What criteria used to have a place considered Dark-Sky designated
Light pollution examples (smarter lights and placement) Las Vegas
Designated Dark Sky sites
Where? - All over the world. Canada, Australia, Iceland - also in Europe, UK and Asia.
Awareness.
So, we get out to one of these amazing Dark Sky designated parks and, we’re coming out of our neighborhoods where we see our usual 12 stars in the sky, now we’re seeing literally thousands. How do we get our bearings
Teach us to be amateur astronomers
what to look for in the sky?
(focal points - Ursa Major - Big Dipper -
How far can we see? Moons planets (how many?) suns, galaxy (Andromeda), satellites (International Space Station) how far can we see with the naked eye? Do we need a telescope? Portable options
Skies always moving: locations and months). Tools for viewing.
Things to avoid. Full moon. Time for eyes to adjust (keep the cellphone parked)
How do we know when astro events are happening in our area? Good resource?
Aurora
- How far south can it be seen?
Aurora Australis - I’ve always heard of the Northern Lights, but had no idea the same phenomena happened in the South.
Meteor Showers
Never seen one, or a shooting star (are they stars?)
Comets and astroid debris. We take things for granted. How to plan them?
Geminids meteor shower Dec 14-15 peak. One of the strongest. Best time to view? Asteroid based meteor shower (more rare).
Eclipses
3D effect
Next one's coming up.
Astrophotography
The Book
Beautiful photography
with a cellphone
Space Flight
Viewing rocket launches (India, Japan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand)
Space Camp
The difficulty of putting a human on the moon
So long since our last flight (Dennis Tito - International Space Station - First Space Tourist... $20 million - Cost! Where are people going?
Suborbital Space Tourism - what is it
What form do you see for private flights into space? How soon?
Stitcher
Google
Spotify