Short description:
StarParks is a program to teach children and teens about light pollution and to encourage custodianship of the night sky.
- Scouts would learn the very basics in light pollution and:
a) be able to understand it's effect on environment, nature, people and the night sky;
b) be able to identify a good light fixture vs a fixture that contributes to light pollution. - Scouts would identify and choose to adopt a location where they would like to see enough of an improvement to help it become "dark-sky friendly" so the site is clear enough to view passes of the International Space Station and satellites passing overhead without "glare bomb"-style light fixtures obscuring the view.
- The newly-designated location would get status as a StarPark... even better with signage as such. (It would be great to get star gazing listed on the maps and recreational guides like skiing and hiking.) Site possibilities include a nature center, a neighborhood ballpark, a play lot on school grounds, forest preserve, national park or a business parking lot.
- Empowerment. As a team effort, scouts would write an informative letter of request to the appropriate authority, e.g. the principal of their school (if it's on school property), or other appropriate persons such as Lt. Governor Quinn (who happens to be very receptive), alderman, forest preserve district etc. National Parks recently received notice they are required to reduce their light pollution and are very receptive to ideas and choice of which location to begin with... for example Indiana Dunes National Park.
- Making a difference. By their efforts, whether they get a single light changed or simply raise awareness about light pollution, students will be making a difference. All efforts would be recognized with a certificate, but a special prize of a telescope with engraved name plate to honor the scout or school group who earned it would go to the group effort that made the most impact.
- Initially, the program would be privately funded with the donation of a telescope but we will be seeking sponsors for subsequent major and runner-up awards. A dream is to find a sponsor that would be willing to build an observatory for kid's use at one of these StarParks.
- Project: Constellation. The StarParks would be named (and rated according to Bortle-rating). And then, they could be linked together into a sort-of ground-based constellation. This constellation would also carry a name and, of course, a story (developed by the scouts)... and very likely a sponsor.
- StarParty celebrations and Astrophotography. As a support system, all of the StarPals privileges will be available to participants, including StarParties and access to robotic telescopes located in New Mexico or Australia or Israel, operated via internet, that will give them the ability to photograph their favorite objects in the night sky. See the Gallery for examples of astrophotography.
Submitted by Jessi StarPals on December 25, 2009 - 4:43am
It is Christmas afternoon here in Thailand, where Christmas isn't celebrated, and there's no snow... but now is the time for holidays all over the world, and I wanted to make something for all of you to show my gratitude for the wonderful year it's been. Also, I want to thank all of you who have submitted content so far for Tour of the Universe by Children of the World and contributed to what will certainly be a very worthy project, thanks to your excellent contributions! (By the way, we're still accepting submissions if you haven't yet had a chance to, though I know you may be busy with your holiday plans and spending time with family!)