Photo: Aliens with a Message: We can see your lights from Outer Space!
P.S. Too bad you can't see our home star--she's a beauty.
Just last night we were invited to an Out of This World Webelos Campfire and Boy Scout Camporall--over one hundred scouts attended (and aliens). Terry Mack, Dan Joyce, Peter Birren, Anne Donovan, Dennis Love, Jack Svetlik, Jessi Kingan, and I (Volunteers from Chicago Astronomical Society, FAA and StarPals) provided a variety of telescopes, binocs on a tripod, meteorites, NASA model rockets, lunar phases demo, astrophotography via remote hook-up to both Israel (Thank You Ido! for your expertise and usage of Bareket Observatory) and New Mexico GRAS telescopes (thank you Arnie!)--scouts successfully completed their very first 6 astro-images, viewed images from TWAN the world at night, good discussions about bad light pollution, and StarParks. This handful of amateur astronomer volunteers made a lasting impression on these scouts by energizing their curiosity about their Universe.
These scouts have a very enthusiastic energy about them and are very interested in learning more about everything... including astronomy. They also have already developed an ability of recognizing a need, want to contribute towards a solution, and on their own automatically come up with an action plan. After meeting these scouts, I walked away impressed with them and the scouting program--as it is such a healthy environment to develop ideals and character.
These scouts have a Can-Do attitude that is both inspirational and energizing. Because of this youth-driven effort, I am convinced that StarParks will happen, public awareness will increase about light pollution, and the exponential rate of expansion of LP will stop, then slowly reverse so that more people and nature will be able to experience the natural, beautiful light of more stars.
StarParks has just been officially accepted as a global IYA Cornerstone Project
for Dark Skies. This is a wonderful opportunity. Scout-generated data contributed to the Globe at Night world-wide light-pollution census (which coincides with Earth Hour in March) will be just a sample of their wonderful contribution.
