Here's a copy of an email I received from the American Astronomical Society just in case anyone else is interested in participating. My dot is already on the map for tonight.


SHED LIGHT ON LIGHT POLLUTION! JOIN THE GLOBE AT NIGHT CAMPAIGN, 16-28 MARCH!

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.

Shed light on light pollution! Take a few minutes to monitor your
local night sky brightness, place your measurement on-line noting your
location, date and time and within a few weeks see a map of light
pollution levels worldwide.

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. Find
out more information at the GLOBE at Night web site
(www.globe.gov/GaN). GLOBE at Night is an official International Year
of Astronomy Dark Skies Awareness cornerstone project.

To learn more about other IYA2009 Dark Skies Awareness cornerstone
projects and the effects of light pollution, visit the links on
www.darkskiesawareness.org.

---

~It only takes one bottle cap moving at 23,000 mph to ruin your whole day~

...unable to see the stars in our Milky Way galaxy arch across a
pristinely dark sky.

Light pollution has always stopped me seeing the stars from horizon to about a third up. One day there'll be a power cut and I'll find all the trees and buildings are in the way ;)

---

We actually have a problem like that with our campus observatory. It was built so long ago that the campus has since built up around it. Now we have problems with the dorm towers and the football stadium(!) being right next to the observatory. The other problem we're finding is that even when we get away from the cities and head out into open fields, there's still too much light pollution. There's been discussion about moving the telescope, but we'd have to move it almost completely out of the state to find a site that isn't washed out by light. :(

---

~It only takes one bottle cap moving at 23,000 mph to ruin your whole day~

The other problem we're finding is that even when we get away from the cities and head out into open fields, there's still too much light pollution.

I once took my telescope to a pub (public house - bar) which was in the middle of nowhere. Just the pub in the middle of fields - the nearest neighbouring building about half a mile away. I set the telescope up in the car park as far away from the pub as I could. The light pollution from the pub, which was well lit, was still surprisingly very significant.

---

Being in the city it's hard to get a good night to view. Usually clouds or haze. But once in a while I see some nice things.

---

Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected?
If it makes sense, DON'T do it.

Being in the city it's hard to get a good night to view. Usually clouds or haze. But once in a while I see some nice things.

I used to see some nice things with my Meade ETX-70AT telescope, but the computerized motor is failing so it doesn't find the stars any more. It's really hard to point manually so I don't tend to bother with it much now.

---

Being in the city it's hard to get a good night to view. Usually clouds or haze. But once in a while I see some nice things.

I used to see some nice things with my Meade ETX-70AT telescope, but the computerized motor is failing so it doesn't find the stars any more. It's really hard to point manually so I don't tend to bother with it much now.

I have an 8" Orion reflector, similiar to this, just an older version. Works nice.

---

Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected?
If it makes sense, DON'T do it.

Here's the one at our observatory (photo courtesy of Dr. Bill). It's a Meade LX 200 (.4 meter) with a 3.5 inch Questar guide telescope on top.

---

~It only takes one bottle cap moving at 23,000 mph to ruin your whole day~

I want one!!! Dont know where I would set it up but I'd have fun trying!

---

I'd have to travel at least 75 Km to get away from light pollution though.

---

Here's the one at our observatory (photo courtesy of Dr. Bill). It's a Meade LX 200 (.4 meter) with a 3.5 inch Questar guide telescope on top.

[IMG ]snip[/IMG ]

That's a fantastic Meade, thanks for sharing that photo Mary. Here is my Meade, no guide telescope, but a digital camera instead.

---