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Thank you for participating in the GLOBE at Night (GaN) citizen
science project! . Observations are collected from the 3rd to the 16th
of March in 2010. During this span, observers all over the world measure
the amount of luminous graffiti (light pollution) in their communities.
NYSkies Astronomy Inc coordinates this effort for New York City, with
advise and consultation for all participants. Please call on NYSkies for
questions regarding GLOBE at Night. We are at 212-273-5958 and ‘nyskiesastronomy@earthlink.net’.
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.
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 a window or from a car. .
This may be called 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 wair for dark adaption.
Find Orion in the evening sky. During the GaN period Orion is in the
southwest about 1/3 way up in the sky. The skyview 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 hours; lower, later. After about 21:30 EST (22:30 EDST) Orion
may be too low in the west for good viewing.
Compare your own view of Orion with the charts below. To better line up
the stars, tilt the charts so their upper-left corner is at the top.
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.
This is NOT a vision test. There are variations of eye sensitivity and
acuity among observers. Give the chart number that best characterizes
the sky during your 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, general
weather conditions, Mind the shift from EST to EDST in the GaN period.
Report your observations to NYSkies as soon as practical by email at ‘nyskiesastronomy@earthlink.net’.
Either fill in and email the form below or put all of its requested
information in a new email.
Try to view Orion on as many of the nights as practical during the GLOBE
at Night span. 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.
The observations from around the world will be tabulated and plotted by
GaN on its global Sky Brightness Map by this coming summer. NYSkies will
post the New York City reports in its website at ‘www.nyskies.org’.
When reading the charts at night, use the least amount of light
practical, or use a red lamp, to preserve your night vision.
An other skywatching project relates to Earth Hour (EH) on 2010 March
27. This is a campaign against carbon emissions into the air during the
20:30-21:30 EDST hour. 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.
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.
Charts of Orion
Map 0 . Cloud/rain/snow,
no
stars
Mag. 1 - A couple of bright stars
Mag. 2 - Two stars in
belt
Mag. 3 - Three stars in belt
Mag. 4 - Four stars in belt
Mag. 5 - Six stars in belt, faint sword
Mag. 6 - Many stars in belt, clear
sword
Mag. 7 - Too many to count!
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Fill out and then by cut-&-paste send it to
NYSkies at ‘nyskiesastronomy@earthlink.net’. Or write a new email
with all of the requested information in it.
Observer/contact
name____________________________________________________
Observer/contact
email________________________________@_____________________
Observer/contact day phone number (________)
______________________________
Group name, or ‘individual’ _______________________________
Date and hour (within 10
minutes)_______________________________________-
(GaN runs 2010 March 3 thru 16. EH is 2010 March 27)
Location (address or street
corner)______________________________________
City/boro & state___________________________________. Elevation
(floor)______
Description (field, yard with trees, pier,
&c)____________________________________
Nabe name or description
__________________________________________________
Chart number_____. Sky (haze, roving cloud,
&c)_________________________________
Last update on 08 February 2010
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