Tag Archives: Light Pollution

Podcast #15: Dylan O’Donnell and National Science Week

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Here we are, another week, and it’s time to release episode 15 of the Urban Astronomer Podcast.  This week’s episode features an interview with Australian astrophotographer and science defender Dylan O’Donnell, who landed on my radar after he released a video of an interview with a man who believes that the world is flat.  Since flat-earthism seems to be growing in popularity in what is probably the most baffling display of intellectual laziness I’ve ever seen, and since so many … Continue reading →

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What we’ve been up to: Light Pollution, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse

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If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you’ll know that Urban Astronomer has been doing a fair bit of astronomy outreach over recent months.  In July, I gave a presentation on Light Pollution for the Rhenosterspruit Conservancy, and in September I filmed the partial solar eclipse, and streamed it live for Slooh.com.  And without even realising it, we became a major source of news on a surprising superstition regarding the recent Lunar Eclipse! Light Pollution Talk On 19 July, … Continue reading →

Africa’s first International Dark Sky Preserve

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The NamibRand nature reserve in Namibia has just been granted International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR) status for its efforts to eliminate light pollution from within its boundaries.  This honour comes as a result of the reserve having expanded its conservation role to include preserving the star-filled nighttime skies that shine above its dunes and mountains.  IDSR’s are part of a worldwide programme by the International Dark-Sky Association to identify and protect the world’s last remaining sites where the sky at … Continue reading →

Darker cities have less crime: Official

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  Dark Sky activists, campaigning to reduce light pollution by reducing useage of artificial lighting at night, have long scorned the common-sense idea that the easiest way to reduce crime in an area is to light it up.  Now the city of Bristol, which cut back the number of street lights to save energy and reduce the carbon footprint, has proven them right, with night-time crime dropping by up to 50% in some areas.  Why?  Because it turns out that, … Continue reading →