On March 31-April 7 we will be celebrating the International Dark Sky Week 2019 as part of the Global Astronomy Month Celebration. We are encouraging everyone to organize in activities that will promote awareness for the value of dark skies.
Some activities you can do:
Participate in the global citizen-science campaign Globe at Night.
Organize a viewing of videos like "Losing the Dark"
Today (June 16) is World Sea Turtle Day – a day used to honor and highlight the importance of sea turtles. These wonderful creatures are at risk due to various human activity, including the presence of artificial lights.
Now for those in the astronomy scene we value the dark night sky in order for us to appreciate the wonders of the universe. But known to little is the threat of light pollution on these endangered creatures. Female sea turtles look for dark coastal areas to nest their eggs and to keep them protected. The presence of coastal lights prevent them from finding suitable nests for their eggs. Sometimes coastal lighting casts shadows on some areas that to the turtles may seem dark and suitable, but is actually exposed come daylight.
Sea turtle hatchlings also have a natural programming that direct them towards the safety of the sea. For centuries the reflection of the moon and stars on the sea have guided them. With the presence of artificial coastal lighting today, they are disoriented and crawl away from the water and into roads or populated regions where they end up ran over or sold as pets (which is illegal for endangered species). Others who don't find their way become exhausted and dehydrated until they perish.
Gamay, a Hawksbill turtle rehabilitated in the Silliman University Marine Lab and released in the Apo Island Marine Sanctuary.
Among the critically endangered sea turtle species are the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricat) who have been reported to lay eggs in the populated and highly commercialized island of Boracay. We have four other species
of sea turtles inhabiting the Philippine waters - Loggerhead (Caretta
caretta;
endangered), green sea turtle (Chelonia
mydas;
endangered), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys
coriacea;
critically endangered), and the Olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys
olivacea;
vulnerable).
Sea turtles are only part of a large number of species of animals affected by artificial light at night. So let's help protect these species by avoiding the use of excessive and unshielded lighting. In doing so, you also allow astronomers, stargazers, and astronomy enthusiasts a better view of the sky. All these animals are affected - and you and I are among them.
If you are interested to help monitor the levels of light pollution in the Philippines, you can join us at the Philippine Light Map project.
April 5-11 is the International Dark Sky Week. It is part of the Global Astronomy Month celebration, and a program of the International Dark-Sky Association, that seeks to share the beauty of the night sky and at the same time raise awareness on the issue of light pollution.
Light pollution is not just a problem for astronomers, but it is also a problem that affects the environment, the energy sector, as well as our health.
Part of the efforts to make others aware of dark-sky preservation is the measurement of light pollution levels as well as sharing wonderful images of the night sky in a vantage point of a dark site. I decided to upload some of my astrophotos of various starfields in the Philippines to aid in dark-sky awareness.
Dark-skies from Tuding, Baguio City
Late night sky from RTU, Mandaluyong. Sky is still sufficiently bright due to urban lighting.
Light Pollution? What is it?
For those of you who love astronomy it is something we dread.
For those of you who are new to the term light pollution is the problem of too much light.
When describing it, I always use this example:
"Imagine a candle in a well lit room during the day, no one hardly notices the candle light. Now imagine the same candle when all lights are gone during the night. The candle shines brightly and illuminates the room.
The same goes with starlight, bright lights will make it unnoticeable, but in the dark they are a wonderful sight."
I've been bouncing back ideas recently with my friend Vanessa for her study on Dark Sky Preservation. I've known light pollution to be a problem for us astronomers but I never really realized the depth of the problem. It is not only a problem that affects astronomers, but a problem on human health, a problem against wildlife, against the environment, and against energy conservation. Despite legitimate concerns and efforts geared to addressing the problem, profiteering usually gets in the way.
The sky is for all of us. It isn't just our problem but it is yours as well.
Here is a video from a TED X talk by Lucianne Walkowicz entitled Look Up For a Change
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