Britain's first park with Dark Sky status...

[Zulu Romeo]

... goes to Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. (And it's only 3 hours away from home. )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8361244.stm

Galloway Forest Park has been officially unveiled as the first Dark Sky Park in the UK.

The award, announced by the International Dark Sky Association, confirmed Galloway as one of the best places for stargazing in the world.

Lighting experts were brought in to ensure the skies above the forest park were pitch black at night.

The organisers of Galloway's bid said they hoped the award would boost tourism in south west Scotland.

I once worked in that part of Scotland for 6 months. Even in the daytime, it's one of the most serene parts of Scotland I've ever visited.

As someone who often gazes fondly at the stars (the ones in the sky ) and the night sky - the recent Perseid meteor shower being a particularly nice moment this year - I think it is great news. However, yes, it will increase tourism in that part of the world, but during major astronomical events like a lunar eclipse or the passing of a comet or a major meteor storm, I could expect the place now to become packed with amateur enthusiasts and professionals, which might disturb things somewhat, both for local traffic and the environment - ironically.

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said the worldwide interest in the Dark Skies initiative would put the forest park "firmly in the spotlight".

Well, the accolade certainly puts other British forest parks in the shade...

 

[Jeri]

That is a wonderful idea; I'm going to give it a read. Just today in the Chicago Tribune there was a light-pollution article. I'm thinking maybe it was prompted by the Leonids, which I didn't even bother with, since we live west of Chicago.

We used to live in Tucson, Arizona; and dark skies are a big deal there, being so close to Kitt Peak and other observatories. Astronomy is an industry in southern Arizona, and even the lights from Phoenix 110 miles away are causing a problem. (The International Dark Skies Association was founded in Tucson two decades ago.)

The Chicago Tribune article:

Barrington Hills dark skies debate

"Drivers are far more likely to encounter a horse than a streetlight on the secluded roads of Barrington Hills. But a controversial proposal could make it even darker in the village famed for its equestrians and sprawling houses..." (cont.)

Photo: A time-exposure photo taken in Chebanse to capture an August meteor shower also shows the amplified glow of light pollution from Chicago. (Tribune photo by Scott Strazzante / August 11, 2009)

 

[StolenThunder]

I once worked in that part of Scotland for 6 months.

DGRI?

I like that part of the country very much. The smell of woodsmoke in the mornings is my favourite.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

We used to live in Tucson, Arizona; and dark skies are a big deal there, being so close to Kitt Peak and other observatories. Astronomy is an industry in southern Arizona, and even the lights from Phoenix 110 miles away are causing a problem. (The International Dark Skies Association was founded in Tucson two decades ago.)

I remember, around 15 or so years ago, there was a TV documentary about the Tucson problem, which described the use of sodium-vapour street lights (which produce less light pollution) instead of the older mercury-vapour ones, to minimise the light pollution from Phoenix and other places. (Our cities in Scotland also installed sodium-vapour lights around that time - everything illuminated by them appeared monochromatic, which as a child I found a little disturbing. )

I once worked in that part of Scotland for 6 months.

DGRI?

I like that part of the country very much. The smell of woodsmoke in the mornings is my favourite.

Yes. Nice little hospital it is too.

 

[StolenThunder]

Yes. Nice little hospital it is too.

I took my senior elective there. I'm thinking about it for FY1.

 

[Jeri]

I remember, around 15 or so years ago, there was a TV documentary about the Tucson problem, which described the use of sodium-vapour street lights (which produce less light pollution) instead of the older mercury-vapour ones, to minimise the light pollution from Phoenix and other places. (Our cities in Scotland also installed sodium-vapour lights around that time - everything illuminated by them appeared monochromatic, which as a child I found a little disturbing. )

It's said sex offenders found them disturbing, as there was supposedly a decrease in rapes associated with their use.

Don't know if that's continued to be borne out. But on topic, the lights also have caps on the top to make sure all the light is focused downward and not into space.