[Chaos-l] Vanishing Night Program at MPSC

[Mickey Jo Sorrell]

This from the Morehead website:


    /Celebrate Earth Day at Morehead/


          /Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will present a
          special free program, “Our Vanishing Night,” at 7:30 p.m.,
          Tuesday, April 17, 2007, as part of the University of North
          Carolina at Chapel Hill’s week-long observation of Earth Day./

/Using the planetarium star projector, educator Amy Sayle will 
demonstrate how light pollution, the illumination of the night sky 
through artificial means, prevents us from seeing thousands of stars and 
other celestial bodies. She will also show the audience a breath-taking 
view of how the night sky would appear without light pollution. /

/Following Sayle’s presentation, a facilitator will lead a walking tour 
of Franklin Street and the UNC campus as participants seek out examples 
of inefficient lighting. The evening will conclude with a skywatching 
session at the Morehead Sundial. /


Our hope is that CHAOS folks will join us for the observing part of the 
evening - after the show and tour, although observing could begin during 
the tour if folks are around. I tried to get the lights around the 
Sundial turned off for observing, but it turned out to be complicated 
and expensive. It was suggested that we move observing into the 
arboretum. I could contact the Botanical Gardens to get permission, but 
I thought I would check in with you folks first. The arb might be just 
far enough away that, even though it's darker, we would lose most of our 
audience. And, of course, the light around the Sundial is a real 
reminder of our light addictions and the price we pay.

This program is in cooperation with the UNC Sustainability Office. The 
first speaker of the evening will be Orange County Commissioner Barry 
Jacobs who will speak on the Orange County lighting ordinance.

Please do extend the invitation far and wide.
Feedback, friends?

Mickey Jo Sorrell