Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Dark Sky Movement has Virginia Roots

Over 40 years ago Lexington native Kurt Riegel  published in Science a seminal paper on light pollution, its impact to astronomy, and measures for limiting its expansion.  You can reach a PDF of the paper here.  Through its publishing Riegel connected with astronomer David Crawford who went on to co-found the International Dark-Sky Association in 1988.  Had leaders and communities heeded Riegel's recommendations with local, state, and national policies and practices, chances are the Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness would look very different..

Alleghany Highlands May Pioneer Virginia Dark-Sky Tourism

In October, the Valley Conservation Council sponsored a Dark-Sky Summit at Douthat State Park in Bath County, hosting 30 local leaders from the Alleghany-Highland region to discuss the potential for becoming a dark-sky destination and joining the ranks of astro-tourism locations throughout the world.
Op/ed coverage of this watershed event:

Roanoke Times Editorial "Virginia's Dark Sky Country"
Virginia IDA's Laura Greenleaf in response.

Roanoke Times Editorial Dark Skies on "Christmas Wish List"
In response, local resident points out that pointlessly overlit highway exits contradict dark sky goal.