National Dark Sky Week Begins April 1, 2003

Jennifer Barlow, a high school student in Midlothian, Virginia, founded the
National Dark Sky Week (NDSW). NDSW for 2003 is set to occur from April 1 to
April 8, 10 pm to 12 am (Eastern and Mountain Time Zones), 9 pm to 11 pm
(Central, Pacific, and Hawaiian Time Zones). The purpose of the event is to
raise awareness about light pollution. This event is endorsed by the
International Dark-Sky Association, now holding their annual conference in
Tucson, Arizona.

Light pollution is the lighting of the night sky that interferes with the
light of
the stars and astronomical observers, caused by lighting fixtures that emit
excess light into the atmosphere and screen out astronomical features in the
sky. Light pollution is a growing problem as more and more cities are being
built and expanded, while more lights are being used to light them. Robert
Gent, President of the 20,000-member Astronomical League explains the effects
of light pollution, “The beauty of our night skies has been inspirational to
mankind for eons, and it is an important part of our heritage. The time has
come to recognize the ill effects of light pollution. Better quality
lighting can reduce glare, save energy, and protect the nighttime
environment.”

Many people have expressed their enthusiasm for National Dark Sky Week. 2002
National Young Astronomer Award Winner, Albert Lin, said, “Having a National
Dark Sky Week would certainly please fellow dedicated astronomers as well as
give the general public a chance to experience the night sky in all its
glory, the way it should be. From my experience, the main reason why more
people aren’t out under the stars is because they can barely see anything
from their location anyway. A NDSW would, in a sense, benefit everyone.
National Dark Sky Week will allow many to see the universe and people will
be able to forget about their “earthly” distractions for two hours when they
realize the scale of the vast universe.”

Jennifer Barlow stresses the importance of safety in this event. “Please do
not extinguish important lighting that is needed for safety, i.e.,
streetlights, busy parking lot lights, etc. Turn off outdoor house lights and
bright indoor lights. When observing in a dark area, carry a red-tinted
flashlight and stay with a large group of people,” says Barlow.

Since the original press release in January of 2003, support has increased at
an incredible rate. Many groups have announced different ways they plan to
acknowledge NDSW. Astronomy clubs and have planned events with guest speakers
and astronomical societies have planned public stargazing sessions. These
events are excellent opportunities to participate in the campaign against
light-polluted skies. More people in the United States are now more aware of
National Dark Sky Week since the event has received a great deal of
publicity. With more people knowing about NDSW, there is a greater chance for
a successful decrease in light pollution and more people becoming interested
in astronomy.

The Astronomical League, the International Dark-Sky Association, the American
Astronomical Society, the Richmond Astronomical Society, and the Armagh
Planetarium all support National Dark Sky Week, as do many others. In order
for NDSW to be successful, the participation of everyone is crucial. National
Dark Sky Week is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in astronomy and
become aware of the detrimental effects of light pollution on the night sky.
Jennifer Barlow explains, “The sky has been forgotten by many — this is a
good opportunity to remind us that Earth is not alone in the universe.”

For additional information, visit:
http://www.nationaldarkskyweek.htmlplanet.com