A CRY for Adventure

10/13/2024

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (also called Comet A3) is returning to the evening sky … soon. You'll need a dark sky to see it. The coming days will be the best time to spot it! Look to the west shortly after sunset in the coming evenings.

Read about the comet at: https://earthsky.org/space/comet-c-2023-a3-sep-oct-2024-tsuchinshan-atlas/

10/12/2024

10/12/2024

Not 1 but 2 bright comets might soon grace Earth's skies! And EarthSky.org has the lowdown on both. Join us at 12:15 p.m. CDT (17:15 UTC) on Monday, October 7, and we'll bring you the latest information on these visitors to the inner solar system. Plus! The autumn meteor season kicks off overnight on October 7-8 with the Draconid meteor shower. Will the Draconids storm in 2024?

More in EarthSky's regular Monday livestream! Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcg30fDis4A

10/11/2024

Aurora borealis. Oct 10 2024. Stacked photo.

Credit for photo Irving Tinoco.

10/11/2024

Get ready for auroras! NOAA has forecast up to G4 (severe) geomagnetic storming for today and tomorrow, after a blob of sun-stuff from yesterday's X flare was found to be heading straight to Earth. The sun-stuff is expected to arrive by midday today, with auroral displays then likely across northern latitudes tonight and tomorrow night. It could be a great round of auroras. Keep updated with our sun news:
https://earthsky.org/sun/sun-news-activity-solar-flare-cme-aurora-updates/

📸 Image via NOAA.

10/10/2024

Have you ever seen a double star? 🌟🌟🌌

This double star observing guide gives you a range of choices for observing with your eyes alone. Or go further using binoculars or a telescope. Once you get used to spotting double stars, you’ll find them in constellations everywhere. Good luck, and clear skies!

Learn more about double stars and how to see them:
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/double-stars-observing-guide/

📸 The Big Dipper contains one of the most famous double stars. Image via Unsplash/ Nadiia Ploshchenko.

10/10/2024

A comet is a comin'!

Comet Tsuchinshan–Atlas

Scene in the west-southwest
40 minutes after sunset

Be sure to use binoculars!

Comet Tsuchinshan–Atlas engaged southern hemisphere skywatchers in mid to late September. It reached perihelion on Sep 27 as it entered deeper into the morning solar glare. How will it appear when it becomes more visible to northern hemisphere observers in the early evening after October 10? (Closest distance to Earth: 0.47 AU or 44 million miles is on Oct 12.)

Note:
• Brightness of coma.
• Length and curvature of dust tail.
• If an ion tail can be seen.

10/09/2024

DarkSky is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations so they can educate their communities about the importance of protecting night skies. We provide our chapters, members, volunteers, and the public with a variety of educational public outreach materials to help them make an even greater impact in their communities. These materials include brochures, infographics, postcards, and more, all available for free download in more than a dozen languages.

Visit https://bit.ly/4eCJZdg to check out these resources!

📷 Photo taken at Shield Ranch Barton Creek Urban Night Sky Place in Texas.

10/09/2024

We are thrilled to announce that AlUla Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserves have officially been designated as the first-ever International Dark Sky Park in Saudi Arabia! This incredible milestone recognizes the region’s exceptional dedication to preserving its pristine night skies, making it one of the world’s best destinations for stargazing.

Nestled in the stunning deserts of northwest Saudi Arabia, near the ancient city of AlUla, these reserves offer visitors the chance to experience incredible rock formations by day and thousands of stars lighting up the sky by night. With sustainable tourism and community education at the heart of this initiative, the Royal Commission for AlUla is working to protect this unique treasure from light pollution for future generations.

Join us in celebrating this momentous achievement and plan your next adventure to witness the magic of Saudi Arabia’s first International Dark Sky Park! ✨

https://bit.ly/4h53zAX

10/09/2024

Why become a DarkSky Member? As a member, you're part of a global community dedicated to preserving the beauty of natural darkness. Your support helps us restore the nighttime environment and protect communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.

DarkSky members enjoy a number of benefits, including a welcome packet with outreach items, special access to DarkSky virtual events, networking opportunities, discounted merchandise from our online store, and of course, Nightscape magazine! Don’t miss out and join the dark sky movement to protect the night!

For more information on how to become a DarkSky member, visit https://bit.ly/4bB7LFc

10/09/2024

As everyone celebrates World Habitat Day, we at DarkSky are of course focused on the night. Nocturnal habitats are vital for countless species, from owls to octopus, bats to bioluminescent worms. These creatures and the ecosystems they call home thrive under the cover of darkness, but they face increasing threats from artificial light and habitat loss.

Protecting these nighttime environments is essential not only for the wildlife that depends on them but also for the health of our planet. By preserving nocturnal habitats, we safeguard biodiversity and ensure that the rhythms of nature can continue uninterrupted.

Let's commit to protecting the night and nocturnal habitats.

https://bit.ly/3ZS39rh

10/09/2024

Aprende como Colorado esta haciendo planes para los parques y comunidades que se quieren reunir y usar las luces de noche mejor aquí con nosotros en A Colorado Road Yacht for Adventure.

People are increasingly discovering the magic of the night. With light pollution on the rise, places with dark, star-filled skies have become highly sought-after travel destinations.

Experiencing the wonders of pristine nighttime environments can be a powerful pathway to advocacy—it’s hard to protect what you’re not familiar with. While tourism can have many positive benefits, the harms of overtourism and irresponsible practices can have devastating effects on local environments and communities.

For this reason, DarkSky recognizes the need for clear guiding principles for this growing travel market—ensuring that dark sky experiences benefit communities, honor local knowledge and lifeways, and prioritize the protection of the nighttime environment.

Whether you are an individual traveler seeking dark sky experiences, an outdoor operator promoting nighttime activities, or a dark sky location or community, we invite you to learn more about these principles, as well as the research, conversations, and processes that informed their development.

Download PDF posters to share and read more about how Astrotourism can be a catalyst for positive change—helping protect nighttime environments worldwide.

Visit https://bit.ly/4eYVThH to read the Principles of Responsible Astrotourism.

10/09/2024

Comet Observing

Focus on Observing Programs Jim Kvasnicka – Prairie Astronomy Club Observing Chair

Comet Observing Program from the ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE

To some astronomers, there are no more wondrous and beautiful objects in the heavens as comets. Since the invention of the telescope, astronomers have searched the skies for these mysterious visitors. Comets are invisible – except when they are near the sun. As they approach it, they become active and exhibit several distinct features:

• Nucleus: About 10 km in diameter and relatively solid and stable. Composed mostly of ice and gas with a small amount of carboneous and silicate dust.

• Coma: Up to 80,000 km wide dense cloud composed of water, carbon dioxide, and other gases sublimed from the nucleus.

• Dust tail: Up to 10 million km long. Composed of dust particles driven off the nucleus by escaping gases.

• Ion tail: As much as a few hundred million kilometers in length. Composed of ionized gas and laced with rays and streamers caused by interactions with the solar wind.

As of February 2024, 4571 comets have been cataloged and their orbits at least roughly calculated. Of these, 471 are periodic comets (with orbital periods between 3.2 and 366 years). Some of the remainder are no doubt periodic as well, but their orbits have not been determined with sufficient accuracy to tell for sure.

Comets are sometimes called "dirty snowballs". They are a mixture of ices (both water and frozen gases) and silicate dust that wasn't incorporated into planets when the solar system formed. This makes them very interesting as samples of the early history of the solar system.

The Comet Observing Program has two levels of recognition:

Silver level: Observe at least 12 different comets. Two of them can have been observed prior to January 1, 2001.

Gold level: Observe at least 18 additional comets. Two of them can have been observed prior to January 1, 2001.

Your observations should include the standard information: Your name, date & time, comet name, telescope aperture, observing location, observing notes, and a sketch or image of the comet.

For complete details of Comet Observing Program from the Astronomical League:
https://www.astroleague.org/comet-observing-program/

10/03/2024

Moo Deng Madness!! ✨🦛✨ Pygmy hippos like Moo Deng are true creatures of the night! Mostly nocturnal, they stealthily navigate swamps and rivers after dark, avoiding the sun and foraging on land during the cool night hours. No sweat—literally! Since pygmy hippos don’t have sweat glands, they avoid the harsh sun by resting in water and producing a shiny, protective fluid that shields their sensitive skin from sunburn and infections. This unique substance, called "blood sweat," gives Moo Deng her beautiful glistening glow we all know and love.

While you probably do not have any pygmy hippos lurking in the woods and waters behind your home, let Moo Deng be a reminder that many creatures, big and small, glistening or dry, depend on the night. Help protect critical wildlife habitat by following DarkSky's 5 Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting at Night, and keep the night dark for our nocturnal friends. 🌙

https://bit.ly/3U0zrNy

09/30/2024

Me complace anunciar la finalización de mi viaje de un año a través del programa Colorado Tourism Leadership Journey. Fue una experiencia desafiante llena de desafios, momentos de alegría y también diversión sobre nuestro industria de turismo de Colorado y personas increíbles que se convirtieron en amigos y colegas de por vida. Estoy orgulloso de ser parte del crecimiento de Colorado.

Mi agencia A Colorado Road Yacht for Adventure se compromete a mejorar a Colorado. Usando enseñanzas de Leave No Trace y
Protegiendo la naturaleza.

Gracias,
Oficina de Turismo de Colorado, para hacer posible este viaje.

09/30/2024

I am pleased to announce the completion of my year-long journey through the Colorado Tourism Leadership Journey program. It was a challenging experience full of valuable knowledge about our state and amazing people who grew to be lifelong friends and colleagues. I am proud to be a part of Colorado's growth. Through my agency A Colorado Road Yacht for Adventure we pledge to Leave No Trace and

Thank you,
Colorado Tourism Office, for making this journey possible.

03/14/2024

https://idsw.darksky.org/pledge?recruiter_id=38106

This simple activity takes no time at all! Show the world your support for dark skies and the protection of nighttime environments by linking your name to the cause.