All of us wish we could see this many stars in and around the constellation Orion the Hunter from wherever we live. This is one of eight such maps that let anyone check their limiting magnitude (the faintest star they can see). // photo by GLOBE at Night
How bright is your night sky? A sky full of light pollution increases energy consumption and has deleterious effects on human health and wildlife. You can be part of the solution by measuring the brightness of your night sky to help scientists. Join one of five
GLOBE at Night campaigns in 2013. The first started January 3 and runs through January 12.
GLOBE at Night is a worldwide, hands-on science and education program to encourage people (citizen scientists) worldwide to record the brightness of their night sky. During five select sets of dates in 2013, children and adults match the appearance of a constellation (Orion or Leo in the Northern Hemisphere, and Orion or Crux in the Southern Hemisphere) with seven star charts of progressively fainter stars.
Participants then submit their choice of star chart at www.globeatnight.org/webapp with their date, time, and location. This can be done by computer (after the measurement) or by smartphone or tablet (during the measurement). From these data, organizers will create an interactive map of all worldwide observations.
During the past seven years of 10-day campaigns, people in 115 countries have contributed more than 83,000 measurements, making GLOBE at Night the most successful public light-pollution campaign to date. The GLOBE at Night website holds an abundance of background information. You’ll find guides, activities, one-page flyers, and postcards advertising the campaign at www.globeatnight.org/pdf.
Through GLOBE at Night, students, teachers, and community members are amassing a data set from which anyone can explore the nature of light pollution locally and across the globe. Five GLOBE at Night campaigns are scheduled in 2013: January 3–12, January 31–February 9, March 3–12, March 31–April 9, and April 29–May 8. Make a difference and join the GLOBE at Night campaign.