“A gravitationally perturbed elliptical galaxy between a pair of spiral galaxies, one seen edge-on.” The Draco Triplet shows three galaxies (NGC 5985, NGC 5982, NGC 5981). Image captured with 250mm RC10 (f/7.9), SI660 camera. 352 min L, 38 min each R, G, B, July 2023. Courtesy of Cloudbait.com.
Keeping the skies dark was a common theme at the Earth Day Educational Celebration and Benefit. The event served as a fundraiser for the Badger Creek Ranch Community, which is a program of Full Circle Alliance.
DarkSky Colorado chair Dani Robben was one of the featured speakers. She discussed the importance of dark skies and covered what individuals can do to protect the night sky.
Robben is spearheading the Sangre de Cristo dark sky reserve effort. The reserve would be about 6,000 square miles, stretching from Salida to the New Mexico border and includes eight counties.
DarkSky Colorado seeks to protect communities, cultural heritage, and nocturnal ecosystems from light pollution through advocacy and conservation.
San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO) Community Connections Coordinator Dani Robben discusses the importance of dark skies during the Badger Creek Ranch Earth Day Benefit. Photo by Carly Winchell
“Night sky brightness is increasing at approximately 10 percent every year,” said Robben.
Glare, sky glow (domes over cities), light trespass (unintended illumination), and clutter (excessive grouping of light sources) are the four components of light pollution.
Robben explained that 80 percent of Americans and a third of the world’s population can no longer see the Milky Way at night. She said that protecting dark skies at night is important to protect night sky heritage, maintaining ecological integrity, conserving energy, protecting human health, and enabling the study of astronomy.
“[The night sky] is our most common and universal heritage, and it’s becoming unknown to the newest generations,” said Robben. “We know that experiencing the night sky provides perspective and inspiration and leads us to reflect on our humanity and place in the universe.”
She credited the night sky for accomplishments, such as landing on the moon, navigating the globe, and learning about the expanding universe.
Additionally, Robben explained that many animals rely on a predictable rhythm of day and night. Lights at night can disrupt the rhythm.
Baby sea turtles, for example, move in the brightest direction when they hatch. On a natural beach, that direction is often the open view of the night sky over the ocean; however, near artificial light, the hatchlings will move toward the city instead of the ocean because of the brightness of lights.
80 percent of migratory birds migrate at night. Artificial light can disorient these birds. The Lights Out Colorado campaign seeks to mitigate light pollution during times of bird migration in the spring and fall.
More intentional lighting can also conserve energy. DarkSky International estimates that 30 percent of outdoor lighting is wasted because of improper shielding or poor aim, amounting to 3.3 billion dollars.
Robben also explained that light pollution prevents the breakdown of other pollutants by degrading nitrate radicals which are the “janitors of the night sky.”
Exposure to artificial light at night is also detrimental to human health, increasing risks of “obesity, depression, sleep disorders, and breast cancer” said Robben. Blue, or short, wavelength light disrupts the circadian rhythm. For better sleep, people should ensure they are around softer or warm, amber colored light at night.
Robben said that brighter lights don’t necessarily mean increased safety. She cited the Chicago Lighting Project, which found increased crimes in more brightly lit alleys. She mentioned another study conducted in England and Wales that found lighting at various levels had no impact on crime.
In fact, overly bright lights that are improperly shielded or not directed toward the ground can make it more difficult to see at night.
Robben highlighted ways that community members can help preserve dark skies.
When using outdoor lighting, people can follow five principles. Outdoor lighting should be:
- Useful – All light should have a clear purpose.
- Targeted – Light should be directed only where needed and primarily toward the ground. Shielding should be used to direct light and avoid spill to where it is not needed.
- At Low Light Levels – Light should not be any brighter than necessary.
- Controlled – Light should only be used when it is needed. Timers or sensors can ensure lights are not left on when nobody needs them.
- A Warm Color – Lights should be warm-toned whenever possible.
Other small ways for citizens to help are to keep blinds and drapes closed at night, raise awareness, and check with local governments about lighting ordinances.
DarkSky Colorado provides some more resources about keeping properties dark sky friendly online here.
Colorado’s governor has proclaimed June as Dark Sky month the previous three years, and Robben was optimistic that DarkSky Colorado would be able to get that designation this year too.
Colorado currently has fifteen international dark sky places, such as Florissant Fossil Beds, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Jackson Lake State Park, and Westcliffe and Silver Cliff.
DarkSky International has a “Find a Dark Sky Place” page where people can search for dark sky locations by country or region.
Friends of Browns Canyon Seek International Dark Sky Certification, Look for Volunteers in Northern Chaffee
Friends of Browns Canyon Vice President David Beaulieu and President Michael Kunkel discuss their efforts to get International Dark Sky Certification for the National Monument during the Badger Creek Ranch Earth Day Benefit. Photo by Carly Winchell
Friends of Browns Canyon Founder and President Michael Kunkel and Vice President David Beaulieu spoke following Robben. The organization is currently pursuing International Dark Sky Park Certification.
In spring of 2023, the organization received a grant to help in this pursuit. Kunkel explained that events supporting the effort began in 2023 and included a musical at the SteamPlant, night photography classes, and stargazing at Ruby Mountain.
A requirement for certification is at least four events each year, and four are planned for this year in the national monument.
Kunkel said that Friday, May 17 is the first event of 2024 at Ruby Mountain where participants will be able to look at the moon through a telescope.
Beaulieu described himself as a nyctophile (a lover of the night and darkness). He talked about taking light quality readings at night using a “sky quality meter,” which is an important step in establishing just how dark the skies are in the monument.
The Friends of Browns Canyon are looking for volunteers in the northern end of the county to help take these measurements on the north end of the National Monument. Beaulieu said that Buena Vista residents would be good candidates for this endeavor. Specifically, they are seeking a volunteer to go to the Hefley Saddle in the northern end of the park, which can be quite a trek according to Beaulieu,
Anyone interested in learning how to take light quality readings can reach out to Beaulieu at 719-221-9746. Readings are always taken on or very near to the night of the new moon, two hours after astronomical sunset. The volunteer would be accompanied on a first trip to allow them to learn how to use the equipment.
Friends of Browns Canyon is a nonprofit seeking to protect, conserve, and enhance the monument.
Dark Skies Impact on Astronomy – Cloudbait Observatory
Chris Petersen from the Cloudbait Observatory in Guffey, Colorado spoke briefly about the importance of dark skies to astronomy and education.
Guffey maintains fairly dark skies at night, but Petersen said he has been seeing the light domes over cities on the Front Range grow larger over the years. “I’ve seen the dome from Colorado Springs rise up behind Pikes Peak. I’ve seen the dome from Denver getting higher. What I never used to see, I can see the domes above Cañon City and Pueblo merge together into one.” Petersen explained that, luckily, the skies to the west remain dark.
Petersen told an anecdote about inner city school kids at a planetarium not believing that it showed what the sky really looks like. “It’s tragic that people all over the world are growing up and the best sky they’re going to see is projected on a dome. It’s a really unfortunate thing,” commented Petersen, who continued to say that even the Little Dipper is not visible from most cities.
In Guffey, Petersen helps teach kids about the night sky and answers questions from curious adults.
“Half of nature is below us and half of nature is above us,” said Petersen. “That’s a way to appreciate the sky without having to worry about the physics of astronomy.”
Badger Creek Ranch
Badger Creek Ranch Community logo. Image courtesy of BCRCommunity.org.
Badger Creek Ranch is owned by Director and Ranch Mentor Chrissy McFarren and her husband Dave McFarren. The family-owned and operated ranch is located high above the Arkansas River valley and focuses on preserving the land and history of the area.
Full Circle Alliance is a partner, which supports nonprofit work at the ranch and public interest work. This includes the internship program where young people can come and work at the ranch for the season as well as various events hosted by the ranch. Badger Creek Ranch Community is a program of Full Circle Alliance Inc.
More information about the ranch is available on their website here.
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