A cooperative project between Dana Richards, a senior at the Academic Magnet High School, and Terry Richardson, an astronomer at the College of Charleston
We need your help to measure night sky brightness in the lowcountry!
On one or more clear nights from Sept. 6-17 and Oct. 4th-18th, 2004, project participants will be asked to count the number of stars they can see in a designated region of the sky from anywhere in Berkeley, Charleston, or Dorchester County, SC. They will then be directed to record the number of stars they see and submit this data by online form, e-mail, fax, or postal mail, along with some personal information and their observation location.
Sound interesting? If you think you may want to participate then read on for more details. This is a great activity for anyone age 10 or older. The more people that participate, the better!
Mapping light pollution in the greater Charleston area will provide a baseline for future comparison and help identify the places where light pollution is the least and greatest problem. By getting volunteers to participate in this project, we hope to encourage more people to become familiar with and observe the night sky, increase awareness of the effects of light pollution, and influence planning authorities to produce efficient and effective lighting schemes. These are the first steps toward ensuring that people all over Charleston can enjoy a safer, more pleasant nighttime environment.
If you have any questions or comments about this project feel free to
e-mail us.
We would love to hear from you!
Page last updated: 9/17/04