18th – 23rd April 2023
EVENTS
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Tuesday 18th, Thursday 20th, Saturday 22nd April Evening Program at the Observatory Book Online
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Activities at the Observatory, including why we need the Dark Sky, stories of the night sky, viewing through our telescopes, movies and what you can do to reduce light pollution.
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IDSW Competition, prizes include a pair of binoculars to help you observe wildlife and the night sky.Thursday
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Thursday 20th Partial Eclipse of the Sun 1.11pm – 3.01pm
- Safe viewing of the Sun and talk about current and coming eclipses. Book Online
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Friday 21st April 5.15pm – 7.30pm- Woowookarung Regional Park Book Online
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Come and learn about the Fauna with Andrew in the Park
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Look through our telescopes and learn about why it is so important to protect our DarkSky and what you can do about it, with BAS Members.
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Location to meet Meet at Kay Ryans Road Intersection just before Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail. Wear sturdy walking shoes and dress for the cold weather.
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Sunday 23rd April Lake Wendouree 5.15pm -7.30pm Book Online
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Learn about the Fauna and flora at the Lake and why it is important for all to have a Dark Night.
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An opportunity for photographers to take a photo of the 3 day old Moon and Venus, with telescope viewing for all.
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Meet at Fairyland near the sheltered seating, then moving around to the East side of the Lake for viewing.
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BYO thermos and chair and extra woollies. Stunning viewing if clear over the Lake.
In France, a law came into effect on 1 July that lights in shop window displays will be turned off at 1am. Interior lights in offices and other non-residential buildings will have to be switched off an hour after the last employee leaves. Local councils were be able to make exceptions for Christmas and other special occasions, and in certain tourist or cultural areas. The move was expected to save 250,000 tonnes of CO2 – enough energy to power 750,000 French households for a year.
Southwestern Europe and Australia at Night 2014-2015
IDSW
- We acknowledge the importance of preserving our heritage, the rich biodiversity of the environment and the starry night sky.
- The aesthetic beauty and wonder of a natural night sky is a heritage shared by all humankind.
- The experience of standing beneath a starry night sky inspires wonder and awe and encourages a growing interest in science and nature, especially among young people in Victoria.
- The opportunity to view star-filled skies over our country creates educational and personal benefits of far reaching economic value to all and impossible to accurately quantify.
- Globally, artificial light at night (ALAN) has increased by at least 49 % over the past generation, according to researchers at the Universities of Madrid and Exeter.
- Excessive ALAN, defined as light produced by humans for any purpose, contributes to light pollution of the night-time environment.
- Light pollution, defined as the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light, can have serious environmental consequences for humans, wildlife, and our climate. It lights up the night sky denying Indigenous Australians a dark night sky that is a crucial part of their heritage, representing their stories, their culture and their calendar. For them ALAN has particularly negative impacts.
- Light pollution represents a waste of natural resources. In Australia, it is estimated that 30 % of all exterior lighting is energy wasted by directing light upwards instead of down, where it is intended to go.
- Light pollution diminishes the day/night cycle for all life. It diminishes animal habitats, puts nocturnal animals at risk and affects vegetation. For humans it has been linked to increased risks of some common cancers, obesity and many other ailments.
- Science has established that light pollution has significant economic and environmental consequences, impacting on the health of humans and the natural environment wherever it is present.
- Light pollution impact birds that migrate to and through Victoria, it also impacts on the endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum and its main food source, the Bogong Moth, so contributing to the decline in the biodiversity in Victoria.
- Solving the problem of light pollution requires educating governments, communities, and citizens on environmentally-friendly outdoor lighting practices. This includes responsible decision-making in selecting the appropriate colours of light sources, using only the minimum amount of light for the purpose and that it is directed only where it is needed.
- The International Dark-Sky Association has designated the week of 22nd – 30th April 2022 as International Dark Sky Week 2022 and the Observatory hosts an annual event. We continue to draw awareness to the far-reaching impacts of light pollution on all communities and promote solutions to minimise it, each April with IDSW.
- Protecting the night sky helps the all of us to improve our community and maintain its unique sense of place, neighbourhood liveability, safety, and quality of life.
