Cassiopeia mid5/29/2023 Part of IDA’s mission is to recognize locations across the globe, deemed International Dark Sky Parks, where the night sky remains relatively unmarred by light pollution.įortunately for denizens of the Northeast, one of these Dark Sky Parks is closer than you think. To this end, groups such as the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), founded in 1988, strive to preserve the night sky and to promote a greater understanding of how to protect it. This is troubling not only for humans but also for many animals who rely on the stars for navigational purposes and the dark nights to hunt for food. The brighter the sky, the harder it is to see stars with the naked eye. Humans are causing the sky to get brighter by emitting an overabundance of uncontrolled artificial light, known as light pollution, into the atmosphere. The darker I could make my room, the more the stars would stand out, letting me believe I was an astronaut exploring the deepest parts of space.įar removed from my days of wearing tugboat pajamas, I still stargaze to relive those childhood memories and to broaden my appreciation of the universe, both known and undiscovered. I’d seal off my windows with blankets and duct tape to prevent any light from leaking in at night. Every night I’d lie in my bed and marvel at the constellations glowing above me––some invented, others favorites from the summer night sky: Cassiopeia, the queen the Big and Little Dippers Draco, the dragon. When I was growing up, my bedroom ceiling was adorned with plastic glow-in-the-dark stars, comets, and galaxies. AMC’s Highland Center offers free astronomy programs for visitors to learn more about the sky above. The night sky over New Hampshire’s White Mountains can be breathtaking.
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