Help the one organization dedicated to protecting dark skies
Bob Gent Past president, International Dark-Sky Association; Past president, Astronomical League
Do you enjoy a beautiful night sky? Well of course you do, or you wouldn’t be receiving a copy of this magazine. Have you ever spent money on our hobby? I am guessing the answer is yes. In my case, I have built an observatory, and I have bought a lot of telescopes and other astronomical equipment. The point is that many of us spend a lot on astronomy.
If we are spending money on astronomy, then shouldn’t we also be helping the one organization that protects our night sky? There is only one organization totally dedicated to night sky protection. That’s the International Dark-Sky Association.
Of the many thousands of people who are amateur astronomers, how many are members of the International Dark-Sky Association? This is the really shocking answer: very few, perhaps less than a few hundred. Do you find this distressing? Well, I for one find it unbelievable and profoundly disappointing.
We are all facing a global emergency. It’s the explosion of bad LED lighting. These are high glare and overly bright street lights, parking lot lights, and a rapid installation of thousands of new LED signs and billboards. Many do not comply with IDA’s newly updated Fixture Seal of Approval program. Thank goodness, IDA is leading the charge to help us.
One particular clear night years ago, you likely gazed at the heavenly realm and, although you may not have realized it at the time, it changed your life. Perhaps you were a teenager who visited a public event hosted by the local astronomy club. After standing expectantly in line, you peered for the first time through a telescope at M42, with its stellar sprinklings embedded throughout its wispy regions, and its four closely packed Trapezium stars shining in the central glow, sharply bordered by dark nebulae. What a marvelous sight for a young person to encounter!
The Astronomical League depends heavily on its team of volunteers, and is grateful for all their efforts. This past fall, Mike Benson, administrator of the Double Star Program, the Arp Peculiar Galaxy Program, and the Master Observer Program, decided to step down after many years of valuable service. His input and assistance were indispensable in developing, launching, and administering these and other programs. Mike was presented a special service plaque from the Astronomical League by Theo Wellington, president of the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society in Nashville, TN. Thank you, Mike!