This year's GaN announcement issued on January 14th, causing some loss of the first interval of observing.
    During these spans, observers all over the world measure the amount of luminous graffiti (light pollution) in their communities. The expanded season for GLOBE at Night comes largely from agitation by NYSkies to cover more of the evening apparition of Orion. 
    NYSkies, in addition to the GaN dates, includesncludes Earth Hour on March 24th. This is a specially important extra opportunity for collecting valuable sky data. Earth Hour is explained below.
    NYSkies coordinates this effort for New York City, with advice and consultation for all participants. Please call on NYSkies for questions regarding GLOBE at Night. We are at ‘nyskies@nyskies.org’.
    View from any location you normally frequent as long as the Orion constellation in evening is in open sky from it. Try to avoid or block nearby lights from shining into your face. The location may be at or near your home, school, workplace, or a waypoint you pass in your goings about.
    Do NOT purposely go to s special ‘dark sky’ location which you do not routinely use for starviewing. The intent of GaN is to collect sky data from as many diverse types of location as practical.
     For this location, note the geographic position, like a street address or street corner, and its general description. The position should be within 30 meters, if possible.
    You may view Orion from shelter, like thru an open room or car window . This may be necesssary for in extreme cold or wind. Such shelter can help block local lights from your face.
    Wait a couple minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark. You may merely close you eyes and rest during this time. Taking measurements immediately after leaving a brightly lighted surrounds, like indoors, will result in low value data. Do wait for dark adaption.
    Find Orion in the evening sky. During the GaN period Orion is 1/2 up in the south to 1/3 up in southwest. The skyscape here shows what to look for, altho the number and density of stars will depend on the clarity of the instant evening. Orion will be a little higher for earlier dates and hours; lower, later. When Orion is below 20 degree altitude, it may be too low for good viewing.

    Compare your own view of Orion with the charts below. Note which chart best represents the aspect of Orion for the number and density of stars you see on the specific night.
    Record the chart number that best matches your view of Orion. This will help determine the dimmest stars that you saw at your location under the prevailing sky and luminous graffiti conditions of each night.
    GLOBE at Night is NOT a vision test! It is NOT a contest for the 'best' report! There are variations of eye sensitivity and acuity and of skyywatching experience among observers.
    Give the chart number that best characterizes the sky for your own observation. If you work in a group, you may report a group agreement or supply individual results.
    Include for each observation the date and hour and comment about the sky conditions, cloud & haze, hotspots from luminous graffiti, and general weather. Mind the shift from EST to EDST in the March-April GaN periods.
    Report your observations to NYSkies as soon as practical by email at ‘nyskies@nyskies.org’. You may copy/paste the form, with your filled-in fields, into the email or put all of its requested information in new text.
    Try to view Orion on as many nights as practical during the GLOBE at Night periods. Sky conditions can shift from night to night and bad weather may intervene. One viewing per night is sufficient, unless for some reason there is a drastic change of sky conditions. This may occur during Earth Hour.
    The observations from around the world will be tabulated and plotted by the GaN office on its global Sky Brightness Map by this coming summer. NYSkies will post the New York reports in its website at ‘www.nyskies.org’.
    When reading the charts at night, use the least amount of additional light practical, or use a red lamp, to preserve your night vision.
    An other skywatching project relates to Earth Hour (EH). This is a campaign against carbon emissions into the air. It runs during the 20:30-21:30 hour in each location's timezone. This worldwide effort suspends the use of carbon-based fuel, commonly the source for electric power. One way to reduce carbon emission is to shut off nonessential electric devices. These include outdoor lighting that can cause luminous graffiti. Further reduction in carbon output is to turn off direct combustion of carbon-based fuel, like stoves, heaters, and lamps.
    Because EH may reduce luminous graffiti by the abatement of excess outdoor lighting,  NYSkies is collecting luminous graffiti data for EH using the GaN method. Please take sky measurements, using the instructions and charts here, at about 20:00, 21:00, and 22:00 EDST. For some observers Orion may be too low at 22:00 for good viewing. Report the results to NYSkies like for the GLOBE at Night measurements.

 Last update on 18 January 2012