(meteorobs) August Nebula Newsletter On-line

[bmccurdy at telusplanet.net]

   George Gliba wrote:

>      The latest issue of NEBULA is finally on-line after
> some website problems. There is a short article on  Light
> Pollution, and the Perseids at:
> 
> http://gewa.gsfc.nasa.gov/clubs/astronomy/

   My compliments, George, on an excellent job writing a broadbrush yet concise 
summary on the issue of light pollution, covering astronomy, nature, ecology, 
health, and economics with a little history as well. The bright side (no pun 
intended) is that LP is so unnecessary and dumb that its potential solutions 
are a win-win-win-win-win scenario, with only the poor power companies on the 
short end of the stick. The big issue is to raise awareness of both the problem 
and its solutions among the public, government, and the corporate world. 

   While it's definitely an uphill war, individual battles can be and are being 
won. Here in north-central Alberta, I'm thrilled to report that this upcoming 
Sunday the federal and provincial governments in partnership with the Royal 
Astronomical Society of Canada, are declaring a new Dark Sky Preserve of some 
300 sq. km. The area in question incorporates the Blackfoot Reserve, where 
local astronomers have conducted our dark-sky observing sessions for the two 
decades that I've been involved in the RASC's Edmonton Centre. Now our site is 
formally protected in perpetuity, and we have established a beachhead from 
which we can deliver our commonsense message to the surrounding communities. 

   Sorry if I sound like a man on a mission -- I unabashedly am! -- and hope 
this isn't considered off-topic, but surely this issue is absolutely central to 
the interests of all meteor observers, to whom limiting magnitude is of such 
critical importance. 

   Bruce
   *****