Our Vanishing Night - 4/21

National Dark Sky Week is March 29th-April 4th this year (see the
International Dark Sky Association's website at www.darksky.org), and
I think I heard that this is dark sky month, so I thought I would
mention this event at the Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill. Light
pollution is a waste of energy that cuts us off from the stars and can
be bad for our health, safety, and wildlife, and is a problem for much
of the country, so it is important to minimize it.

OUR VANISHING NIGHT

Join Morehead Planetarium and Science Center on Monday, April 21, 2008
at 7:30 p.m. in the Star Theater for a special free program, "Our
Vanishing Night."

For generations, everyone experienced the breathtaking beauty of an
unspoiled night sky, with views into our Universe of thousands of
stars, the Milky Way and even another galaxy. Inspired by the sky,
those who came before us told imaginative stories about the patterns
they saw in the stars. But when many of us go home tonight and look
up, we may not see much more than a washed-out orange glow.

During this program, we'll use the Zeiss VI star projector to reveal
how light pollution--the illumination of the atmosphere by outdoor
lighting--robs us of our heritage of a natural dark sky. And we'll
experience the sky studded with stars--and stories--as our ancestors
did and as our grandchildren might, if we commit to better designed
outdoor lighting.

Following the Star Theater presentation, join us for a short walking
tour (choose North Campus or downtown) to consider how our outdoor
lighting might improve visibility and safety, while also minimizing
energy use. Back at the Morehead Sundial, telescopes will be active.
Be sure to check out Saturn and Mars.

Co-sponsored by UNC Sustainability Office; Chapel Hill Town Council
Committee for Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment; and CHAOS
(Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society).

Free. Part of UNC's Earth Week celebration.

For more information:
http://moreheadplanetarium.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&filename=vanish.html
<http://moreheadplanetarium.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&filename=vanish.html>

Morehead Planetarium is at 250 E. Franklin Street, in downtown Chapel Hill.