Nancy Astor, the Viscountess Lady Astor, served in Parliament from 1919 to 1945. When asked about her political success, she said that she took into public life the lessons she learned from her mother.
While quick to light up our world, we have not only been oblivious to polluting our skies, but are discovering that light pollution is having deleterious affects on human health and the health of our environment.
Even though moonlight this year will overwhelm the light of many Geminid meteors, begin to look skyward every night at about 9 p.m., facing away from the moon.
The haze that more or less obliterates – especially in towns and cities – what would be a clear, awe-inspiring, star-filled sky at night, is slow to be recognized for what it is: a smog of light pollution.
While the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 moon walk – and we are continually awed by the results of space exploration since – it is sobering to learn that in 85 percent of locations on Earth, only a few stars are visible when looking up to the sky at night.
For me, the astronomy forum centered around two days of riveting lectures that included 'Einstein was Right! Completing the 1919 Relativity Experiment at the 2017 Solar Eclipse,' 'The History of the Universe from the beginning to the end: Where did we come from, where can we go?' and 'Preventing an Asteroid Extinction.'
The easiest way to prevent light trespass beyond our homes, aside from turning off unnecessary lighting, is to minimize the unintended projection and scattering of light from poorly aimed and poorly designed fixtures.
Like preserving natural landscapes for biodiversity, preserving access to clear skies that allow human contact with the cosmos is crucial to quality of life.
The Vernal Equinox falls on Sunday, March 20, at 12:30 a.m. But on Saturday, March 19, at 8:30 p.m., it's Earth Hour, from 8:30 to 9:30. Turn off lights, step out, and look up!
