astronomy equipment expo in California.
Located high in the Cuyamaca Mountains above San Diego, at a mountain winery near an historic gold rush town. Just one hour east of the San Diego Wild Animal Park - Take I-15 or I-5 from the North and exit at Hwy 78 east, or take I-8 and exit at Hwy 79 north to Julian.

Register now
2009 Activities schedule

Email: Julianstars at expresswire.com

Star Party: Julian Starfest brings amateur astronomers up the hill
by Pan Kragen, North County Times - CA, USA, 16 August 2009
Starfest will feature three days (and two nights) of astronomical activities, including lectures, slide shows, films, vendor booths, exhibits, a swap meet and a star-viewing party on the grounds of Menghini Winery in downtown Julian...

Ways to Support IDA

Donate Now and Become a Member! 

eBay Giving Works Program - Donate proceeds to IDA from items you sell on eBay. 

A Memorial Donation or Commemorative Gift - Commemorative gifts offer a unique way to honor a special event, such as a wedding, anniversary or birthday, in the life of someone you love. By giving a memorial gift in memory of a family member or friend, you not only affirm your environmental values, but also recognize that these values were shared by the individual being honored. Whether in condolence or in honor of an occasion or person, your friends and family will appreciate the thoughtfulness of your contribution. 

Planned Giving - Gift planning is an exciting way to fulfill philanthropic goals because planning a gift through your estate provides not only a legacy of support for IDA, but also multiple financial and tax benefits to you and your family. 

Your support helps us continue the fight to save the night! 

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