1. RLEP DARK SKIES INITIATIVE
RLEP Annual Meeting
November 22, 2014

2. What?
Encourage Rappahannock citizens to reduce use of artificial light at night

3. WHAT? (Cont’d)

4. WHAT? (Cont’d)

5. WHAT? (Cont’d)
Milky Way at SNP

6. WHY (in general)? Injury to wildlife; e.g.,
Disruption of reproduction, endocrine, communication & migratory systems
Birds crashing into illuminated tall buildings
Unnecessary energy expenditures & associated pollution/increased carbon
Interference with astrological hobby/study & human sleep
But these effects are arguably minimal in Rappahannock,
so . . .

7. WHY in RAPPAHANNOCK? Clear night sky is a key scenic value
Central to RLEP mission of “keeping it natural”
Central to County Charter’s goal of preserving scenic values
Important (half the daily cycle is night!)
Opportunity to teach about nature
Dark sky is easily wrecked (white rug effect)
Rappahannock is not perfect
Easier to prevent than remedy (and we‘re surrounded!)
Consider . . .

8. WHY in RAPPAHANNOCK? (cont’d)
Before and after, turning on lights at one farmstead

9. WHY in RAPPAHANNOCK? (cont’d)
Lights on our doorstep!

10. WHY in RAPPAHANNOCK? (cont’d)
View from Long Mountain Road

11. WHY in RAPPAHANNOCK? (cont’d)
View over Red Oak Mountain

12. HOW? Education Fund to defray cost of shields
Needs to be part of every environmental initiative . . .
We don’t protect what we don’t appreciate; we won’t appreciate what we don’t understand
Newspaper, website, lectures, presentations to/work with BOS & other County leaders
Get technical advice from science-based orgs; e.g., Smithsonian, NASM, Boston Museum of Science (which has a Dark Skies programs with Smithsonian/Harvard Astrophysics Observatory, and the Hayden Planetarium in NY).
Involve schools? Astronomy club, etc?
Goal: get the conversation going so citizens may rethink turning on/purchasing night lights
Fund to defray cost of shields
e.g., $20 or 75% of shield cost until fund is exhausted
Promote REC program to supply shields for yard lights

13. Glare From Unshielded Lights

14. Shield Example

15. CONCLUSION (Milky Way Bending Over Big Meadows – Shields Installed)

16. THE END
Thanks!
Questions or Comments?