73/74 - International Dark Sky Places

nightscape
Issue # 73/74
A Publication of the International Dark-Sky Association
Photograph by Dave Wymer
IN THIS ISSUE
Meeting News
Congressional Briefing
Annual Meeting News
Astronomy News
Feature Article
Section News
Transitions
4
5
6 –8
9
10–14
17
18
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IDA
Dear members,
I
t was only six months ago that I had the great pleasure of befriending
International Dark-Sky Association co-founder, Dr. David Crawford. We became
fast friends as Dave shared with me his passion and vision for IDA and the night
sky protection movement. He also expressed his desire to pass the torch to someone
new and enjoy some well-earned time with his dear wife, Mary, after twenty years
of hard work. I asked him how I could help this wonderful organization he so
lovingly built with his dazzling mind and intense perseverance. He asked me if I
would bring my non-profit expertise to IDA and serve as the Interim Executive
Director to allow him a graceful transition to a position of Emeritus. I readily
jumped on board.
I am happy to report that during my long tenure of working to expand
nonprofit agencies, I have never been so excited about the potential for success, or
impressed by the passion of the staff, volunteers, and members as I have been at
International Dark-Sky Association. IDA has become THE force that can facilitate the changes needed to protect our nighttime environment. I believe that preservation of dark skies will advance toward the forefront of people’s environmental
radar as research regarding the effects of adverse lighting on the environment,
wildlife, human health, and the safety of our cities and roadways accumulates.
I am enjoying close communication with our esteemed board of directors
in the search for a permanent Executive Director who possesses the skills and
drive to guide IDA to the next phase of existence. IDA is poised and currently
working to increase its membership base, political base, financial base, and
professional influence. When you combine these growth factors, it is easy to
see that we will be able to make a difference in preserving, even improving, our
nighttime environment.
I am thrilled to be a part of International Dark-Sky Association at this crucial
time in its history. I hope that you, too, will value this special time for IDA and our
work by continuing to be a member, participating in our regional IDA Sections,
or supporting our efforts with your generous donations. We truly are protecting
the night environment together! Thank you for helping us succeed—you are the
essential ingredient that allows us to continue this important work.
Elizabeth Hospodarsky
Interim Executive Director
Cover: Dave Wymer’s photograph is a four hour exposure
on Kodak E200 slide film showing the North Star,
Polaris, in the center. Exposures this long would never
be possible without the dark skies of Cherry Springs State
Park in Pennsylvania, USA.
A note from IDA: Is your mailing address and
e-mail up to date? If not, please update your information at IDA’s Web site at www.darksky.org.
Issue #73/74/ 2008
International Dark-Sky Association
The mission of the International Dark-Sky Association
(IDA) is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment
and our heritage of dark skies. IDA was incorporated in
1988 as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
(FIN 74-2493011).
Sections & Affiliates
Sections Argentina, Australia, Canada (3), Chile,
Česká Republika/Czech Republic, China, Éire/Ireland,
Israel, Ελλάςα/Greece, 香港/Hong Kong, Italia/Italy,
日本/Japan, Malta, Österreich/Austria, Slovenija/
Slovenia, Schweiz/Switzerland, Sverige/Sweden,
United States (31)
Affiliates België/Belgium, Deutschland/Germany,
France, Nederland/Netherlands, United Kingdom,
United States (8)
Board of Directors
President Christian Monrad P.E.
Vice President Buell Jannuzi
Secretary Mary Crawford
Treasurer James Benya
Members Kelly Beatty; Daniel Brocious;
Nancy Clanton; Paul Ericson;
Terry McGowan; Leo Smith; Malcolm Smith;
Martin Morgan-Taylor; Wout van Bommel;
Christopher Walker; Reginald Wilson
Staff
Interim Executive Director Elizabeth Hospodarsky
Membership Director Susan Ciarniello
Research Assistant Erin Craine
Writer/Editor Rowena Davis
Technical Advisor Scott Davis
Sections Coordinator Johanna Duffek
Office Manager Anabel Gray
Local Education Liaison Teresa Hudson
Art and Design Stephanie Mar
Public Affairs Kimberly Patten
Technical Assistant Matthew Root
Financial Associate & Accountant Ganga Samarasinha
Technical Advisor Peter Strasser
Newsletter
Address corrections [email protected]
Advertisements & submissions [email protected]
Deadlines Issue #75: 15 Nov. 2008; Issue #76; 15 Feb.
2009; Issue # 77: 15 May 2009; Issue # 78: 15 Aug. 2009
Nightscape, a publication of the International Dark-Sky
Association is published quarterly.
Contact
Address International Dark-Sky Association,
3225 N. First Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719-2103, U.S.A.
Tel +1 520-293-3198 Fax + 1 520-293-3192
Web site www.darksky.org E-mail [email protected]
Advertising Rates
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For more information contact
[email protected]
Upcoming Meetings
Vienna, Austria
Don’t miss “DARKSKY 2008,” the 8th
European Symposium for the Protection
of the Night Sky, held on August 22 & 23,
2008, in Vienna, Austria at the historic
Kuffner Observatorys. Topics include
cutting edge methods of light pollution
monitoring and discussion of light pollution’s impact on animals, human health,
and climate. Additional sessions take an
in-depth look at energy-efficient, dark
sky compliant lighting technology, traffic
safety, light pollution laws, and the financial considerations of implementation.
Attendees can select side trips to
Großmugl, to the Vienna University
Observatory, to a dark observing site
in the Austrian Alps and a guided tour
through the Kuffner Observatory. IDA
members receive discounted registration
fees. Complete information is found at
http://darksky2008.kuffner-sternwarte.
at/.
First International Dark-Sky
Camp —Croatia
Attend the First Annual International
Dark Sky Camp, held August 25–September 1, and become a celestial explorer on
an island once famous for sea piracy. Held
on resplendent Lastovo Island in Croatia’s
Adriatic Sea and timed to coincide with
the end of DARKSKY 2008 in Vienna,
Austria, this week long adventure combines awe-inspiring starscapes in one of
the world’s darkest sky areas with stunning beaches and Byzantine architecture
to enjoy by day. Evening lectures prepare
attendees for what veteran sky viewers
promise will be the best Milky Way gazing of a lifetime.
The idyllic island location was chosen specifically for the clarity of its sky.
200 km of empty sea eradicates all light
pollution to the south, creating incredible
darkness-meter readings. Participants
are encouraged to bring their own sky
viewing gear, though binoculars and
small telescopes will be available for use.
Further information is available on the
IDA Web site, www.darksky.org.
Helsinki, Finland
Divisions 4 & 5 of the worldwide engineering society Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) will hold their
annual meeting on August 30–September
3 in Helsinki, Finland. IDA Technical
Advisor and CIE/USA Secretary Scott
Davis will participate in discussions on the
latest advances in illuminating technology.
For more information on the meeting,
visit http://www.cie.co.at/div4/meetings/
Helsinki/fi.html.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
October 6–10: Ljubljana, Slovenia
welcomes Europe’s top lighting experts to
a joint international event. Balkan Light
2008, the fourth Balkan conference on
lighting, will be held in conjunction with
SDR 2008, the 17th Annual Conference
of the Slovenia Lighting Society and
the Annual Meeting of CIE Division 3
(Interior Environment and Lighting
Design). Organized by the Lighting
Engineering Society of Slovenia, the
event looks at all aspects of lighting from
physical, physiological, and philosophical viewpoints.
Past Meetings
Frankfurt, Germany
IDA representatives and Dark Skies
Germany were welcomed as exhibitors
at Light & Build, held April 6 –11 in
Frankfurt, Germany. A number of useful connections were established among
the 169,000 attendees of the world’s
largest lighting conference and trade
show. Increasingly, manufacturers are
recognizing the role of luminaire design
in light pollution control. More importantly, they are responsive to the mission
of providing lighting for recreation and
safety without compromising the nighttime environment. The majority of the
merchandise presented in the conference’s
ten multi-level exhibit halls reflected the
increasing popularity of shielded lighting fixtures. Almost all manufacturers
displayed luminaires worthy of dark sky
approval. Italian designed fixtures were
notably well thought out, combining
technology and artistry to produce a sleek,
fully shielded product. The successful
reception of dark sky ideas led to IDA
invitations to future meetings.
Anchorage, AK USA
In March, the Alaska section of the
IESNA hosted IDA Technical Advisor
Pete Strasser as a speaker at their annual
meeting. Presentations to members
and the citizens of Anchorage dispelled
lighting myths and provided details on
current lighting trends, including dark
sky compliance.
Las Vegas, NV USA
IDA Technical Advisors Scott Davis,
Matt Root, and Pete Strasser attended
LightFair International in Las Vegas from
May 26 –30, along with multiple members
of the IDA Board. Hosted by IESNA and
the International Association of Lighting
Designers (IALD), LightFair is the largest
lighting conference and trade show in the
United States. IDA staff and representatives networked with the lighting industry
to grow manufacturer participation in the
IDA Fixture Seal of Approval Program
while attending training seminars to
increase lighting expertise.
Portland, OR USA
On July 9–11, IDA Technical Advisor
Pete Strasser participated in the U.S.
Department of Energy’s market introduction workshop, “Voices for Solid
State Lighting Efficiency 2008”, held in
Portland, Oregon. This semi-annual event
helped shape the future of LEDs by drafting standards for testing, marketing, and
efficiency, including luminaire criteria for
the federal program Energy Star.
Overall, the LED industry has
made astonishing progress in LED
performance. Predictions of efficiency
levels for 2010 have already been surpassed. The DOE is partnering with
several major companies as part of the
Retail Energy Alliance program with a
continues on page 18
Meeting News
Nightscape
Congressional briefing
Photograph by IDA
D
ark skies gained national notice when IDA held the first of
two Congressional briefings in Washington DC, USA on June
20, 2008. IDA staffers, associates, and endorsing organizations
appeared before the U.S. House of Representatives with a high
impact presentation on the negative effects of light pollution.
Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ08) sponsored the
briefing, which enjoyed bipartisan support from Representatives
John Culberson (R-TX07) and Steve Israel (D-NY02). All three
Representatives endorsed an open letter to Stephen Johnson,
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
calling for the EPA to define light pollution and incorporate
research on it into their agenda, including educational outreach
and possible involvement in the federal energy ratings program,
Energy Star. Terry McGowan and J. Kelly Beatty of the IDA
Board of Directors circulated the sign-on letter as the House
briefing concluded.
Due to the tremendous success of the June 20 House briefing
in the Science and Technology Committee’s hearing room, the
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
agreed to host a similar briefing on Friday, July 25, 2008. DC
Liaison Milt Roney did an exceptional job coordinating these
events. Both briefings sat bipartisan Congressional staff, a contingent from the Green the Capitol program, and representatives
of astronomical and conservation groups.
The discussion at both briefings outlined the scope and dangers of light pollution, citing independent research from the U.S.
National Park Service documenting the impact of dark skies and
medical groups including the University of Haifa, Israel, and the
World Health Organization (WHO), which is now recognizing
shift work (through exposure to light at night) as carcinogenic. A
wide range of control and abatement options for light pollution,
such as how to strengthen national energy standards and enhance
building codes, was then offered to the Congressional audiences
in an effort to introduce a federal initiative for action.
Issue #73/74/ 2008
Members of the IDA Board of Directors collaborated with
national experts to present the latest information in three important fields. Lee Cooper, Manager of Emerging Technologies at
Pacific Gas & Electric; and Chris Monrad, Vice President of
Monrad Engineering and IDA Board President, assessed how
energy efficiency in nighttime lighting can save billions of dollars
and conserve fossil fuels. Travis Longcore, Ph.D., Science Director of the Urban Wildlands Group; and Marianne V. Moore,
Ph.D., Associate Professor at Wellesley College, discussed the
ecological consequences of nighttime light on migratory birds,
endangered sea turtles, and various species of insects. Doctors
David Blask of the Bassett Research Institute; Mario Motta of the
Massachusetts Medical Society; and Richard Stevens, a cancer
epidemiologist at the University of Connecticut Health Center,
spoke on potential human health effects. More information on
these presenters, including slides and briefing documents, can be
found at www.darksky.org.
The briefings enabled IDA to reach a diverse group of legislators and political activists, offering dark sky proponents an opportunity to transform political interest into concrete protection for
our natural heritage. IDA members and activists who contacted
their Congresspersons made a tremendous impact on the success
of the endeavor. Many staffers explained that they were attending
the briefings due to constituents’ calls. In one especially inspired
effort, children attending a community event made signs and
artwork for the Senators at a booth hosted by Chicago Section
Co-leader Audrey Fisher. Bearing heartfelt messages such as “I
want to see MORE stars,” the artwork appeared in informational
folders distributed at the briefing. Many thanks to everyone who
showed the importance of dark skies to citizens across America
by sharing your concerns with your members of Congress. One
star at a time, we are making a change.
Congressional Briefing
Seeking a Balance
N
Photograph by Dan and Cindy Duriscoe
o group appreciated the starscape spanning the Sonoran
Desert more than the participants of the International
Dark-Sky Association’s 20th Anniversary Annual Meeting and
Conference, held at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson,
Arizona, USA on June 8–10. Over 150 stargazers, leading lighting technicians, professional and amateur astronomers, lawmakers, conservationists, and community activists arrived from all
over the world to discuss the most effective ways to protect the
night. As knowledge on the importance of darkness grows and
technology advances, dark-sky advocates find themselves struggling to preserve the heritage of dark skies while considering the
needs of an expanding population.
Titled “Seeking a Balance,” the conference looked for
solutions through technological advancements and increased
environmental awareness. The theme of dark sky community
building created context for the information presented by over
30 gifted speakers from around the globe. Attendees participated in learning sessions on topics ranging from sports arena
lighting to satellite imaging. Workshops on sections outreach
and education held by IDA staff members provided practical
information to activists and volunteers. The meeting was able
to channel the multifaceted approaches to light pollution abatement into a cohesive platform of community enhancement
through creative technology.
The meeting also offered a chance for networking, reuniting, and moving ahead. IDA honored retiring co-founder
Dave Crawford with a formal farewell at an awards banquet.
Generous donations of original artwork, books, and other valuables were displayed around the reception area as part of a silent
auction. Side trips to the National Optical Astronomy Observatory at Kitt Peak and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
showcased points of regional interest. Event surveys indicated
an overall positive experience for attendees and offered useful
suggestions for the future. Most importantly, professionals from
a wide range of fields had the chance to create connections in
many different industries, often building friendships as well.
DVD conference proceedings can be purchased on the IDA
Web site at www.darksky.org.
Technology Dr. George Craford
LED pioneer Dr. George Craford
opened the conference with a keynote address on the advancements
and future of LED technology.
Dr. Craford’s research focuses on
the cutting edge development of
visible LEDs using a variety of
compound semiconductor materials. LEDs have the potential to
outperform most conventional
light sources due to their high
luminance, small size, and their
ability to be focused in one direction. Limiting factors such
as availability and cost have delayed their widespread applications, but the status is about to change. Huge leaps in materials
technology and efficiency since the 1990’s have made LEDs
available to market applications in outdoor display, signaling,
and automotive brake and turn signal lights.
Both the market and the uses of LED technology are nearly
limitless. The unique qualities of LEDs give them advantages
over many conventional lighting methods. Advances in high
current density performance, control of emission spectrum, and
packaging make them a rapidly emerging choice in street lighting and external architectural lighting. LED use can help reduce
light trespass by eliminating stray light shining through the
windows of neighboring houses or buildings. A high efficiency
factor leads to unprecedented energy savings. LEDs are and will
continue to be a powerful tool in dark sky technology.
Dr. Craford has been advancing LEDs since the early
1970s, when he was among the first to create and utilize nitrogen-doped GaAsP technology, applying a science which became
and remains a dominant commercial LED technology. He is
currently the Chief Technology Officer at Philips Lumileds
Lighting Company.
Annual Meeting News
Photograph by IDA
Photograph by IDA
Annual Meeting attendees enjoying the view from Kitt Peak.
Exploration of the night sky at the Annual Meeting Star Party.
Nightscape
Astronomy Timothy Ferris
Wellness Dr. Rubin Naiman
The tradition of dark skies
was celebrated in an address by
keynote speaker Timothy Ferris,
bestselling author of Coming of
Age in the Milky Way, The Whole
Shebang, and several other
books. His groundbreaking
guide to the night skies, Seeing
in the Dark, was named one of
the ten best nonfiction books of
2002 and an “Editor’s Choice”
by The New York Times. Ferris
wrote and narrated three television specials and produced a
phonograph record as an artifact of human civilization for the
exploratory space probe Voyager, which is currently exiting the
outer reaches of the solar system.
With the eloquence characteristic of his multiple bestsellers, Mr. Ferris explored the philosophical gap between the
human individual and the limitless extent of the cosmos. In his
musings, the sky became a backdrop for external exploration
and a route to self discovery. After the rigorous scientific and
technological topics discussed at the conference, Mr. Ferris’
keynote reminded listeners of the ultimate purpose of IDA.
Lighting ordinances, technological breakthroughs, and celestial
measurements are all vital to achieving IDA’s mission to protect
and preserve the nighttime sky. But part of what makes that
mission important is the awe, the possibilities of imagination,
and the sense of magnitude that a pristine starscape can inspire.
The keynote literally set the stage for a screening of Ferris’ latest PBS documentary, “Seeing in the Dark,” and for the IDA
Star Party held outdoors on the resort grounds, which featured
Ferris as a special guest.
Dr. Rubin Naiman, a sleep
and dream specialist at the University of Arizona, addressed
human health consequences
of a lack of sleep caused in part
by artificial light. Research
suggests that artificial light,
especially short wavelength
“blue light” of the kind usually
emitted from TV and computer
screens, is a natural suppressant
of the sleep hormone melatonin. A decrease in melatonin usually leads to interrupted sleep
and fewer dreams, which in turn has been linked to afflictions
such as increased infection, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disorder, cancer, and depression. Unfortunately, most of the world
is currently experiencing a sleep depravation epidemic, with
the National Sleep Foundation reporting 76% of adults with
disruptive or unhealthy sleep patterns. Not coincidentally, sleep
disorders are much more prevalent in industrialized nations.
A variety of treatments are available for sleeplessness, the
least effective of which come in a bottle. Research indicates
that the best way to fall asleep may be to embrace the night,
realizing that sleep is not unconsciousness, but consciousness of
an entirely different nature. Dim the lights, turn off the TV and
other sources of blue light, and let go of daytime consciousness
to explore the realms of dreams.
This integrated approach to achieving fulfilling sleep has
helped Dr. Naiman become Director of Sleep Programs for
the world-renowned Miraval Resort and the founder of the
newly formed Integrative Sleep and Dream Health Coalition
(ISDHC). He is the author of Healing Night and “The Sleep
Advisor” (software) and the co-author of Healthy Sleep with
Dr. Andrew Weil.
Issue #73/74/ 2008
Photograph by IDA
Photograph by Martin Morgan-Taylor
A beautiful starry sky from the trip to the observatories on Kitt Peak.
From Left: Martin Morgan-Taylor, David Crawford, Malcolm Smith, Reg
Wilson, and Christopher Baddiley
Annual Meeting News
Building community
I
How can an overly lit area
be more dangerous than
darkness?
Photograph by IDA
How can an overly lit area be more dangerous than darkness? Bright light severely
limits the eye’s ability to see a darker environment. Pupils automatically adjust to
the brightest point of light, decreasing
sensitivity to lower-lit areas. Uneven light
creates many high contrast areas where it
is difficult to perceive details. The effect
can be described as a curtain of darkness
around an illumination point.
Even brief exposure to glaring light
impedes vision in this way. When seen
from a distance, the glare surrounding
an unshielded fixture casts the rest of
the landscape into a harsh shadow. The
brighter the light, the less ability one
has to discern what that shadow may
contain. Conversely, low levels of light
encourage perception beyond the beam
of illumination because the pupil has
adjusted to allow greater light sensitivity. Evenly spaced light diminishes the
contrast between points of illumination,
eliminating shadows.
t’s no coincidence that most detective stories contain criminals who skulk in
shadows. Pockets of darkness in brightly lit areas provide cover for real-life evildoers due to the eye’s difficulty in perceiving high contrasts. Low, evenly spaced light
improves visibility and banishes shadows, creating an area disagreeable to criminals.
The concept of uniform light is just one of the many strategies included in the multidisciplinary approach to crime prevention: CPTED (Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design).
Criminologist C. Ray Jeffery published the book “Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design” in 1971, citing well known planners and community leaders from the 1950’s and 60’s. Jeffery’s initial approach to crime prevention included
psychology and biological elements, as well as design of the built environment. More
recently, Jeffery’s work has been combined with the ideas of architects and criminologists to create a set of strategies in urban design that contribute to crime prevention.
The ingeniously simple idea to enhance safety by planning a city with fewer
dead ends, adding windows in strategic places to existing buildings, defining public
spaces, and eliminating secluded loitering points presents an effective way to deter
crime without added cost. A key element in this type of city planning is illumination;
however, it’s important to note that it is only one of multiple elements. The IDA has
long supported CPTED theories in advocating for lighting that saves energy and
preserves the natural ambiance of dark skies while providing illumination adequate
to maintain safety and security. To further encourage this connection, IDA hosted
a CPTED training session (taught by the National Institute of Crime Prevention) at
the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort immediately following the conclusion of the IDA
20th Annual Meeting.
Encouraging CPTED principles allows IDA to provide proven and effective techniques to dispel the persistent myth that more light (of any kind) leads to increased
security. Information from IDA allows CPTED to present the case for dark sky
friendly lighting as an alternative to adding “criminal friendly lighting” in the form
of unnecessary spot lights and other glaring illumination points in high-crime areas.
Many urban planners and architectural designers agree that well planned lighting adds charm, reduces energy consumption, and promotes ecological balance. The
best hope to achieve a smartly lit community is to ordain shielded, glare-free fixtures
during the planning and building phases. The idea that lighting choice may lower
crime rates offers city planners one more reason to make good lighting a priority. IDA
offers valuable assistance in this process not only by reaching wide audiences of city
administrators and planning officials concerned with crime, but by integrating dark
sky compliant lighting into a comprehensive system of crime prevention.
Photographs by IDA
Meeting News
Nightscape
Dark skies over Cherry Springs
C
herry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania, USA is celebrating its designation
as the second International Dark Sky Park (IDSP). Cherry Springs State Park,
located far from cities among the forested plateaus of North Central Pennsylvania,
miraculously remains nearly as natural as it was two centuries ago. Areas of the park
are designated as no–light zones to protect owls, bats, and a host of indigenous
mammals, as well as to let visitors’ eyes adapt fully to the dark. Astronomers and
stargazers alike claim that Cherry Springs offers one of the last views of a starry sky
in the eastern United States.
Lighting control is part of an ongoing effort to retain the authentic and
rugged nature of the experiences offered by the Pennsylvania Wilds tourism region,
a 12-county region in north central and northwestern Pennsylvania that includes
Allegheny National Forest. Cherry Springs has retrofitted all of their outdoor lights
to be dark-sky friendly. Fully shielded light fixtures direct all light downward.
These strategically placed luminaires, combined with electricity saving 13-watt
compact fluorescent lamps, offer more than enough light for visibility, given the
surrounding environment.
The designation by IDA is the culmination of a novel effort that began in the
late 1990’s by amateur astronomers, ecstatic that starry skies were still accessible
in the eastern U.S. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources (DCNR) declared Cherry Springs a Dark Sky Site in the Commonwealth in 2000. By 2002, the park was providing regular stargazing programs
for visitors that proved very popular. In 2003, Pennsylvania Parks and Forests
Foundation recognized the importance of the night sky above Cherry Springs
and aided in implementing a strategic vision for the park by furnishing telescope
pads, observatories for rent, and educational materials, all designed to facilitate
the enjoyment of the starry sky. The leadership demonstrated by the DCNR and
Cherry Springs shows that protecting the view of the cosmos makes economic
sense, preserves ecosystems, and maintains quality of life.
“This designation is continued validation that this region has something special to offer to our visitors,” said DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. “We are
proud of what we have protected, and hope our visitors will enjoy the remoteness of
the Pennsylvania Wilds and Cherry Springs State Park for many years to come.”
The IDSP program was established in 2006 by IDA to recognize excellence
of leadership by custodians of public lands. Natural Bridges National Monument
in Utah was the first park to receive the designation. The IDA is working with
several other parks towards IDSP certification; criteria is available on the IDA Web
site at www.darksky.org.
Issue #73/74/ 2008
Astronomy News
Photograph by Dave Wymer
Further information on Cherry Springs State Park is available at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/cherrysprings.aspx
or by contacting Chip Harrison at 814-435-5010.
Cosmic impactyears
20
Special thanks to Dr. Tim Hunter for sharing his perspective and for providing the basis of the timeline. Thanks
also to Connie Walker and Elizabeth Alvarez del Castillo
for their suggestions and information.
1987
1988
1993
1995
★ IDA Articles of
Incorporation
approved in Arizona. ★ IDA approved as
501(c)(3) by IRS. First
annual meeting held. Bylaws approved. ★ International Astronomical Union
(IAU) Colloquium
No. 112 held.
★ Spanish government
passes law protecting
“Astronomical Quality”
of observatories in
the Canary Islands.
★ Fatal Light Awareness
Program (FLAP)
formed to help protect
migratory birds from
urban lights as evidence
of light pollution’s danger to wildlife mounts.
★ First Annual Belgian
Night of Darkness
organized in Belgium.
Photograph by Dave Wymer
IDA milestones in blue
Light pollution abatement milestones in red
10
Feature Article
Nightscape
of night sky protection
Stars cross
I
n 1950, the University of Chicago welcomed a precocious young
scholarship winner to the student body. An avid reader, David
L. Crawford was intrigued by the unanswered questions posed
by the study of astronomy, especially the embryonic field of photometry. Dr. Crawford received his Ph.D. in astronomy in 1958,
the year after Sputnik was launched and the National Science
Foundation began. He accepted a two-year job at Vanderbilt
University and spent the summers making observations.
It is a tribute to his talent that he was invited to work at the
National Optical Astronomy Observatory at Kitt Peak, located
outside Tucson, Arizona, at the time of its establishment in
1959. Dr. Crawford worked at the Kitt Peak Observatory until
1995, becoming program manager for the powerful four-meter
telescopes at Kitt Peak and in Chile, and managing a staff of
180. Meanwhile, his white papers on photometry and other
subjects were becoming the basis for modern astronomy.
But the scientists at Kitt Peak were facing a problem. The
population of Tucson had grown exponentially in just a few
decades, and lights from the city were starting to interfere
1997
★ IDA opens current
office and hires its
first employee.
★ Nearly 1 million
information sheets
distributed by end
of this year.
★ Development of
Australian standard
to control the
obtrusive effects of
outdoor lighting.
Issue #73/74/ 2008
with the observatory’s readings. Dr. Crawford partnered with
fellow Kitt Peak astronomer Art Hoag to draft a light pollution
ordinance for Tucson. He joined the Illuminating Engineering
Society (IES) committees on outdoor lighting. But unwanted
light continued to spread.
The same year that Dr. Crawford entered college, a small
boy in Hagerstown, Indiana was falling in love with the sky.
When his family relocated to Arlington Heights, Illinois, he
gazed almost nightly through a four-inch telescope in his back
yard. In those days, IDA co-founder Tim Hunter’s view of the
stars was obscured mainly by the grove of leafy elm trees in his
yard. Light pollution from the nearby city of Chicago was not
yet a problem for Tim, or for Dr. Crawford, who was studying
the same sky a few miles away.
If growing up in the exciting age of scientific and technological discoveries led Tim Hunter to become a radiologist,
he was no less influenced by the explorations of the Space Age,
which opened the possibilities of a world previously unattainable.
He never stopped drawing inspiration from the sky. After a
1998
1999
1999
★ First European Symposium for Protection
of the Night Sky held
in Paris, France.
★ Thanks to the magazine Sky & Telescope,
IDA’s successful
membership drive
yields more than 100
new members per
day. IDA receives its
first major donor. ★ Chile issues decree
for light pollution
regulation.
★ IDA receives Organizational Development
Grant from National
Science Foundation;
grows by over 6,000
members over the
next three years.
★ First IDA Section
founded in California.
★ First international
campaign to measure
sky quality started
for schoolchildren in Greece by
Margarita Metaxa.
★ IES Recommended
Practices manual
RP-33 acknowledges
skyglow in IES guidelines for the first time.
★ New Mexico Heritage
Preservation Alliance
(NMHPA) declares
the New Mexico night
sky as one of the state’s
“Most Endangered”
cultural resources.
Feature Article
11
winding road of medical school, the military, and his radiology
residency, he arrived in the astronomy-friendly city of Tucson,
Arizona. But when he finally gained the wherewithal and time
to become a serious amateur astronomer, he discovered that
there were very few places left to view the stars. In 1985, an
unexpected windfall allowed Dr. Hunter to purchase land for
amateur observatory in remote Sonoita, Arizona. He began to
notice that even this rural location offered less and less to see.
Urban sprawl, population growth and irresponsible lighting had
been stealthily contributing to starless areas all over the planet,
even in places where the night sky was considered a valuable
natural resource. The stars were disappearing, and fast.
In 1986, the Tucson hospital where Dr. Hunter was
employed switched its outdoor lighting to unshielded up-lights
of low pressure sodium (LPS). Increasingly sensitive to the
polluting effects of city light, he immediately investigated
the cause of these eyesores. He learned that these lights had
been installed at the hospital and all over the campus of the
University of Arizona because the institution was trying to
be astronomy compliant. Someone had recommended these
fixtures as friendly to the nearby observatory at Kitt Peak. That
someone was David L. Crawford.
The big bang
To say that the International Dark-Sky Association began
over a lighting dispute isn’t too far from the truth. The nearly
monochromatic emissions of LPS light were easy for professional
astronomers with high-powered telescopes to filter. But to amateur astronomers and the general population, LPS lights were an
unsightly nuisance. Lack of shielded fixtures available for LPS
2001
★ IDA’s Model Lighting Ordinance
group established. ★ Hoag-Robinson
Award initiated.
★ Flagstaff, AZ USA
becomes IDA’s first
Dark Sky City. 12
Feature Article
light presented a serious interference with nighttime ambiance.
Dr. Crawford and Dr. Hunter started meeting regularly to look
for a solution that preserved the heritage of the sky while meeting
the overall needs of the community. Though their perspectives
were different, each man utilized his background in science to
address light pollution concerns in a systematic fashion.
The more the duo discovered about nighttime lighting,
the more the scope of the problem seemed to grow. Progressive
lighting regulation was unheard of beyond a few pioneer cities.
If a lighting ordinance existed in a given area, it was rarely
enforced. Very little information on lighting was available to
the public, and virtually none discussed control or regulation.
Moreover, options for outdoor lighting fixtures that addressed
light pollution were almost nonexistent. The idea of creating an
organization dedicated to raising awareness about the protection of the night sky emerged to both men as the first step in
effecting change.
Two events cemented the incorporation of IDA. Appropriately, one was the return of Comet Halley (known in lay
circles as Halley’s comet). The appearance of this comet that
comes around once in a lifetime gave people all over the world
a reason to once again study the stars. The excitement sparked
by Comet Halley led to a renewed public interest in astronomy
and awakened people around the world to the consequences
of unchecked city lights. Fred Schaff of New Jersey capitalized on this publicity and formed the Dark Skies for Comet
Halley (DSCH) program, which initiated steps to combat
light pollution.
Closer to home, the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) was growing rapidly. As an officer of the TAAA,
Dr. Hunter helped incorporate the organization and establish
2002
2003
2005
★ 50th issue of IDA’s
newsletter published. ★ Czech Republic
becomes the first country to enact national
legislation with provisions aimed at prohibiting light pollution.
★ Edict stating all future
IES Recommended
Practices include
guidelines on where
not to light and “lighting zones” for cities. ★ Worldwide conference
on effects of light on
human health held in
Orlando, Florida, USA.
★ IDA Membership
passes 10,000. ★ Version one of
IDA Section handbook published. ★ IDA Lighting Award
given to Hungarian
National Railway
lighting project leaders
for converting 16,000
high glare lights to
fully shielded luminaires with 40 percent
reduced power needs. ★ National Dark Sky
Week founded, USA.
★ Light Pollution
Project to monitor
star count set up for
schoolchildren between
USA and Chile.
★ Estimated that more
than 1,000 communities in USA have
addressed light pollution through planning and zoning. Nightscape
its tax-exempt status, handling the entire transaction with the
Corporation Commission. Surprised by the straightforward
nature of the paperwork, Dr. Hunter decided it was feasible
to act on the idea discussed with Dr. Crawford and create an
institution for the preservation of dark skies.
In late 1987, an independent non-profit organization dedicated solely to fighting light pollution was officially incorporated.
Experiments with names and acronyms led to the adoption of
the International Dark-Sky Association, IDA for short.
Determined to find solutions, IDA cultivated a cooperative
approach that focused on public education and outreach programs. From the very beginning, IDA adopted Dr. Crawford’s
philosophy of working with the lighting community to solve
the problem of light pollution. An important continuing tenet
of IDA’s philosophy is the belief that quality outdoor lighting
does not harm the sky. Indeed, it contributes to nighttime
security, recreation, and enjoyment. Collaboration with lighting
groups can create products that enhance the nighttime environment for everyone. Another goal of the organization is to raise
awareness of the multitude of problems adversely affecting the
sky, especially environmental impacts that have the potential
to destroy our view of the universe.
Building an international coalition from the ground
up is no easy task. Undaunted, David Crawford took on the
role of Executive Director. IDA’s first headquarters were Dr.
Crawford’s Tucson home, where he and his wife Mary kept
the organization growing by sheer dedication and perseverance.
They wrote, printed, and mailed the first incarnation of the
newsletter, kept track of membership, and advocated for IDA at
speaking engagements around the world. In 1988, Dr. Crawford
helped organize a four day meeting on light pollution, radio
interference, and space debris to be held in Washington, D.C.
sponsored by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The
success of this meeting helped put IDA on the map.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hunter started giving talks on light pollution and IDA wherever he could. In 1989, he established a
quarterly column on IDA for the Reflector, the official journal
of the Astronomical League, where it continues to this day.
Tim also introduced the IDA to Robert Gent, an unstoppable
volunteer who has shaped IDA since its beginning, serving as
spokesman, board president, and in a host of other capacities.
Bob has worked untold hours, given innumerable talks, and
traveled around the world on IDA’s behalf. Dr. Hunter jokes
that every time he sees Mr. Gent, he expects to hear Oliver
Hardy’s words to Stan Laurel: “This is another fine mess you
have gotten me into.”
Onward and upward
Twenty years later, IDA connects leaders on every frontier
of dark sky preservation. The ability and dedication of early staff,
tireless volunteers, and generous donors has helped illuminate
the consequences of light pollution and devise ways to eradicate it. IDA’s message gains momentum every day. Information
received from environmental groups, lighting manufacturers,
lawmakers, physicists, astronomers, and human health experts
is assimilated into a solid platform in favor of dark skies. Around
the globe, advocates are given the tools to change the sky over
their community one fixture at a time. The worldwide dedication of talented volunteers and a continued focus on education,
outreach, and activism has made IDA the nexus of the fight to
protect the stars.
2006
2007
2008
2009
★ Natural Bridges
National Monument in
Utah, USA designated
as first International
Dark Sky Park.
★ IDA’s Model Lighting Ordinance group
forms partnership with
Illuminating Engineering Society of North
America (IESNA).
★ UK Parliament passes
law declaring light
pollution a nuisance. ★ GLOBE at Night established as a worldwide
project where schoolchildren track and
measure star counts.
★ IDA Board of Directors formally approves
regions in Europe,
Northeast (N. America), and Asia-Pacific. ★ Mont Mégantic in
Quebec, Canada
recognized as First
International Dark
Sky Reserve.
★ Slovenia passes
national law to control
light pollution. ★ The City of Flagstaff,
AZ, USA celebrates
50 years of dark sky
legislation. Local businesses partner with
astronomical groups to
provide special events
and publicity for the
first dark sky legislation in the world.
★ Estimated that over
2,500 cities in the
USA have addressed
light pollution through
planning and zoning.
★ The International
Year of Astronomy
will include worldwide events to engage
and educate the
public on the wonders of the night.
Issue #73/74/ 2008
Feature Article
13
Notes from David L. Crawford
Co-founder Dave Crawford has stepped down from IDA management to enjoy a well-deserved retirement with his wife, Mary. He
has lovingly chosen that his final administrative communication
be used to express thanks to his wife of over 45 years.
C
onsider my wonderful wife, Mary Crawford, mother of
three daughters and grandmother of seven, still finding time
to help me in every endeavor and accomplish her own goals. She
returned to college as our children matured to receive her nursing
degree. After working in critical care and as part of the heart
transplant team at Tucson, Arizona’s University Medical Center,
she became a therapist specializing in biofeedback. She experienced magical successes with many clients, including a high
success rate in non-smoking classes. She was drawn to volunteer
work and served as two-time president and as secretary/treasurer
of a state nursing society for some years.
She discontinued her career to become a full time IDA
volunteer, and her participation in those early days was crucial
to IDA’s success. During her nearly 20 years on the IDA Board
of Directors she became a leading voice of the management
team. She served as board secretary/treasurer for most of that
time, where she handled all of the bank and investment work.
Time and again she rose to the call of duty, even when the
agenda dictated tedious and physical drudge work.
A master planner, Mary was in charge of IDA’s annual
meetings for 18 years. Her efficiency created a blueprint for
subsequent meeting plans. Her skills as an organizer led to
success in IDA’s involvement in the international CIE San
Diego meeting and others. Long active on IES and CIE committees, she continues her involvement with CIE.
Over the years, Mary’s dedication to IDA has been
outpaced only by my own. We put our whole energies into
supporting IDA’s early growth. It fills us with pride to see the
effective organization it has become. Mary, myself, and all three
daughters remain enthusiastic lifetime members. I look at my
wife and see her accomplishments as a labor of love for the
mission and for IDA. She has been a tower of support for the
organization from day one, and for me, too! I couldn’t have
done it without her, and cannot thank her enough.
Feature Article
I
DA has come a long way over the past 20 years, and grows
more prominent every day. After some thought, I decided that
it would be a good time for me to step down as president, board
member, and staff volunteer.
IDA is in excellent hands. Board president Chris Monrad
has held the position before and has done a great job at it. We
have a talented and enthusiastic board of directors. And none
of us could ever thank board member Chris Walker enough for
generously giving us the ability to grow IDA at unprecedented
rates. We are all indebted to him for making us the powerful
voice we are today.
In early years, Dave Crawford and Tim Hunter had the
vision to form IDA and the will to stay and make it grow
despite limited funding. Now we have a highly competent
staff to handle the daily operations. Interim Executive Director
Elizabeth Hospodarsky is very talented at organizational development, presenting many good ideas. Anabel Gray, our office
manager, is one of the very sharpest people I’ve ever met. I am
so impressed with the entire staff that I have no doubt that IDA
will continue to grow and succeed.
Internationally, our regions continue to prosper. In 2006,
the UK parliament passed a law declaring light pollution can
be declared a nuisance. Slovenia’s 2007 law is another major
step forward. The media attention from all this progress is
enlightening and most helpful to our cause.
With the high price of energy and the environmental impacts
of excessive consumption, energy conservation is more important
than ever. Milt Roney, our tireless liaison in DC, contributed
to the unprecedented success of the recent U.S. Congressional
briefings. The opportunities for growth are unbounded.
The annual meeting was a big success. I know, because I
received many reports of how nicely it was organized. I missed
seeing everyone, but I was busy exploring national parks. It was
ever so relaxing to experience the beauty of Arches, Canyonlands,
Natural Bridges, and so much more. At long last, my wife Terrie
and I were able to hike into the narrows of Paria Canyon, a part
of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and Wilderness.
I bid you all the very
best in whatever endeavors you undertake. I will
always remain a strong
supporter of dark skies,
and I remain your friend.
Never stop reaching for
the stars.
Sincerely,
Dr. David L. Crawford
Co-founder of IDA
Robert L. Gent
Past IDA Board President
Photo by Terrie Gent
Photographs by IDA
14
Notes from Robert L. Gent
Nightscape
Every year many volunteers worldwide show remarkable
dedication and initiative in protection of the night.
IDA acknowledges the brightest stars of 2008
The George & Edythe Taylor Student Award
Executive Director Awards
Executive Director Awards recognize volunteers who
consistently rise above the call of duty to increase awareness of
dark skies.
INACAP—Instituto Nacional de CAPacitatcion
(National Job Training Institute)
Their early installation of dark sky friendly fixtures nearly
a decade ago set the example for proper shielding near the
international observatories in Chile and paved the way for the
implementation of similar fixtures.
Joe Frannea is now president of Southern Arizona
IDA Section. He has been instrumental in providing local
outreach, including hosting a booth at the Arizona Sonora
Desert Museum.
Susan Harder has been a full time dark sky advocate since
1998 and is an inspirational Section Leader for IDA New York.
Charlotte McGowan has provided assistance, insight, and
guidance on almost every IDA event in the past year.
Milt Roney has advocated tirelessly on the national
political scene since joining IDA last year, serving as the
primary DC contact and technical speaker during the recent
Congressional briefings on light pollution and presenting at the
Smithsonian Museum.
Aaron Reid is a member of IDA Colorado who never says
“no” when called to assist. Over the past year Aaron has served
as co-leader to the IDA Colorado Section and is participating in
the EarthWorks Denver show.
Dr. Duco Schreuder has been instrumental in the CIE and
to limit sky glow in the Netherlands since the 1970’s. He is the
co-author of the Light Pollution Handbook, currently the most
extensive book on light pollution.
Other entities recognized for increasing public awareness
of dark skies are IDA San Diego; Ben Harder, US News &
World Report; and David Owens, New Yorker.
Issue #73/74/ 2008
Photographs by IDA
The George & Edythe Taylor Student Award encourages
students to explore the worldwide problem of light pollution
through science, technology, society, and the environment.
Sarah Davis, 8th Grade, of Pine-Strawberry Elementary
School in Pine, Arizona, USA garnered the Student Award
for her project “Star Light, Star Bright,” which attempts to
produce a more efficient lamp using red light. Miss Davis’
project, submitted by Stacy Flanagan, has also received a
silver medal in the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair in
the Environmental Science and Management category.
Dave Crawford and Jack Sales.
David L. Crawford Lifetime Achievement
Award
The David L. Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award was
established this year to commemorate Dr. Crawford’s indelible
mark on the preservation of the nighttime sky. It is presented to
individuals, such as Dr. Crawford, who in their lifetime have contributed an extraordinary effort to light pollution abatement. Jack Sales is the first recipient of this honor. Jack is
the founder and current leader of the first IDA Section, IDA
California, and a past board member. He brought IDA into
the technical age as the first IDA webmaster. His current
Web site, www.skykeepers.org, tracks the movements of his and
other local sections. Jack and his wife, Beverly, have traveled the
coast of California to advocate for local lighting ordinances. For
these efforts, Jack received the 2007 Sacramento Environmental
Commission Award.
Hoag-Robinson Award
Named in honor of two pioneers in outdoor lighting reform,
the Hoag-Robinson Award honors
an individual who has been outstanding in advocating for lighting
control ordinances.
Friedel Pas is a full time
volunteer and the IDA European
Liaison Officer. Friedel has
worked tirelessly to help promote
the message of IDA in Europe. He
has increased IDA membership
within his country of Belgium
Friedel Pas
and is a primary organizer of the
Belgian Night of Darkness, an annual celebration currently in
its 13th year.
IDA Awards
15
Book Review
Photograph by Christopher Baddiley
Towards Understanding Skyglow
©2007 by the Institute of Lighting Engineers
I
n his recently published book Towards Understanding Skyglow, Dr. Christopher Baddiley discusses
the implications of his newly developed computer model of city glow from artificial light. This
model uses luminaire photometry to calculate more precise estimations of lumen output, achieving an
unprecedented level of sensitivity in the measurements. This method also reveals how different types of
light interact with the atmosphere, enabling lighting experts and city planners to determine the effects
of a variety of different lighting options. The text concludes with recommendations on how to efficiently
minimize skyglow in cities and rural areas.
Dr. Baddiley’s model allows one to compare impact on skyglow by various luminaires or lighting installations. This highly technical discourse provides numerous calculations to illustrate the
findings. His model not only looks at the luminaire’s beam distribution, but also considers lamp
type and spectral distribution. Dr. Baddiley summarizes the major features of skyglow for rural
locations to be:
• Skyglow seen at a distance is the sum of the scattering from
all luminaire lit air molecules and air particles along the
line of sight.
• For luminaires that have a direct uplight, the skyglow
from the direct uplight far exceeds that from the ground
reflection.
• At long viewing distances, light emitted in the 80 –100° zone
contributes at least 10 times more to skyglow than ground
reflection.
• Along with road surface, the reflected light from the surrounding grass and other surfaces are a significant contributor to skyglow.
• Lower cutoff angles produce less skyglow.
• The worst contributors to skyglow (in the UK) are unshielded
low pressure sodium (LPS) fixtures.
Dr. Baddiley concludes that light emitted at or near the
horizontal (90°) plane is the most critical contributor to skyglow.
This fact is notable because horizontal light is implicated more
than direct uplight in the accumulation of skyglow, indicating
the need for full shielding. He goes on to recommend the IDA
common sense approach to lighting: put the light only where
you need it; use only the amount you really need; turn the lights
off when not needed.
Anyone interested in light pollution and the science
behind the causes of skyglow would find this book to be an
excellent reference.
16
Book Review
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Nightscape
Section News
New Sections
IDA New Hampshire USA
David Speltz
597 Sagamore Ave, Unit 108
Porstmouth, NH 03801
617-571-8000
[email protected]
IDA Maine USA
Martha Sheils
44 Woodmont St.
Portland, ME 04102
207-772-6862
IDA Vermont USA
W. Terry Kennaugh
24 Chateaugay Rd.
Shelbourne, VT 05482
802-985-9031
[email protected]
Europe
Slovenia
Photograph by Andrej Mohar
Note the absence of glare from the lights in the
background in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Sever al hundred luminaires in
the Balkan city of Ljubljana have been
replaced in accordance with the breakthrough 2007 Slovene light pollution
law. The exemplary regulations called
for 150W totally shielded luminaires to
replace 250W luminaires, decreasing glare
and energy consumption while maintaining the same illumination on the streets.
Andrej Mohar, IDA Slovenia Section
Leader, stated via e-mail that the “Slovene
light pollution law helped a lot to reduce
not only wasted light directly to the sky
but also to reduce power consumption,
and of course we have now less glare.”
Andrej indicated that the lighting situation
has vastly improved the city’s ambiance,
Issue #73/74/ 2008
and is followed by small businesses and
architects just 6 months after its adoption.
The change is obvious in this depiction
of Tivolska Road, where the harsh glare
of the fixtures in the foreground of the
picture is improved by gentle illumination
of the new fixtures in the background.
North America
Sedona, Arizona
Photograph by Cara Capella
Comet Hale-Bopp over Bell Rock in Sedona,
Arizona, USA.
Dark-sky proponents scored a major
victory when the Arizona DOT proposal for 76 high pressure streetlights
on Sedona’s picturesque Route 89A was
resoundingly rejected in a City Council
vote of 5-2. IDA Sedona/Verde Valley Section Leader Cliff Ochser and community
advocate Doug Blackwell were selected
as members of the 89A Pedestrian Safety
Panel, established after community outcries against the threatened “river of light”
forced the City Council to explore other
options to improve the safety of the road.
Cliff took immediate action, harnessing
public opinion by helping to generate a
survey of the community, which showed
85 percent to be strongly against the proposed street lights. Public awareness of the
problem soared, as did appreciation for
dark skies over Sedona. Armed with community opinion and the fact that other
safety improvements were substantially
more effective, Cliff successfully fought to
eliminate the worst kind of lighting for a
naturally beautiful place.
California
Renewed congratulations to Jack
Sales, founder of IDA California and
first recipient of the David L. Crawford
Lifetime Achievement Award, for winning the prestigious 2007 Sacramento
Environmental Commission Award. He
was nominated by Terry and Art Maxwell,
who knew Jack fit the criteria of “providing leadership toward the protection and
enhancement of the environment in the
Greater Sacramento Community.” Jack’s
commitment to preserving the night sky
has been exemplary. Last year Jack presented county decision makers and planners with hundreds of signatures requesting that the subject of light pollution be
included in an updated general plan. His
current Web site, www.skykeepers.org,
provides an invaluable wealth of information on proper night lighting, current
events, articles, and actions relevant to
limiting artificial night lighting.
Hawaii
IDA Hawaii Section Leader Howard
Wiig has initiated a dialogue with Department of Transportation officials to install
energy-saving, dark-sky compliant, solar
powered street lights. He is currently creating an economic model which shows
that the higher cost of the solar powered
lights can be recouped by eliminating the
cost of trenching to hook up to the grid.
Mr. Wiig would appreciate comments
and insight by anyone with experience
in this field. Please send responses to
[email protected].
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting
Council (POLC) and IDA Pennsylvania,
in cooperation with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
and the PA Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources (DCNR), conducted a very successful outdoor-lighting workshop on June 25, 2008. Cherry
Springs State Park Operations Manager
Harry Harrison and his wife, Maxine,
organized the event to celebrate Cherry
Springs’ recent designation as an International Dark Sky Park. The workshop
emphasized control of outdoor lighting
as an important component of retaining
the authenticity and unspoiled allure of
the 12-county PA Wilds region where
the park is located. Held in Coudersport, PA, the workshop educated DCNR
Sections News
17
representatives, county commissioners
and planners, municipal supervisors,
planning commission personnel, and
interested citizens on environmental
consequences of bad lighting, a description of good and bad lighting, the safety,
security, visibility and aesthetic aspects of
lighting, and the importance of having
an effective lighting ordinance in place
before developers appear.
Stan Stubbe, POLC President, and
other IDA PA Section members have
been active in other areas as well, recently
securing a variety of legislation designed
to protect the nighttime environment.
Washington DC
Washington, DC liaison Milt Roney
and volunteer Dr. William Pala shared the
night sky with visitors from all over the
world through a presentation at the Smithsonian Museum in April. Milt stood by an
IDA poster display of his own creation
and interacted with over 100 families. Dr.
Pala gave a presentation on public safety
lighting using a 24 inch monitor and a
home computer. Milt, a 2008 recipient of
the IDA Executive Director Award, says
he’s involved in IDA “because I think the
time is limited when we’ll be able to run
away from light pollution.” He was instrumental in orchestrating the IDA Congressional briefings held on June 20, and July
25, 2008. Dr. Pala is active in the Virginia
Outdoor Lighting Taskforce (VOLT), and
helped with the Fairfax County Lighting
Ordinance. He also gives talks promoting
the IDA mission to local civic groups.
Transitions
Arthur C. Clarke
Imagineers young and old felt the
loss of a hero and visionary when Sir
Arthur C. Clarke passed away on March
18, 2008 in Sri Lanka. The 90 year old
pioneer of the science fiction genre and
author of the groundbreaking novel
2001: A Space Odyssey is mourned by
18
Transitions
Photograph by Rohan de Silva
Arthur C. Clarke with his Celestron telescope.
family, fans, and fellow authors. Writers
such as Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game)
and Charles Stross (Saturn’s Children) are
among many who testified to Clarke’s
epic influence on their lives and work.
Members of all facets of the space program remember Clarke as the inspiration
behind their careers. He is credited with
the idea for communications satellites and
many additional innovations. His work
remains the foundation of numerous
advancements in the way we view time
and space. For some people the sky’s the
limit; for Clarke it was a starting point.
A strong supporter of the IDA and
its message, he became IDA’s first lifetime
member in 1992. Ultimately, Clarke was
a true visionary who looked to the sky
and saw possibilities beyond the stars
and past the technological parameters
of his time. His legacy is continued by
the awarding of the Arthur C. Clarke
Prize, designated by the Arthur C.
Clarke Foundation, to 18-year old James
House on March 20, 2008. To read a
full biography and testimonials on his
life, visit www.clarkefoundation.org or
www.space.com.
Werner K. Adrian
Dr. Werner Adrian, a highly respected
member of the lighting community,
passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2008.
Dr. Adrian held six patents and published
120 articles in technical journals. His
ideas provided the impetus for many current roadway safety conventions. With
Dr. Johan Enzmann, he developed the
first computer program to calculate roadway luminescence, still used as the design
metric for roadway lighting design. His
concerns regarding tunnel safety led him
to develop a description of the state of
vision adaptation of observers approaching a tunnel in daytime. This description
serves as the basis for guidelines on tunnel
lighting around the world. His interest in
human health led him to invent protective
aids that slow or halt the progressive blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa. He
also studied discomfort glare, suggesting
a measuring system called the Glare Control Mark, equivalent veiling luminance,
and TI (threshold increment) metrics.
A longtime member of the Illuminating Engineering Society North
America (IESNA) and the Commission
Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE), he
received the CIE certificate in 2007 and
the prestigious IES Medal Award in
2005. A curious and engaging man who
was greatly loved by his family, friends
and students, his loss will be deeply felt
by the optical community and in circles
well beyond.
Meeting news continued from
page 4
goal to replace existing streetlights with
LED systems. A document scheduled
for publication in late July will contain
criteria for LED streetlights. However,
several manufacturers are already providing exquisitely designed LED products
that are now part of IDA’s Fixture Seal
of Approval program. Don’t be surprised
to see LED streetlights soon coming to a
neighborhood near you.
Sarasota, FL USA
The Roadway Lighting Committee
(RLC) of the Illuminating Engineering
Society of North America met from
March 12–15 in Sarasota, Florida. The
meeting was attended by IDA Technical
Advisor Scott Davis and IDA Board
Member Leo Smith, both members of the
RLC. Incoming President of the IESNA,
Ron Gibbon, challenged the RLC to
update its Recommended Practices as
soon as possible to include energy saving
technologies such as LEDs. IDA staffers
gave input on how the implementation of
these emerging technologies can coincide
with dark sky preservation.
Nightscape
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eliminates 100% of your maintenance costs for
the next 25 years. We guarantee it!
Light-Structure Green includes Musco’s Constant
25™ warranty which provides 25 years of carefree
lighting equipment operation including
guaranteed light levels, maintenance, group
lamp replacements, monitoring and remote
on/off control services.
From foundation to poletop, Light-Structure
Green makes your sports-lighting projects fast,
trouble-free and now more affordable than ever.
Call, email or check our website today for details.
Unequaled performance . . .
for your budget, for the environment.
Contact Us Today.
800-825-6030
www.musco.com
e-mail: [email protected]
©2008 Musco Lighting · ADIDS08-1
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