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Iceland chooses darkness

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17 years 6 months ago #33294 by albertw
Iceland chooses darkness was created by albertw
www.aftenposten.no/english/world/article1474652.ece

Iceland chooses darkness
The lights are going out in Iceland this week so people can gaze at the
night sky.

Authorities in the capital Reykjavik will turn off street lights on
Thursday evening and people are also being encouraged to sit in their
houses in the dark, writer Andri Snaer Magnason said on Wednesday. While
the lights are out, an astronomer will describe the night sky over
national radio.

The event is part of a film festival taking place on the small north
Atlantic island, which gets most of its electricity from abundant thermal
energy. The lights are due to go off at 10 p.m. (2200 GMT), about two
hours after nightfall, for half an hour.

Magnason said the capital's population of around 250,000 might be able to
see the Northern Lights, a flickering curtain of light often seen in
northern climes which is caused by solar particles being caught in the
Earth's magnetic field. Two other Icelandic towns will also turn off their
lights.

Blindly posted to:
CFDS@yahoogroups.com,
OutdoorLighting-Forum@yahoogroups.com,
DarkSky-list@yahoogroups.com

Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/

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17 years 6 months ago #33296 by dave_lillis
Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: Iceland chooses darkness
Didnt the university there close its observatory due to permanent cloud cover, they actually get more cloud cover then we do.

Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)

Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go. :)
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor

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17 years 6 months ago #33297 by Seanie_Morris
Replied by Seanie_Morris on topic Re: Iceland chooses darkness
You know, if I had my own jet, I'd make the trip over just to see what this would be like. I would love to see somehthing similar done over here...

Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.

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17 years 6 months ago #33328 by voyager
Replied by voyager on topic Re: Iceland chooses darkness
This is an exceptionally cool idea!

I don't think I've ever seen a more extreme example of an Astronomy out-reach program!

Bart.

My Home Page - www.bartbusschots.ie

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17 years 5 months ago #33603 by galactus
Replied by galactus on topic Re: Iceland chooses darkness
Hi first post here. Long-time sky-watcher though.

Its an outstanding idea. Hopefully it might catch on in Ireland (we live in hope).

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  • albertw
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17 years 5 months ago #33614 by albertw
Replied by albertw on topic Re: Iceland chooses darkness

Hi first post here. Long-time sky-watcher though.

Its an outstanding idea. Hopefully it might catch on in Ireland (we live in hope).


Unlikley on that scale but the idea is being scoped out.

Cheers,
~Al

Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/

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