I just came back from a trip to Hawaii where I gave three talks on light pollution (I was elected to the International Dark-Sky Association board this January) and attended 2 StarParties celebrating IYA2009 hosted by the local astronomy clubs and Mauna Kea.
On Oahu I gave a talk to the Illuminating Engineers Society and astronomers including Richard Wainscoat. He is president of IAU's Dark Skies. I had a meeting with him and the pres of board of IDA, as Richard is trying to get state-wide lighting ordinances in Hawaii of which I will be helping as much as I can. Richard is also part of the Pan-STARR project and invited us to come to the UH Institute for Astronomy to see the *camera* that is being tweaked. (I thoroughly enjoyed being there!) Anyway, quite by chance, John Tonry came by, the "father" of this instrument and I asked if I could take his photo with Pan-STARR imager. So while we stepped into the cleanroom for the picture, I had a chance to talk with John one-on-one.
He is fascinating and passionate about this machine and the project and it's huge role of importance. He is totally aware of limited funding and how it can reduce the full potential of this crucial project. Within 15 of talking to him, we discovered we had the same idea:
- Let kids sponsor the pixels to bring them into the project.
- Let the asteroids discovered by their pixels be named after their school.
- Let this exciting project be led by the First Lady in the White House.
Kids (or anyone) would have a membership and receive monthly updates. Roughly 5000 asteroids per month are expected to be discovered, along with very exciting new sightings of Pluto-sized objects and supernovae. For $10 membership they have a very good chance that indeed one of their pixels will be a detector. A $20 membership would be even greater!
There are many important details that need to be worked out, however, now is the time to start, during IYA of this school term. We can get things rolling on line in one month's time.
Two days after meeting John Tonry, I was an invited speaker at the Big Isle's Mauna Kea's VIS for a talk on light pollution and StarParty to welcome in IYA2009. I was also inspired by the professional and amateur astronomers there (and the million-star night view added to the impact :>)
These thoughts dominated and were unanimous:
- Kids need an early introduction to the space sciences.
- Dark skies need to be preserved and light pollution reduced.
- IYA is the time to accomplish this.
The White House is the ideal place to get this message out. Reason: There are little kids in the White House. Michelle Obama can invite kids and a parent from around the country and other countries to have a StarParty in the White House to celebrate IYA, encourage through example parents to get involved with their kids education, and to celebrate the exciting world of discovery through Pan-Starr. Also kids in the White House can command robotic telescopes from around the world via the net to image galaxies, nebulae and other inspiring objects in the heavens. We will compile these images with favorites of other kid's astrophotography from participating schools and planetariums from around the world. The CD will be called: Tour of the Universe by Children of the World.
Here's the write-up of the events:
Aloha Dark-Skies IYA2009 !
There is a lot of energy going on in Hawaii, plenty of determined goals and a great kick-off to Dark-Skies IYA celebration Hawaii style. I can't tell you enough the tremendous hospitality that flowed. The folks we met were inspirational and energizing!
Mahalo to: Hilo Astronomy Club • West Hawaii Astronomy Club WHACos (We're Just Crazy About Astronomy)• Mauna Kea Visitor's Station crew & volunteers • Kahala Community Park • Hawaii Astronomical Society • Illumination Engineers Society of Hawaii • special mention to Howard Wigg, Kimberly Mason of NOAA, Gary Fujihara of AstroDay, Richard Wainscoat of UH, Wally Pacholka of AstroPics, Chris, Audrey and staff of IDA.
Howard Wigg, a very conscientious professional and true friend for dark skies is working hard, exploring fresh ideas to reduce the exponential growth of light pollution in Hawaii. A key $900,000,000 renovation of 3-mile long Honolulu Harbor is now in planning. Howard invited IDA to Hawaii to speak to the Illuminating Engineers Society (IES) about the consequences of light pollution and ways of reducing it. This developed into a full dark-sky celebration of three presentations and two StarParties with three awesome astronomical societies to welcome in Dark-Skies IYA2009 on Oahu and Big Isle Hawaii running January 9 - 15!
After IES talk, astronomer Richard Wainscoat invited us to the Institute for Astronomy to see Pan-STARRS billion pixel camera used to discover and characterize Earth-approaching objects, both asteroids & comets, that might pose a danger to our planet. The huge volume of images produced by this system will provide valuable data for many other kinds of scientific programs. We were inspired by meeting scientist John Tonry, Pan-STARRS leader. This is a critical project and an example as to why it is imperative for observatories to have unpolluted skies. (visit web site at pan-starrs.ifa.hawaii.edu) Richard is president of Commission 50 of the International Astronomical Union which purpose is to protect the night skies by controlling light pollution around existing and potenetial observatory sites. Richard is working with IDA and is focused on achieving state-wide legislation for strict light pollution codes in Hawaii... a tremendous and essential goal.
Gary Fujihara was coordinator extraordinaire of Dark Skies at the Mauna Kea StarParty at the Visitor's Information Station, located at the 9200' acclimation point below the 13,796'summit, home to the world's finest observatories for crucial scientific research. Gary treated us all to observatory produced posters and a fine dinner at Hale Pohaku, the mid-level facility for astronomers and observatory staff before the talk & StarParty and again afterwards when we all met up for midnight ice cream and hot chocolate savoring the starry sights we shared.
Christain Monrad, IDA President of Board, was the perfect person to talk the tech-language of illuminating engineers. He was joined by Kimberly Maison, Hawaii local and Sea Turtle Biologist - Protected Resources Division of NOAA, who did a fantastic job explaining how poorly chosen lighting puts native species in peril. In addition to her insights on native turtles' response to artificial light and corrective measures, she told us about another encouraging report of how the locals from Kawaii worked together to change much of the lighting voluntarily to save their endangered bird species called Shearwaters. Audrey Fischer, newly-elected IDA board member from Chicago rounded out the presentation.
All together, Howard Wigg initiated a total of 3 presentations and 2 StarParties. Award-winning TWAN photographer Wally Pacholka joined our presenters and offered a superb photographic tour of his starry-nightscapes of America's National Parks and landmarks, inspiring beautifully why we must do whatever we can to protect these skies. He also donated many of his photographs as gifts for awesome telescope volunteers and door prizes for guests.
Kahaha Community Park on Oahu. Barry Peckham and the Hawaiian Astronomical Society worked persistently to change the lighting to make this a fine observing site that hosts monthly star parties up to 300 people. Every community deserves to have a *StarPark*. Many thanks to those who shared their time, skills and conversation including Barry Peckham, telescope maker, who brought his 12" Truss Tube Dobsonian, Forest Luke, Gretchen West, Jim MacDonal, Sapavith "ORT" Vanapruks who also brought their telescopes. Mahalo to you!
It is imperative these skies are protected for today's and future generations. All combined IDA efforts work toward this goal. Your support is needed and appreciated. Thanks to all of you IYA2009 in its entirety will be something to remember!
