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D.A. Hanslep, D.L. Crawford (International Dark-Sky Association)
Everyone knows that astronomers need dark skies to be able to work. However, with the rapid spread of development across the entire USA, the sky brightness background has been increasing in most areas at an alarming rate. Recent nighttime satellite photography shows once pristine observing sites now being threatened by the increased light pollution that accompanies urban sprawl.
But while few observatories have programs to combat this plague on astronomy, the International Dark-Sky Association has instituted a number of programs to protect this natural, cultural resource—and they’ve been succeeding. In working effectively with the professional lighting community, local authorities, and elected officials to produce results in dark sky preservation through outdoor lighting ordinances, public education, technical committee service and alliance development, IDA has found the formula for extending the lifespan of today’s observing sites, and needs astronomy's support.
The International Dark-Sky Association is a membership-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the natural night environment and our heritage of dark skies through the promotion of quality outdoor lighting.
If you would like more information about this abstract, please follow the link to http://www.darksky.org/index.html. This link was provided by the author. When you follow it, you will leave the Web site for this meeting; to return, you should use the Back comand on your browser.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: ida@darksky.org
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #2
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.