[Chaos-l] Next Monday at Morehead

[Mickey Jo Sorrell]

OUR VANISHING NIGHT
Join Morehead Planetarium and Science Center on Monday, April 21, 2008 
at 7:30 p.m. in the Star Theater for a special free program, "Our 
Vanishing Night."

For generations, everyone experienced the breathtaking beauty of an 
unspoiled night sky, with views into our Universe of thousands of stars, 
the Milky Way and even another galaxy. Inspired by the sky, those who 
came before us told imaginative stories about the patterns they saw in 
the stars. But when many of us go home tonight and look up, we may not 
see much more than a washed-out orange glow.

During this program, we'll use the Zeiss VI star projector to reveal how 
light pollution--the illumination of the atmosphere by outdoor 
lighting--robs us of our heritage of a natural dark sky. And we'll 
experience the sky studded with stars--and stories--as our ancestors did 
and as our grandchildren might, if we commit to better designed outdoor 
lighting.

Following the Star Theater presentation, join us for a short walking 
tour (choose North Campus or downtown) to consider how our outdoor 
lighting might improve visibility and safety, while also minimizing 
energy use. Back at the Morehead Sundial, telescopes will be active. Be 
sure to check out Saturn and Mars.

Co-sponsored by UNC Sustainability Office; Chapel Hill Town Council 
Committee for Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment; and CHAOS 
(Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society).

Free. Part of UNC’s Earth Week celebration.

For more information:
http://moreheadplanetarium.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&filename=vanish.html 
<http://moreheadplanetarium.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&filename=vanish.html> 


Morehead Planetarium is at 250 E. Franklin Street, in downtown Chapel Hill.

That's right CHAOS, you're in on this too. I hope that some of you can 
come out with scopes on Monday to share the sky next to the sundial. If 
you can, please drop me an email and let me know. Thanks for your help.

Mickey

-- 
Mickey Jo Sorrell
Planetarium Educator
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
CB #3480
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
919-962-3300