Tag: light pollution

Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

Darkest Town in America

ENVIRONMENT Taking in the view from Gerlach, Nevada. (FiveThirtyEight) What is light pollution? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit, including today’s MapMaker Interactive map. Discussion Ideas The FiveThirtyEight essay details a visit to the least light-polluted community in the United States—the tiny town of Gerlach, Nevada. What is light pollution? Light pollution describes the artificial illumination of … Continue reading Darkest Town in America

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Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

Nearly 80% of U.S. Populations Can’t See the Milky Way

ENVIRONMENT A new sky atlas reveals the worsening state of light pollution. (Nat Geo News) Use our resources to learn a little about light pollution. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of resources in our Teachers Toolkit, including a citizen science project perfect for those summer nights and today’s MapMaker Interactive map of the world’s “Lights at Night.” Discussion Ideas A new atlas maps the … Continue reading Nearly 80% of U.S. Populations Can’t See the Milky Way

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Classroom Ideas

Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder where you are

Light pollutionThis past weekend I got to visit my uncle in Pittsburgh who just so happens to be an amateur astronomer.  Naturally, during the course of my visit the topic of stargazing came up and, as is my custom, I invited him to the annual Star Party held not far from where my parents live in Nebraska.  And, as always, he expressed his jealousy of our dark, starry nights.  To be frank, I rarely considered the skies over Nebraska to be anything special–until I got a glimpse of the night sky in Pittsburgh.  It was seriously like the difference between night and day.  In Nebraska, one can see millions, if not trillions, of stars on a clear night. In Pittsburgh, it was difficult to make out many of the stars that are easily visible to the naked eye in Nebraska.  Why is there so much difference you ask?  It is an interesting phenomenon for certain–better known as light pollution.

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Geography In the News, Take Action

Join the GLOBE at Night Campaign March 16-28, 2009!

Thanks to MWW reader Connie Walker for sharing this information about the GLOBE at Night Campaign, which is currently underway. My Wonderful World is an ardent supporter of citizen science initiatives like GLOBE, which we featured during last year’s inventory here on the blog. So get out and get stargazing–tonight!

GaN2008Map.gif

Map of 2008 observations courtesy GLOBE at Night

SHED LIGHT ON LIGHT POLLUTION!

Be part of the “GLOBE at Night” citizen-science campaign and
make a world of difference! The GLOBE at Night campaign runs March 16-28, 2009.
Help preserve our natural heritage for generations to come.

More than one-fifth of the world population, two-thirds of
the United States
population and one half of the European Union population are unable to see the
stars in our Milky Way galaxy arch across a pristinely dark sky. With half the
world’s population now living in cities, this problem is only getting worse.
Yet you can easily be part of a local solution to a global problem.

Continue reading “Join the GLOBE at Night Campaign March 16-28, 2009!”

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Geography In the News, Main

Last chance to participate in the GLOBE at Night Campaign!

Are you a stargazer? Act quickly! Unfortunately, a majority of Americans will never have the opportunity to see a sky unobstructed by ambient light and air pollution, illuminated by stars and not artificial fluorescents. This fact is the impetus behind the GLOBE at Night Campaign. “GLOBE at Night” is an engagement initiative to inspire people to experience the worlds beyond our own wonderful world by … Continue reading Last chance to participate in the GLOBE at Night Campaign!

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