GLOBE At Night 2009 Campaign

March 18, 2009

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Photographer: Aymen Ibrahem
Summary Author: Constance Walker

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.

The photo above shows the constellation of Orion the Hunter majestically rising over the White Desert of Egypt. How many stars can you count in Orion from where you live? 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. 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.