Learning Space Ep. 05: Globe at Night
Channel: astrospherevids
Date: 25/04/2013

Join hosts Nicole Gugliucci, Georgia Bracey, and Pamela Gay  as they talk with Connie Walker  of the National Optical Astronomical Observatory and Scott Kardel of the International Dark Skies Association.

What would it be like without stars at night? What is it we loose? Truly starry night skies have given us poetry, art, music and the wonder to explore. A bright night sky (aka light pollution) affects energy consumption and wildlife too. Join in to glean how as a citizen-scientist you can easily measure the brightness of your night sky, contribute your measurement quickly on-line and use the data in all sorts of projects. The international GLOBE at Night citizen-science campaign (www.globeatnight.org) will be a main focus for discussion.

Connie Walker is an astronomer who is enjoying doing science education outreach for the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. Her main focus is on the preservation of a dark night sky through the reduction of light pollution by conserving energy. She does this by bringing awareness to the public on how to light responsibly. For instance, she has programs like the international citizen-science campaign called GLOBE at Night that invites the public to measure their night sky brightness and contribute their measurements to an online data base that students and scientists use to monitor light pollution levels and their effect on our lives, our health, wildlife, energy consumption, cost, safety and our enjoyment of the night sky.

Note from Nicole: Sorry about the audio/vis problems on my end!