Earth Hour 2009: Sat March 28th. Dark skies!

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Earth Hour http://www.earthhour.org/ is coming up fast again, less than 41 days away as of right now.

In previous years the choice of night wasn't great (given that it has been set for full moon previously) but the organisers seem to go with the last Satuday in March, with pot luck as to moon phase.

HOWEVER .... this years event is being held the night immediately after New Moon!!

MOST PROBABLY ... this is just pure dumb luck this time.

Maybe they done this as a tie in to the whole 2009 International Year of Astronomy theme..

Maybe they received lots of feedback from stargazers, astronomers (both amateur and professional ) and other dark lovers..

Maybe they've clued up to the fact that people might get REALLY excited by the Earth Hour project and get behind the ides of reducing power consumption / light pollution when they realise they can see SO MUCH MORE in a dark suburban sky that is unblanched by moonlight.

If you like the reasoning behind any of those "maybe" reasons then MAYBE you should send an email to the organisers and thank them for such cleverness this year, and suggest WHY it's better to organise it in future for a night with as little moon as possible.

Anyway I don't care why it's going to occurr virtually on New Moon this year, I just think it's great that it is a much more appropriate night to do it!



I think those of us who support this initiative should make the most of the timing:

1- Get friends and neighbours involved in a viewing night in the middle of suburbia.

2- If you have any sway at work see if you can get some/all unnecessary lighting / power consumption turned off for the event / night / weekend!

3- Contact local shops, businesses and especially anywhere that is putting out unnecessary light / wasting power nightly.



For anyone who wants to read the hordes of discussion from the last 2 years, including plenty of comments from those who don't think this is a good idea, here it is
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ght=earth+hour


I'm hoping that we can keep this thread focussed on further event information, any actual plans and gatherings that IIS members and others may have for this years event, etc. If anyone feels the need to rubbish the concept again, or turn it into the "global warming: fact or farce" discussion again I certainly wouldn't mind if you started up a separate thread to do so.

[iceman (Mike)]

Good advice there, Steve

Being IYA, this might get a bit more coverage this time around. Probably a good night for some public viewing in the theme of IYA too.

[Dog Star (Phil)]

I've recently joined the International Dark Sky Association www.darksky.org where, for a small monetary donation, they put you on their mailing list and send out some very informative and helpful information.
I've culled through their various information sheets and typed up a couple of leaflets to hand out to friends looking through my scope.
I work for a local engineering firm who carry out a lot of construction work for the Territory Government and once I'd shown the boss these leaflets (and given him a look through my scope) he now has a better understanding of where I'm coming from and what I'm about. In short, he's going to give me names and contact addresses of the individuals and groups that I might most effectively lobby in order to put the "dark sky" concept forward.
I've also managed to get the local paper, the Centralian Advocate, to publish one of my letters on this subject, surprisingly edit free.
I'm firmly of the opinion that in order to make this thing work (and ultimately not just for one hour in the year) we have to win "hearts and minds" of friends and associates and the public at large.
We also have to lobby the individuals in government and infrastructure who are most involved and responsible for the sort of decisions that ultimately most affect the future of dark skies.
To further the "hearts and minds" concept, I've also taken to posting short threads on non-astronomy forums where I'm a member, usually in their "general chat" area under the heading of IYA 2009. This has had a generally positive effect so far with quite a few non astronomers and closet astronomers expressing an intrest in both astronomy and the dark sky concept.
When I first got my scope about 8 months ago, all of my viewing nights were solitary affairs. This is slowly but surely changing as friends, and friends of friends are coming out to my place of a Saturday night (weather and Moon permitting) for a bit of universe exploring. The boss at work has "booked" me for a future Saturday night so that he can bring a few of his friends along.
Needless to say, every guest gets one of my "dark sky propoganda" sheets.
From little things, big things grow!
Maybe I should have started a separate thread titled "No local Astro Society? - Start your own!"
Hope this little rant has been helpful or informative to some and I've not gone too far off topic.

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Brilliant stuff Phil, good on ya brother!!!

:thum bsup:

I'm also trying to write a bit if a leaflet about Earth Hour, keeping our Skies Dark, etc for local distribution - first distribution will be to the small group of shops on the opposite corner, reducing their excess night light will be a definite plus for me if I can have a win there.

We can only hope to have wins, even small ones, when it comes to sharing and preserving our dark skies with our less illumined (but over illuminated) friends and aquaintances!

[astroron (Ron)]

Good idea Steve, look forward to catching up with you this weekend, and having a good chin wag about The IYA and of course do some observing

[Jen]

Thanks for the reminder Steve i was thinking about trying to get this town to do this i think its a great idea.
Is there anyone out there with a few tips on how and where to start to get this ball rolling in my town any ideas would be appreciated

i already had the thought in my head just to cut off the main supply and do it myself without the help from others but i think that could lead me in a bit of trouble so ive counted that idea out

[Ric]

Hi Steve I've signed up.

For me as I live in a dark sky area I think it's vital to preserve it. I've long thought that the Australian sky should be heritage listed but that may be a way off yet.

[pgc hunter]

I'll make sure I prepare a good list of galaxy clusters to hunt on this date then

[Dog Star (Phil)]

Originally Posted by Jen

Thanks for the reminder Steve i was thinking about trying to get this town to do this i think its a great idea.
Is there anyone out there with a few tips on how and where to start to get this ball rolling in my town any ideas would be appreciated

i already had the thought in my head just to cut off the main supply and do it myself without the help from others but i think that could lead me in a bit of trouble so ive counted that idea out

G'day Jen,
Check out www.darksky.org for heaps of information.
Getting a good ground base of information is probably the best first step.
Once you've armed yourself with relevant info, you're then in a position to know how to plan a campaign (like a good little "dark sky soldier")
Then it's a matter of writing letters, talking to friends, neighbours, local shop owners, posting on non astronomy forums (your blog, as one example)
Dark skies aren't just about astronomy. There are economical and ecological issues involved also and I think that we have to put this multi pronged attack forward.
Evidence is emerging that continuously lighting the night is not good for the mental and physical health of people.
Consider - Life has evolved on this planet which has ALWAYS had a natural division of light and dark. In interfering with this natural cycle we are almost certainly doing ourselves and our environment harm.
Of all the forms of pollution, light pollution is the easiest and simplest to remedy, if the will exists to do so!
It's our job to actualise that will.
Not trying to sell coal to Newcastle here, just trying to give some basic ideas that you can drop into conversations etc.
Just keep putting the message out however and whenever you can.
Best of luck!

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Dog Star

G'day Jen,
Check out www.darksky.org for heaps of information.
Getting a good ground base of information is probably the best first step.
Once you've armed yourself with relevant info, you're then in a position to know how to plan a campaign (like a good little "dark sky soldier")
Then it's a matter of writing letters, talking to friends, neighbours, local shop owners, posting on non astronomy forums (your blog, as one example)
Dark skies aren't just about astronomy. There are economical and ecological issues involved also and I think that we have to put this multi pronged attack forward.
Evidence is emerging that continuously lighting the night is not good for the mental and physical health of people.
Consider - Life has evolved on this planet which has ALWAYS had a natural division of light and dark. In interfering with this natural cycle we are almost certainly doing ourselves and our environment harm.
Of all the forms of pollution, light pollution is the easiest and simplest to remedy, if the will exists to do so!
It's our job to actualise that will.
Not trying to sell coal to Newcastle here, just trying to give some basic ideas that you can drop into conversations etc.
Just keep putting the message out however and whenever you can.
Best of luck!

Thanks Phil looks like there is a lot of homework for me to do maybe i might have left my self a bit short of time to get this town involved in doing it this year bugger i would really like to do it
Maybe if i start working now like a good little "dark soldier" i will be ready for a challenge next year

[pgc hunter]

Originally Posted by Jen

Thanks Phil looks like there is a lot of homework for me to do maybe i might have left my self a bit short of time to get this town involved in doing it this year bugger i would really like to do it
Maybe if i start working now like a good little "dark soldier" i will be ready for a challenge next year

Bribe every bloke in town with free beers no doubt they'll turn off their lights then! And if all else fails, offer the chick population your UDLs; or if even that fails, tell 'em about that handsome bloke pgc hunter who's offering them dinner at the local restaurant

[Dog Star (Phil)]

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

Bribe every bloke in town with free beers no doubt they'll turn off their lights then! And if all else fails, offer the chick population your UDLs; or if even that fails, tell 'em about that handsome bloke pgc hunter who's offering them dinner at the local restaurant

I dub thee - Dark Sky Soldier!

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Going to contact some of my old mates at the Water Corp and give them a nudge as there's lots of pumpstations etc with all night lighting they could knock off for a while (and save the company a few quid on power as well ) Regional Electrical Engineer has an interest in astronomy, so could be a good place to start.

Bill

[Jen]

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

Bribe every bloke in town with free beers no doubt they'll turn off their lights then! And if all else fails, offer the chick population your UDLs; or if even that fails, tell 'em about that handsome bloke pgc hunter who's offering them dinner at the local restaurant

hell no this chick here aint givin up her UDL cans

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

Going to contact some of my old mates at the Water Corp and give them a nudge as there's lots of pumpstations etc with all night lighting they could knock off for a while (and save the company a few quid on power as well ) Regional Electrical Engineer has an interest in astronomy, so could be a good place to start.

Bill

Hey thats a great idea maybe thats where i should start i work for our local water authority in my town ummm derr (wake up Jen)

[bones]

Hey everyone. It just dawned on me that this is tonight. Hope it helps the viewing for all.

[Dog Star (Phil)]

Originally Posted by bones

Hey everyone. It just dawned on me that this is tonight. Hope it helps the viewing for all.

Tonight!!??
Bones, check your calender mate.
Even so, I wish you the very best viewing tonight anyway.

[pgc hunter]

Originally Posted by Jen

Hey thats a great idea maybe thats where i should start i work for our local water authority in my town ummm derr (wake up Jen)

spike the town water supply with your UDLs. Imagine how much the town will prosper - it'll bring an instant 10-fold increase of the population and will bring tourists in their droves.

Not only that, all the chicks in the town will be high so they won't notice my ugliness hehehe

Originally Posted by Jen

hell no this chick here aint givin up her UDL cans

oh come on, be a bro

[Jen]

Originally Posted by pgc hunter

spike the town water supply with your UDLs. Imagine how much the town will prosper - it'll bring an instant 10-fold increase of the population and will bring tourists in their droves.

Not only that, all the chicks in the town will be high so they won't notice my ugliness hehehe



oh come on, be a bro

now thats a thought but im not sharing my UDL's they can have wine instead YUCK....

[Jen]

Originally Posted by bones

Hey everyone. It just dawned on me that this is tonight. Hope it helps the viewing for all.

umm did i just sleep for a whole month
Its in March bones