Comments on: Lights Out in Iceland http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:09:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Troy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-114842 Troy Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:15:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-114842 I just got back from a trip to Michigan's upper peninsula earlier this month during the new moon. When I saw the sky up there I was in total awe. It is so sad it will be a very long time before I get to see that again. What we're missing is really a tragedy. I just got back from a trip to Michigan’s upper peninsula earlier this month during the new moon. When I saw the sky up there I was in total awe. It is so sad it will be a very long time before I get to see that again. What we’re missing is really a tragedy.

]]> By: Astrolink [Global Edition] » Dark sky week starts tonight! | Latest astronomy news in 11 languages http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21258 Astrolink [Global Edition] » Dark sky week starts tonight! | Latest astronomy news in 11 languages Wed, 18 Apr 2007 02:16:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21258 [...] touches all of us. I have many stories about this sort of thing (like this one, or this one) and I am always amazed and gratified to see how "normal" people react when they get to a [...] [...] touches all of us. I have many stories about this sort of thing (like this one, or this one) and I am always amazed and gratified to see how "normal" people react when they get to a [...]

]]> By: Russell ward http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21257 Russell ward Fri, 09 Feb 2007 04:25:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21257 I wish you luck with combatting climate change and light pollution and have thoroughly enjoyed this discussion. Here in Northern Scotland we're planning a similar event to Andri's inspirational project. You can read about it http://www.grampianlife.co.uk/SwitchOff_information/Switch_Off_-_Look_Up.html I wish you luck with combatting climate change and light pollution and have thoroughly enjoyed this discussion.

Here in Northern Scotland we’re planning a similar event to Andri’s inspirational project. You can read about it

http://www.grampianlife.co.uk/SwitchOff_information/Switch_Off_-_Look_Up.html

]]> By: CR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21227 CR Fri, 06 Oct 2006 03:59:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21227 D'OH!! I forgot JScarry already posted a link to that pic, though that earlier link has some written info with it; mine's just to the picture. D’OH!! I forgot JScarry already posted a link to that pic, though that earlier link has some written info with it; mine’s just to the picture.

]]> By: CR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21228 CR Fri, 06 Oct 2006 03:57:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21228 This might be of interest... http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0610/earthlights02_dmsp_big.jpg Beautiful, yet at the same time, it illustrates why it's getting harder to find dark skies at night these days! This might be of interest…
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0610/earthlights02_dmsp_big.jpg
Beautiful, yet at the same time, it illustrates why it’s getting harder to find dark skies at night these days!

]]> By: Bruce Gee http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21229 Bruce Gee Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:06:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21229 I'll never forget the time I was living in a small town in Northern Wisconsin, and I had a couple visit me from Japan. I picked them up at the Twin Cities airport, and, for a big intro to America, I took them to the Mall of America. Ho hum. They weren't terribly excited -- they'd seen stores and amusement parks before. Then, on an isolated road on the way home, they suddenly asked me to stop the car so they could get out and look up. They had NEVER SEEN the nighttime sky. Oh, maybe a few bright stars here and there, but never the whole grand sweep. They were awestruck. Makes you think. I’ll never forget the time I was living in a small town in Northern Wisconsin, and I had a couple visit me from Japan. I picked them up at the Twin Cities airport, and, for a big intro to America, I took them to the Mall of America. Ho hum. They weren’t terribly excited — they’d seen stores and amusement parks before.

Then, on an isolated road on the way home, they suddenly asked me to stop the car so they could get out and look up. They had NEVER SEEN the nighttime sky. Oh, maybe a few bright stars here and there, but never the whole grand sweep. They were awestruck.

Makes you think.

]]> By: CR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21230 CR Mon, 02 Oct 2006 20:52:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21230 mike Johnson said: "I wish that we could exchange email adresses so I could send some to you. But no telling after that last string how much mail we would get that we don’t want" Ha! I know what you mean there. Too bad this place doesn't have a section for private messages (at least that I know of). On the other hand, perhaps you could upload your pics to a free site (like Photobucket, or something similar), then provide a link so that all of us could take a look at your pics. Hopefully something can be worked out! Take care. mike Johnson said: “I wish that we could exchange email adresses so I could send some to you. But no telling after that last string how much mail we would get that we don’t want”

Ha! I know what you mean there. Too bad this place doesn’t have a section for private messages (at least that I know of).
On the other hand, perhaps you could upload your pics to a free site (like Photobucket, or something similar), then provide a link so that all of us could take a look at your pics. Hopefully something can be worked out!

Take care.

]]> By: mike Johnson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21223 mike Johnson Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:28:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21223 CR, Using NVGs enhances the experience so much, but it runs your night vision for about 15 minutes afterwards (but believe me, it's worth it). The color is greens, yellow(ish) and darks, but you see so much more than without them., You practically see dust entering the atmoshere and leaving short trains. Last night, in only 20 minutes, I counted at least 25 trails. It is incredible. The NVGs take in all ambient light and pretty much magnifies it (not in size, in intensity), so you see even more stars and such than you would with your neaked eye. I borrowed a camera, and took a few pitures through them last night. I wish that we could exchange email adresses so I could send some to you. But no telling after that last string how much mail we would get that we don't want :) CR,
Using NVGs enhances the experience so much, but it runs your night vision for about 15 minutes afterwards (but believe me, it’s worth it). The color is greens, yellow(ish) and darks, but you see so much more than without them., You practically see dust entering the atmoshere and leaving short trains. Last night, in only 20 minutes, I counted at least 25 trails. It is incredible. The NVGs take in all ambient light and pretty much magnifies it (not in size, in intensity), so you see even more stars and such than you would with your neaked eye. I borrowed a camera, and took a few pitures through them last night. I wish that we could exchange email adresses so I could send some to you. But no telling after that last string how much mail we would get that we don’t want :)

]]> By: CR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21224 CR Mon, 02 Oct 2006 05:04:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21224 mike Johnson: thanks for sharing your experiences here, and for noticing my advice to post here instead of that other thread. Just so you know, even in (smaller) cities here in America, we can see stars, satellites, meteors and even the Milky Way if the city lights aren't too bright. (I've also watched the ISS pass almost directly overhead on occasion!) But it gets even better by taking a 10 or fifteen minute drive out past the city limits. Still, it's amazing how far 'civilization' encroaches the wilderness... it seems there's always a light on somewhere at a farm or someplace, just enough to keep total darkness away. The observing conditions you're in sound better than anything I've personally seen. When you described the sky looking like something out of a magazine... well, I've never witnesed anything quite like that. (I have seen the night sky a few times while traveling through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho & Washington, but I wasn't out long enough to let my eyes fully adapt. Plus, I had to keep my eyes on the road when I was actually driving, darn it!) Anyway, your words were more than adequate to describe the awe-inspiring sights you see. I hope to read more of them. A direct question: just how does the sky look through Night Vision Goggles? Does it have the greenish hue movies always portray, but otherwise looks normal? I've never thought about using a set--nor have I had the opportunity to use a set--to observe stars. (Binoculars I've used, and that's very cool!) Just an aside to anyone reading this... as I sit typing this, tonight marks some of the coolest weather I've seen in a long time: a thunderstorm, or more specifically a line of them, has been giving a fantastic lightning display for several hours. The lightning is close enough to be bright blue-ish white, but far enough away that the thunder is little more than a distant, low rumble. Incredible. But what's even more awesome is that the waxing gibbous moon is completely visible in the opposite direction, and stars are visible all around the storm clouds. Cassiopeia and part of Ursa Major mark the boundary from my point of view. I SO wish I had a working camera to photograph this! (Mine bit the dust a few months ago, and a replacement will be a while in coming.) mike Johnson: thanks for sharing your experiences here, and for noticing my advice to post here instead of that other thread.
Just so you know, even in (smaller) cities here in America, we can see stars, satellites, meteors and even the Milky Way if the city lights aren’t too bright. (I’ve also watched the ISS pass almost directly overhead on occasion!) But it gets even better by taking a 10 or fifteen minute drive out past the city limits. Still, it’s amazing how far ‘civilization’ encroaches the wilderness… it seems there’s always a light on somewhere at a farm or someplace, just enough to keep total darkness away.
The observing conditions you’re in sound better than anything I’ve personally seen. When you described the sky looking like something out of a magazine… well, I’ve never witnesed anything quite like that. (I have seen the night sky a few times while traveling through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho & Washington, but I wasn’t out long enough to let my eyes fully adapt. Plus, I had to keep my eyes on the road when I was actually driving, darn it!)
Anyway, your words were more than adequate to describe the awe-inspiring sights you see. I hope to read more of them. A direct question: just how does the sky look through Night Vision Goggles? Does it have the greenish hue movies always portray, but otherwise looks normal? I’ve never thought about using a set–nor have I had the opportunity to use a set–to observe stars. (Binoculars I’ve used, and that’s very cool!)

Just an aside to anyone reading this… as I sit typing this, tonight marks some of the coolest weather I’ve seen in a long time: a thunderstorm, or more specifically a line of them, has been giving a fantastic lightning display for several hours. The lightning is close enough to be bright blue-ish white, but far enough away that the thunder is little more than a distant, low rumble. Incredible. But what’s even more awesome is that the waxing gibbous moon is completely visible in the opposite direction, and stars are visible all around the storm clouds. Cassiopeia and part of Ursa Major mark the boundary from my point of view. I SO wish I had a working camera to photograph this! (Mine bit the dust a few months ago, and a replacement will be a while in coming.)

]]> By: Beche-la-mer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21225 Beche-la-mer Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:16:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21225 I've just returned to Sydney, Australia, from a visit to the Victorian state capital, Melbourne. We stayed with friends who live about the same distance from the CBD in Melbourne as we do in Sydney, and I commented on the difference in the number of stars they can see compared to the few we can see. Melbourne has more light-pollution friendly street and building lights and it seems to work to good effect. It's nothing to really dark skies, of course, but it's amazing to see how easy it is to make a difference. I could imagine Melbourne having a lights-out event, but I doubt Sydney would care enough to try it. I’ve just returned to Sydney, Australia, from a visit to the Victorian state capital, Melbourne. We stayed with friends who live about the same distance from the CBD in Melbourne as we do in Sydney, and I commented on the difference in the number of stars they can see compared to the few we can see. Melbourne has more light-pollution friendly street and building lights and it seems to work to good effect. It’s nothing to really dark skies, of course, but it’s amazing to see how easy it is to make a difference. I could imagine Melbourne having a lights-out event, but I doubt Sydney would care enough to try it.

]]> By: mike Johnson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21226 mike Johnson Sun, 01 Oct 2006 19:48:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21226 hi all. I have been in the Khowst mountains of Eastern Afghanistan for 6 weeks now, and I have to tell you all that it is probably the most beutiful area that I have ever seen when it comes to looking at the skies. I am in the Air Force and stationed in UpState New York (Watertown). Khowst is at an elevation of about 3,000 meters, and there are no major cities for hundreds of miles. The first night I was here, I woke up and had to walk to the latrine tent. We are in black out conditions, so there is absolutely no lights on at night (except your red lens flashlight). When I walked outside, I was in awe of what I saw. It looked like the pictures that you see in the magazines. THe MilkyWay was in all her glory. Stars everwhere. Everynight, from 11pm to 1am, I just sit outside with binoculars and my Night Vision Goggles in complete shock at what I see. I can see nebulas and galaxies, and shooting stars. Back in the states, you are luck to see stars!! eHere, you can watch orbiting satelites. The moon is incredible!! I wish I had a telescope and camera so I could see more. I am in awe of the beauty that this place has to offer at night, and the sorrow of the day. I'm sorry that words cannot express the beauty of the universe...and I can see why Phil and so many of you are so passionate about light pollution..and the universe. I can say that I will never look at the skies again the same way. As a matter of fact, it's 1220 am, and I am headed out there right now with my NVGs and binoculars. hi all. I have been in the Khowst mountains of Eastern Afghanistan for 6 weeks now, and I have to tell you all that it is probably the most beutiful area that I have ever seen when it comes to looking at the skies. I am in the Air Force and stationed in UpState New York (Watertown). Khowst is at an elevation of about 3,000 meters, and there are no major cities for hundreds of miles. The first night I was here, I woke up and had to walk to the latrine tent. We are in black out conditions, so there is absolutely no lights on at night (except your red lens flashlight). When I walked outside, I was in awe of what I saw. It looked like the pictures that you see in the magazines. THe MilkyWay was in all her glory. Stars everwhere. Everynight, from 11pm to 1am, I just sit outside with binoculars and my Night Vision Goggles in complete shock at what I see.
I can see nebulas and galaxies, and shooting stars. Back in the states, you are luck to see stars!! eHere, you can watch orbiting satelites. The moon is incredible!! I wish I had a telescope and camera so I could see more. I am in awe of the beauty that this place has to offer at night, and the sorrow of the day.
I’m sorry that words cannot express the beauty of the universe…and I can see why Phil and so many of you are so passionate about light pollution..and the universe. I can say that I will never look at the skies again the same way. As a matter of fact, it’s 1220 am, and I am headed out there right now with my NVGs and binoculars.

]]> By: JScarry http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21254 JScarry Sun, 01 Oct 2006 15:05:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21254 APOD has a picture or earth at night http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061001.html APOD has a picture or earth at night http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061001.html

]]> By: Damien Evans http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21255 Damien Evans Sun, 01 Oct 2006 08:19:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21255 bassmanpete, i also live in melbourne, every summer holidays we go camping as a family to cape conran coastal park, in far east gippsland for about two weeks, and when night comes due to there being no artificial lighting for 45 km or so the views are spectacular, and it always dissapoints me the night view we get when we get back to the city is so much more dull. i think these dark night events are a great idea and should really happen a lot more often bassmanpete, i also live in melbourne, every summer holidays we go camping as a family to cape conran coastal park, in far east gippsland for about two weeks, and when night comes due to there being no artificial lighting for 45 km or so the views are spectacular, and it always dissapoints me the night view we get when we get back to the city is so much more dull.

i think these dark night events are a great idea and should really happen a lot more often

]]> By: Ijon Tichy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21256 Ijon Tichy Sun, 01 Oct 2006 06:56:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21256 Iceland has a lights-off-dark-sky night. The USA suspends habeas corpus. Which is the more civilised country? Iceland has a lights-off-dark-sky night. The USA suspends habeas corpus. Which is the more civilised country?

]]> By: Jeff http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21219 Jeff Sat, 30 Sep 2006 22:30:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21219 I grew up in Chicago and never paid much attention to the night sky, it was just too bright. It wasn't until 1979, while serving in the Army in Korea, that I saw a truly dark night. Pitch black as a matter of fact! I was in absolute awe! It was clear and cold and stars filled every inch of sky.I've been looking up ever since. I grew up in Chicago and never paid much attention to the night sky, it was just too bright. It wasn’t until 1979, while serving in the Army in Korea,
that I saw a truly dark night. Pitch black as a matter of fact! I was in absolute awe! It was clear and cold and stars filled every inch of sky.I’ve been looking up ever since.

]]> By: A Ler…-- Rastos de Luz http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21234 A Ler…-- Rastos de Luz Sat, 30 Sep 2006 10:07:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21234 [...] “Lights out in Iceland“. Um artigo sobre uma muito original iniciativa levada a cabo na Islândia, que vai colocar muita gente a contemplar o céu nocturno. A ver e a aprender. No Bad Astronomy. [...] [...] “Lights out in Iceland“. Um artigo sobre uma muito original iniciativa levada a cabo na Islândia, que vai colocar muita gente a contemplar o céu nocturno. A ver e a aprender. No Bad Astronomy. [...]

]]> By: bad Jim http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21233 bad Jim Sat, 30 Sep 2006 09:44:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21233 Once I flew out of Orange County airport at night and Mars was low in the western sky, in Sagittarius, so the center of the galaxy was glowing right alongside. It felt like space travel. Back in the 60's the Milky Way was visible from my Southern California beach city hilltop home, but it isn't any longer. Power outages at night are an invitation to go outside and look at the sky. Once I flew out of Orange County airport at night and Mars was low in the western sky, in Sagittarius, so the center of the galaxy was glowing right alongside. It felt like space travel.

Back in the 60′s the Milky Way was visible from my Southern California beach city hilltop home, but it isn’t any longer.

Power outages at night are an invitation to go outside and look at the sky.

]]> By: P. Edward Murray http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21231 P. Edward Murray Fri, 29 Sep 2006 23:49:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21231 The Darkest sky I have seen was during my trip to Hawaii for the Great Total Solar Eclipse of 1991. The evening that I flew to the big Island I was treated to the most awesome of sights that a person can behold.... a truly dark sky where the Milky Way stands out like a cloud. The second dark sky I've seen is at our Cherry Springs State Park here in Pennsylvania in Potter County which is North Central Pennyslvania. It is surrounded by state game lands and the closest towns are very small. On a dark night the Milky Way stands out like a cloud which can't be too far from what I saw from Hawaii. The clouds themselves tell you how dark the sky really is because they look like black holes or blotches that move against the sky. Messier objects such as M33 The Triangulum Galaxy or Pinwheel Galaxy is naked eye! But here in suburban Philadelphia I can't even see it even with my telescope! The Darkest sky I have seen was during my trip to Hawaii for the Great Total Solar Eclipse of 1991. The evening that I flew to the big Island I was treated to the most awesome of sights that a person can behold…. a truly dark sky where the Milky Way stands out like a cloud.

The second dark sky I’ve seen is at our Cherry Springs State Park here in Pennsylvania in Potter County which is North Central Pennyslvania. It is surrounded by state game lands and the closest towns are very small.
On a dark night the Milky Way stands out like a cloud which can’t be too far from what I saw from Hawaii.

The clouds themselves tell you how dark the sky really is because they look like black holes or blotches that move against the sky. Messier objects
such as M33 The Triangulum Galaxy or Pinwheel Galaxy is naked eye!
But here in suburban Philadelphia I can’t even see it even with my telescope!

]]> By: FrankNiddy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21232 FrankNiddy Fri, 29 Sep 2006 21:01:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21232 Out in the desert, not only are there clear skies a lot of the time, but there are places were there is little to no artificial light. Trust me, the view was amazing when I was out there. Out in the desert, not only are there clear skies a lot of the time, but there are places were there is little to no artificial light. Trust me, the view was amazing when I was out there.

]]> By: Jef Spalding http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21235 Jef Spalding Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:22:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21235 Phil, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for publishing this great Iceland lights off story. Until now, I felt like a minority in my quest for dark skies. Thanks to the GREAT responses of your readers, I feel connected again....except perhaps to Frank's cold weenie analogy. J. Spalding Phil,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for publishing this great Iceland lights off story. Until now, I felt like a minority in my quest for dark skies. Thanks to the GREAT responses of your readers, I feel connected again….except perhaps to Frank’s cold weenie analogy.
J. Spalding

]]> By: Frank http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21238 Frank Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:03:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21238 My best dark sky was on a cold (-20 Celsius) december moonless night while travelling from Cochrane, Ontario to Sudbury. It's a long drive, with almost no civilization for most of the trip. Somewhere midway through, I had to take a leak real bad, so I stopped on the side of the road. I looked up and I was shocked to realize how many more stars I could see than I was used to. I was hundreds of kilometers away from a city, so there was practically no light pollution at all. And the cold made the air so cristal clear that the stars weren't even twinkling anymore. It made me dizzy! I wish I could have stayed there longer, but my weenie was turning into a second belly-button, so... :-\ My best dark sky was on a cold (-20 Celsius) december moonless night while travelling from Cochrane, Ontario to Sudbury. It’s a long drive, with almost no civilization for most of the trip. Somewhere midway through, I had to take a leak real bad, so I stopped on the side of the road. I looked up and I was shocked to realize how many more stars I could see than I was used to. I was hundreds of kilometers away from a city, so there was practically no light pollution at all. And the cold made the air so cristal clear that the stars weren’t even twinkling anymore. It made me dizzy!

I wish I could have stayed there longer, but my weenie was turning into a second belly-button, so… :-\

]]> By: CelticBear’s Musings » Blog Archive » Is This The Morality, The Values Issues of Which You Spoke Of? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21236 CelticBear’s Musings » Blog Archive » Is This The Morality, The Values Issues of Which You Spoke Of? Fri, 29 Sep 2006 14:50:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21236 [...] I stopped by The Bad Astronomer for his article on “Lights Out in Iceland” and saw his latest blog on the Senate bill which, in effect, authorizes the use of torture and removes the Constitutional demand of habeus corpus. Which means, the Executive branch of the government (bush’s branch) would have the power to detain anyone, ANYONE, even lawful U.S. citizens without a Grand Jury, without telling them the charges, without legal representation, and indefinitely! [...] [...] I stopped by The Bad Astronomer for his article on “Lights Out in Iceland” and saw his latest blog on the Senate bill which, in effect, authorizes the use of torture and removes the Constitutional demand of habeus corpus. Which means, the Executive branch of the government (bush’s branch) would have the power to detain anyone, ANYONE, even lawful U.S. citizens without a Grand Jury, without telling them the charges, without legal representation, and indefinitely! [...]

]]> By: John http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21214 John Fri, 29 Sep 2006 14:34:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21214 You can see satellites zipping by up there, too. They're very faint, and you have to almost not focus in to catch them, but they're there. You can see satellites zipping by up there, too. They’re very faint, and you have to almost not focus in to catch them, but they’re there.

]]> By: Paula Helm Murray http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21213 Paula Helm Murray Fri, 29 Sep 2006 14:25:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21213 My folks built a house in 1974 about 35 miles south of Olathe, KS. Until my father built an arbor over the patio, you could lay down on a chaise lounge, look up and if you let your mind and perceptions go, feel like you were falling into the Milky Way. By the time mom sold the house in 2002-3, the city had gotten close enough that light was obscuring the sky, more than 50% less than in 1974. You could still see the stars, but it wasn't the same effect. My folks built a house in 1974 about 35 miles south of Olathe, KS. Until my father built an arbor over the patio, you could lay down on a chaise lounge, look up and if you let your mind and perceptions go, feel like you were falling into the Milky Way.

By the time mom sold the house in 2002-3, the city had gotten close enough that light was obscuring the sky, more than 50% less than in 1974. You could still see the stars, but it wasn’t the same effect.

]]> By: Jennifer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/comment-page-1/#comment-21216 Jennifer Fri, 29 Sep 2006 13:16:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/09/28/lights-out-in-iceland/#comment-21216 We've seen the effects of the housing rush affect the local observatory here in Houston. Most people don't know there is a great observatory locally in Brazos Bend State Park. This used to be over an hour's drive from the Houston population. But thanks to the housing increase and everyone's rush to live in suburbia, it's now a half-hour drive and the glow of housing lights has a big impact on what's visible - especially to the north and east along the horizons. But its great to hear the gasps of people looking at galaxies through a 36" telescope for the first time. First they are astounded to learn there are live alligators in the park, and most don't know what to do when they see a raccoon or deer wandering nearby, and then they see the wonders of the night sky up close and personal - its definately a learning experience! LOL Now if only we could preserve that experience for future generations. We’ve seen the effects of the housing rush affect the local observatory here in Houston. Most people don’t know there is a great observatory locally in Brazos Bend State Park. This used to be over an hour’s drive from the Houston population. But thanks to the housing increase and everyone’s rush to live in suburbia, it’s now a half-hour drive and the glow of housing lights has a big impact on what’s visible – especially to the north and east along the horizons. But its great to hear the gasps of people looking at galaxies through a 36″ telescope for the first time. First they are astounded to learn there are live alligators in the park, and most don’t know what to do when they see a raccoon or deer wandering nearby, and then they see the wonders of the night sky up close and personal – its definately a learning experience! LOL
Now if only we could preserve that experience for future generations.

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