starry skies...

Next Stargazing Session!!!!

2009-11-05T08:45:00.001+08:00

The next stargazing session is on 18 December 2009.

Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Venue: Activity Room 2 @ level 2, Marine Parade CC

Suitable for all ages.

For direction, please approach the CC office counter.

MPASTRO aims to provide opportunities for the public to enjoy and learn about astronomy at the comfort of their neighbourhood (especially people in the east), as well as maximize night-sky observation experiences with their own next-door neighbours.

The stargazing session will acheive that objective and it consists of a lecture and a telescope viewing session at the CC’s roof top.

From a website dedicated to fighting light pollution

2009-06-21T22:27:00.002+08:00

Reasons for Battling Light Pollution in Modern-day Cities like Singapore:

Effects on Animals

Sea turtles at Risk

Sea turtles nesting along the coast of Florida in the U.S. are misguided by the bright artificial lights that illuminate the coastline. They were originally evolved to move in the direction of the sea by following bioluminescence of phytoplankton. However, these animals are guided by bright lights in hundreds towards populated areas along the coast, where urban lighting is much brighter than natural lighting and they are run over by vehicles and die in huge numbers.

Birds at Risk

According to the Fatal Light Awareness Programme (FLAP), a Toronto-based organization, migrating birds become confused in bright urban areas when they are unable to see the guide stars that they follow and crash into buildings.

Furthermore, in cloudy or foggy conditions, light pollution reflecting off low clouds may also contribute to the disorientation. In 1954, as many as 50 000 birds died at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, U.S., when they followed lights straight into the ground over two foggy nights.

The city of Chicago in the U.S. has initiated a plan to ensure that migratory birds flying over the city at night during migratory periods are not affected by the city lights through the installation of light fixtures that do not contribute to light pollution.

Effects on the Environment

Global Warming

Indirectly, light pollution also contributes to global warming. Excessive energy and resources are wasted every night as a result of light pollution. David Crawford, founder of the International Dark-Sky Association estimates that the U.S. spends about USD $2 billion each year on excessive lighting that leads to light pollution (http://www.darksky.org). This translates into high levels of greenhouse emissions when fuels (about 8 million barrels per year in the U.S.) are burnt to generate electricity to power such lighting fixtures.

Effects on the Populace

Health problems related to prolonged light exposure

Health studies show that prolonged exposure of light over a long period of time could have negative impact on humans. Prolonged exposure to light affects hormonal levels and sleep patterns as well as the body’s natural renewal cycle. In the long-term, it could add to stress and psychological problems.

From the Environmental Building News (EBN) website BuildingGreen.com, nighttime illumination could affect estrogen levels in women, which in turn can increase susceptibility to breast cancer, according to studies still being carried out by medical researchers. The current hypothesis is that the high incidence of breast cancer in highly-industrialised countries could result from the higher dosage of estrogen.

Glare and light pollution affecting the elderly

Poor streetlight designs that are overly bright and direct light upwards ineffectively can also account for light pollution and its associated problems . According to the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), driver discomfort due to glare may cause fatigue and result in driver error.

Glare from poorly designed streetlights makes it difficult for elderly drivers to adjust their vision from dark areas to bright areas . This was shown in studies conducted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the effects of different types of lighting on motorists.

From the Cut Waste Panel Replies and Suggestions page, the ‘zebra effect’ of bright and dark areas merging together causes motorists to feel tired at the wheel as eye muscles had to continually adjust to the lighting conditions. Also, elderly drivers require about thrice the amount of time compared to young people to adjust from brightly lit areas to dimmer areas, hence the potential for accidents is increased.

The increasing ageing population in many developed nations around the world means that city councils would also need to consider the lighting needs of the elderly in the near future. This is to cater to the decreased response time and sensitivity of the ageing eye when adjusting to different lighting levels (IDA Information Sheet 156, http://www.darksky.org). The ageing eye, coupled with poor lighting fixtures that cause glare, pose more risks for elderly drivers.

Information taken from http://lightpollutionsg.tripod.com/why.htm. Many thanks to a dark sky enthusiast known as NGC 5139.

Pictures of the Night Sky in Singapore

2009-06-20T14:10:00.015+08:00

As seen in the image, the lighting in estates around Singapore, like the one shown here, has actually caused the night sky to lose its beauty. There is no way anyone will be able to spot stars around the area. Even if they do, there will onl1y be one or two stars that can be seen. http://lightpollutionsg.tripod.com/images.htm

Though the lighting here may not be as strong as the lighting in the previous picture, this picture also shows us that no stars can be seen in the night sky. Where have all the stars gone? http://www.ursp.umd.edu/international/photos-singapore-2004.html

Singapore Science Centre Events

2009-06-20T13:19:00.002+08:00

What the Singapore Science Center has done:

View the Night Sky@The Observatory

From Friday, March 21 2008To Friday, March 28 2008, 7:50pm - 10:00pm Friday, - week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 every month

View the night sky at Singapore Science Centre Observatory! (near Omni-theatre)

There will be free stargazing sessions every Friday night, 7:50pm - 10pm, starting from 21st March 2008.

It is one of the few observatories in the world located next to the Equator. Its unique position allows constellations in both the northern and southern celestial hemispheres to be observed and thus opens up more vistas in the sky for observers. The Observatory is endowed with a range of sophisticated facilities as well as a classroom for astronomy lessons, slide shows and public talks.
*Please note that all observations are weather permitting. In the event of cloudy skies, haze or rain observations may not be possible.*

Location: Singapore Science Centre, 15 Science Centre Road S609081 Contact: (65) 6425-2500

The Importance of the Night Sky to an Individual

2009-06-20T13:17:00.001+08:00

Observing the Night Sky in Singapore (Singapore Sky, My Night Safari) :

Singapore is a tropical, beautiful garden city. Our streets are lined with powerful Halogen lamps and some of our sky-scrapers are lit throughout the night. Our lives seem to be concentrated only on the two-dimension build-up areas that we are accustomed to.
What about the sky? What can you see when you peer into the not-so-dark sky at night?
Occasionally, we see one or two lonely stars shimmering aimlessly in the sky, showing themselves so painfully through the gaps of our HDB blocks. We wonder why they are there for that brief mysterious moment. But the need to go back home and take refuge after a hard day's work seems to be more pressing. Let the stars stay where they are and give us some peace of mind!

As far as I can remember, the first time I heard about stars was during my National Service. In one of the navigation course, we learnt that the stars could guide us when we were lost. That was the first time I heard about Orion, the hunter constellation that rose right from the East and set in the West, stayed around the zenith early at night in February and March. Its "sword" always pointed to the North through the center of the "belt". I did not understand its movement at that moment, sometime I found them, sometime I did not. That made me wonder how come human being could think of using such a lousy means of navigation.

Information taken from http://web.singnet.com.sg/~ngkguan/astro03.htm

Conservation of Dark Sky in Canada

2009-06-20T11:46:00.002+08:00

An example of a Dark Sky Reserve - Torrance Barrens:

The Torrance Barrens is a Conservation Reserve consisting of 1990 hectares of crown land south-east of Bala, which is administered by the Province of Ontario. The first of its kind in Canada, the Torrance Barrens is now officially recognized as a Dark Sky Reserve.
The dark sky designation was a project was developed by Muskoka Heritage Foundation director Peter Goering in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources, with support from the Muskoka Lakes Association and the Township of Muskoka Lakes. The growing awareness of light pollution of the night sky and the inability of large sectors of the population to experience and enjoy astronomical events has created a demand for an area where the dark sky can be preserved.

A combination of ancient rock outcrops, peaceful wilderness and rare plants and wildlife makes Muskoka’s Torrance Barrens a unique Conservation Reserve. In 1999, the Barrens’ nighttime star-filled darkness was designated by the Ontario government as the world’s first permanent Dark Sky Reserve – a move that recognized the region as a protected space free from intrusion by urban light pollution. Few natural vistas can match the inspirational panorama of the Milky Way-our home galaxy-arching overhead on a cool, clear summer or early-autumn evening. At the Torrance Barrens, the ancient constellation and planets shine forth in majestic profusion. On occasion, the northern lights (aurora borealis) are visible – often as greenish wisps but sometimes as spectacular curtains of colour. In binoculars, rivers of stars that are completely invisible to the naked eye flow into view. Rich star clusters, wispy nebulas, the cloud banks of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn are all visible with a beginner’s telescope.

Geography
The Dark Sky Reserve is a designation added to the Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve – an area of some 1900 hectares of crown land, south-east of Bala, which is administered by the Province of Ontario. It is relatively open with modest tree-growth – which gives a clear view of the sky from horizon to horizon. The Torrance Barrens are characterized by low ridges of Precambrian bedrock separated by wetland and peat-filled hollows. The bedrock provides a sold basis for astronomical instruments such as telescopes.

Background
Once the Conservation Reserve was established, Muskoka Heritage Foundation director Peter Goering realized that the Torrance Barrens was an ideal candidate as a Dark Sky Reserve because of the absence of light pollution at night. He proposed the idea in 1998 as part of the public input into the “Lands for Life” discussions. With co-operation and support from Michael Silver (Muskoka Lakes Association), Russ Black (Muskoka Heritage Foundation), Astronomer Terence Dickinson, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Muskoka Heritage Foundation and various politicians, there was wide acceptance of the idea. In 1999, the Ontario government acknowledges night-sky viewing as an important use of the Torrance Barrens including the concept in its Statement of Conservation Interest and adding the designation of Dark Sky Reserve to its title. The Township of Muskoka Lakes has already passed a resolution to encourage the use of night lighting that directs all light towards the ground and hence decreases the pollution of the skies.

Recreational Opportunities
The Township of Muskoka Lakes Recreational Trails Committee has created several trails suitable for educations and interpretive hikes as well as family exploring. The trails are accessible from the parking area at Highland Pond off District Road 13. There is excellent blueberry picking in the summer, and a main snowmobile trails runs through the area in the winter.

Information from http://www.muskokaheritage.org/natural/torrancebarrens.asp

From a forum

2009-06-20T10:37:00.001+08:00

Below is information on the current situation of the dark sky in Singapore:

Slowly, but surely, the night sky in Singapore is being lost as a result of the sheer increase in the brightness of the city centre. The stars seen in Singapore have undergone a dramatic drop since the industralisation of Singapore began in the 1960s. Then, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was able to bring his royal guests from Japan to see the Southern Cross from the roof of the Istana. Now, the Southern Cross is barely visible from the CBD, except under the darkest and clearest conditions. ingapore, a modern metropolitan city, has lost the beauty of the night. Such a loss is indeed a lamentable fact- the young generation would no longer have the night sky to be a catalyst to inspire budding scientists and astronomers. What is the situation of light pollution in Singapore? What can we all do? What effects does light pollution have on the environment? This web site is intended to give you a better understanding of the night sky and why we should all take steps to preserve it. Tucson, the world's first "dark sky city", in the U.S. state of Arizona, has a population of 500 000, yet the Milky Way can be seen from the heart of the city. This serves as a reminder to all of us, and a target to meet, that we can aspire to achieve a truly dark sky for all.

Information from http://lightpollutionsg.tripod.com/

Introduction to Conservation of Dark Sky : as written in our GPP

2009-06-20T10:29:00.000+08:00

Reasons why dark sky is considered for conservation in other countries and reason why Singapore should consider this area for conservation:
Astronomical viewing is a problem and wildlife will be affected. There are two main reasons why there is a need to conserve our dark-skies - Health reasons for both humans and wildlife and also for aesthetics reasons. Artificial light has positive and negative effects on society. Although artificial light extends the length of the productive day and increases productivity by creating more time for working and for recreational activities that require light, excessive artificial outdoor lighting becomes annoying and unnecessary. It can also have lasting adverse effects on mankind and wildlife. Research done by Paolo Sassone-Corsi, (chairman of the Pharmacology Department at the University of California, Irvine) on insects, turtles, birds, fish, reptiles, and other wildlife species shows that light pollution can alter behaviours, foraging areas, and breeding cycles. Light pollution disrupts the circadian clock which is the 24-hour day/night cycle in humans, causing several medical disorders in people, including depression, insomnia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Conserving dark-sky can benefit both mankind and wildlife, thus it is a crucial issue, which should be considered for conservation in Singapore. Whilst there have been significant efforts to conserve dark skies overseas, there are currently no success in conserving dark skies in Singapore. Hence, there is a need to initiate dark sky conservation efforts in Singapore.

Examples of conservation of dark sky in other countries:
There are conservation efforts in places like Alberta and Florida. Alberta had conservation efforts which include retrofitting non-compliant outdoor lighting on all M.D (Municipal district).-owned buildings, and at the Sandy Cross Conservation Area, for a total cost of $15,000. Although the LPA (Light Pollution Abatement) Program began as a grass roots effort in Canada to assist members to promote better lighting practices within urban areas, it did not have national impact until the media became involved. To bring the message of light as a form of pollution to the public, an RASC (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada) award program was extended to governments and corporations. Award ceremonies are organized to maximize media coverage. After less than ten years light pollution was brought into the public eye, LPA has become adopted by municipalities and federal government departments. Media coverage also made volunteer efforts much more effective.