[AZ-Observing] HourofDarkness Event This Saturday 3.29 8-9pm...
- From: "Jennifer Polakis" <m24@xxxxxxx>
- To: "chris luginbuhl" <cbl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <sac-announce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "EVAC" <evac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:35:49 -0700
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Please help document the effect on the night sky!
I think most of you are aware of this event. It was started by the =
World Wildlife Fund, Australia to illustrate how much energy and CO2 =
emissions can be saved with careful use of lighting. Phoenix is one of =
~4 cities in the U.S. and ~24 worldwide participating in this event. =
Here is a link with more info on the Hour of Darkness: =
www.earthhour.org and www.earthhourus.org The downtown businesses will =
be turning off all non-essential lighting for that hour and many other =
folks in the Phoenix area have signed on to turn off their lights for =
that hour as well.
We'd like to also get the message out that you can save energy, reduce =
CO2 emissions, AND help bring back the MilkyWay while you're at it by =
shielding and pointing your lights down instead of into the sky, this =
will enable you to use less wattage and less lights.
We need folks with Sky Quality Meters to bring them out to whereever =
they are and take measurements before, during, and after this event. =
You can utilize the chart (see attachments) to record your measurements =
to email to Chris Luginbuhl cbl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and/or Katie Garmany =
kgarmany@xxxxxxxx One way to do this is to affix the SQM to a tripod =
pointed at the Zenith and take a measurement ~every 10 minutes or so =
between 7:45 and 9:15. The other option is to take measurements at the =
following three times each time measuring at the zenith (90degrees), =
45degrees, and the horizon (zero degrees), first measurements should be =
facing toward the city, then rotate yourself 45degrees to the Right and =
take the 45degree and horizon measurements, then 45degrees Left of your =
starting point and do the same. So for each of the three time periods =
you would have a total of 7 measurements to record.***
Between 7:30 and 7:45 pm (to avoid sunset)
Between 8:15 and 8:45 pm (Earth Hour is 8 to 9 pm)
Between 9:15 and 9:45 pm
***If you have the newest SQM, the SQM-L model add measurements at =
22.5degrees for each of the 3 positions.
Photos of Phoenix will also be useful and appreciated. So bring your =
cameras. Chris suggests taking the photos from a mountaintop, hill, or =
rise, use a tripod and shoot the same exact photo toward downtown =
Phoenix for each exposure, turn off the flash(!), point in a nice =
direction and shoot once every 10 minutes. He's thinking f2.8 with =
2"exposures. 7:30ish--9:30or so. This should make a nice series of =
photos to string together to show the before during and after effects. =
Send the photos to Chris cbl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx If you can't/don't want to =
do a photo every 10 minutes, try to take at least one for each before =
during and after time period with your camera at as near the same spot =
as possible. Be sure to indicate the location you have taken the photos =
from, GPS coordinates if possible.
Also, for those folks that will be in the same location on Friday the =
28th or Sunday the 30th, please take the same SQM measurements and =
photos as well.
SAC will have ~6 scopes set up at the AZ Science Center's star party =
(Thanks to Mike George for setting this up) and I think some EVAC =
members may be there as well, and hopefully some other astronomers who =
are reading this. Write me offlist M24@xxxxxxx if you need =
information on AZ Science Center's star party.
=20
For the EVAC folks that will be manning the scope/Gilbert Riparian star =
party: Can one or more of you bring a Sky Quality Meter and a camera to =
do this?
For folks out observing and folks backyard observing and for folks not =
observing at all that have a SQM and or a camera: Please participate in =
this effort. Every measurement and photograph will be useful and =
appreciated.
Kind regards, clear skies, dark skies,
Jennifer Polakis, VP
Saguaro Astronomy Club
480 967 1658
m24@xxxxxxx=20
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