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International Dark Sky Week is on April 2nd onward – see https://idsw.darksky.org/ If you have any events during this time please do mention the dark sky cause.
The AGM for DarkSky International is on the 21st March at 19:00; details on their website. The connection between CfDS and DarkSky International (the IDA that was) goes back a long way. Headed paper of the Campaign for Dark Skies from last century has the subheading “A Joint commission of the BAA and the IDA.”
This is an interesting academic paper by a team from Exeter, which reports on a digital lighting simulation methodology in relation to the availability of dark corridors for light averse organisms. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2023.0555
If I understand correctly, the LED better/worse? assessment is complicated depending upon geography of the environment under study. Apparently, the more even spread of LED luminaires (compared with HPS) provides fewer dark corridors. This is good for people but not so good for wildlife. Perhaps the rapid and widespread uptake of LED technology should not have taken place until the overall impacts were thoroughly understood?Buglife, the insect charity, has a very interesting item by David Smith on COP14 and the recent report on the effects of light pollution on migratory species.
https://www.buglife.org.uk/blog/how-can-the-convention-on-the-conservation-of-migratory-species-help-reverse-invertebrate-declines/This article is a comprehensive critique of the satellite swarm issues, conveniently in one place. https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/outer-space-human-pollution/
So the notion that satellites are just the latest lies are true!😀The UN is now talking about the issue of satellite constellations (at last). Will it result in anything positive in time? We must hope so. https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau2401/
If you live in the Hertford area you may be interested in this event, which has been organised by Simon Thorp and the Hertford Astronomy Group. The event next Thursday (22nd Feb) is a sell out but you may notice a reduction in local light pollution near Hertford castle. If successful it may be repeated. Let’s hope for clear skies.
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This is an interesting article about the prospect of an artificial plasma shield being generated by the high masses of future de orbiting satellites. It is little studied at present but the potential impact on planet Earth could be enormous. So, another reason to campaign against satellite constellations until this and other issues are resolved.
https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=03&month=02&year=2024
A new paper sheds fresh light on a subject that CfDS have used in past campaigns – the disruption caused by artificial light to the lives of insects. The new science has been featured on various news outlets. A straightforward article about it can be found on the Conversation website.. https://theconversation.com/the-surprising-reason-why-insects-circle-lights-at-night-they-lose-track-of-the-sky-221387 There is a link to the original paper from this article and a video compilation showing insects in flight.
Reflectors in space could make solar farms on Earth work for longer every day. Is this a sensible idea?
https://www.space.com/reflectors-in-space-increase-solar-farm-capacity
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has published World at Night, Preserving natural darkness for heritage conservation and night sky appreciation.
This looks like an excellent general guide to global light pollution issues. It is 160 pages so I’ve not read it yet, but the page (7) on amateur astronomy and stargazing is particularly good. I especially like the opening sentence.
Thanks to John Barentine, one of the authors, for announcing this.https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/PAG-033-En.pdf
The Australian government is leading the way in guidance on wildlife conservation and light pollution. This well produced book (see PDF download) is full of information and is a model for other nations.
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/campaign/light-pollutionComing to your local sky soon maybe? Apparently this event was the result of a malfunction in a “green” house blackout blind system. But shouldn’t the rules be no blinds then don’t switch on the lights? These vertical farms are likely to be increasingly common in future. The story comes via contributors on the Dark Sky International forum.
https://www.kwtx.com/2023/12/04/researchers-weigh-pink-glow-sky-coming-lettuce-farm-temple/Here is what looks like a useful publication from the EU office of the Director General for the Environment: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/5727bc7c-843c-11ee-99ba-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-PDF/source-296551457
I have only skimmed it so far.https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231123-the-last-places-on-earth-to-see-truly-dark-starry-nights
These amazing images by Jordi Busqué illustrate what dark sky campaigners are working for. Very few people will experience these conditions today.
With the rise of satellite constellations, will it be possible in future to make similar images, for instance those made near dusk and dawn?This is a very interesting question Robin and one that needs investigation. I suspect that there will be scientific reports on this subject somewhere,
The 16th European Symposium for the protection of the night sky has been announced. See https://www.astro.rug.nl/eurodark/
Eurodark 2024 will be in Holland and the conference has been dedicated to Wim Schmidt and Bob Mizon.The publication last week of a thought provoking paper, by John C. Barentine, Stefan Wallner and Miroslav Kocifa, on the subject of monitoring night sky brightness (NSB) prompts a few questions:
Does your local observatory monitor night sky brightness routinely, using a SQM or other instruments and protocols?
Do you share your observations with the scientific community and if so how?
Should CfDS be involved in collating NSB observations of BAA members? A programme to do this was initiated but has stalled. Potentially, it could restart if sufficient volunteers take an interest.The paper raises the issue of standardised NSB monitoring protocols. Here is a link. https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/stad3538/7425637
I would add that future satellite based methods of NSB monitoring are highly likely to be degraded because of changes in the night sky caused by massive deployment of communications satellites.This is a thought-provoking article, from the ‘Big Think’ website, reiterating concerns about satellite and LED proliferation. For example, “as of 15th November 2023…there are some ~9000 active satellites, with Starlink making up more than 5000 of them and putting humanity at the greatest risk yet …” The article goes on to describe two potential technological work arounds for astronomical imaging.
But what about star gazing? I worry that this could soon become something that humans used to do. Visual observers should be aware that skies in some places are brightening by 10% a year, reportedly. This is caused by LED intensification and uncontrolled satellite proliferation. Even with 2% per year expansion in sky glow domes, compounding means that we have a very short time, perhaps just a decade, before looking up at the sky at night becomes not worth the effort.
We may be able to use electronically enhanced instruments to see the sky in near real time, but this is an experience mediated by technology and the means to pay for it. It is not an authentic human experience. Does that matter? With the prospect of satellite driven light pollution dominating our skies will the notion of dark sky reserves become redundant.
Some things to ponder if you are out this weekend hoping to see a Leonid.
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/technology-save-astronomy-light-pollution/
