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Financial Times (12 August 2016)

8/13/2016

Bright times for dark skies

On a night flight across Asia, you are likely to enjoy peering out of the window at the orange haze of Beijing, or the multicoloured riot of lights that is Tokyo, or the golden arteries of southern China’s Pearl River Delta. But these brilliant spectacles come at a price. While skyglow attests to rapid and sophisticated urban development, it also means that tens of millions of people in cities across the world never truly witness the sky at night. As light pollution has become an increasing blight, scientists and astronomers have been fighting back, and Asia is the latest frontier in the quest to develop more dark sky parks.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a US non-profit organisation based in Arizona, established its Dark Sky Places programme in 2001. The aim was to encourage different regions of the world to find ways to protect the night skies above them. The IDA considers pitches for particular sites worldwide, and then works with local representatives to ensure the areas remain protected before gaining an official status.

Though much of the IDA’s work to date has focused on the US and Europe, “Asia is slowly but steadily rising in terms of importance of what we do,” says the IDA’s programme manager John Barentine, a professional astronomer based in Arizona.

CBS This Morning (12 August 2016)

8/13/2016

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Why Grand Canyon's new distinction is "life-changing" for stargazers

With its red rocks and roaming Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is stunning enough by day. But seeing the park in daylight is only half the story as we watched astronomers gathered for a "Star Party." They set up high-powered telescopes to stare deep into outer space.

It's an event that's historic this summer, because the Grand Canyon was just named the newest park to be certified as "Dark Sky," only the 12th national park to earn the distinction. A rigorous process through the International Dark-Sky Association, whose mission to protect the natural sky from man-made glare, leads to this official designation, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor.

"It is a big deal. I mean, you're talking about one of the most well-known national parks in the world. And now to have added something like this is a huge accomplishment for this park. We're very excited," said John Barentine of the International Dark-Sky Association.

Watch: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/grand-canyon-star-party-dark-sky-designation/

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Washington Post (8 August 2016)

8/8/2016

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Want to see the Perseids? These are the best places to see meteors near D.C.

[T]he great thing about the Perseids is that it’s such a reliable meteor shower. Even during an average year the meteors are numerous, and they also happen to be brighter than other showers, which increases your chance of seeing them.

Now for the bad news.

“When [astronomers] quote a number, that assumes you are in a place that has very little light pollution, and that’s now almost impossible to find on the East Coast.” said John Barentine, the program manager at the International Dark Sky Association.

He said only in the darkest regions of the country will you see as many as what’s being estimated. The rest of us near urban or suburban areas need to temper our expectations a little. “You’re going to see the brightest and it will only be a handful a few per hour — maybe 10,” Barentine predicted. “That’s a ballpark estimate.”

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Page, Arizona Chronicle (3 August 2016)

8/4/2016

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A stellar idea — dark skies could boost Page

The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and the Glen Canyon Natural History Association invited two dark sky and astro-tourism experts to Page last week to educate the residents of Page and the Page City Council about the possible benefits of bringing astro-tourism to our area.

Last Tuesday night, John Barentine, program manager for the International Dark Sky Association, and Nate Ament gave a two-hour presentation to the public explaining how a dark-sky designation for Glen Canyon and Page could increase our tourism without compromising our safety and laid out the nuts and bolts of how it could be implemented. They presented the Page City Council with a condensed version of the same program the following night during the city council’s work session.

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Media Appearances

Financial Times (12 August 2016)

Bright times for dark skies

Read more: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0dfcad38-5f46-11e6-ae3f-77baadeb1c93.html

CBS This Morning (12 August 2016)

Why Grand Canyon's new distinction is "life-changing" for stargazers

Washington Post (8 August 2016)

Want to see the Perseids? These are the best places to see meteors near D.C.

Page, Arizona Chronicle (3 August 2016)

A stellar idea — dark skies could boost Page

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