National Park Service Night Sky Team

It is so important for Three Rivers, and other foothill residents, to be sensitive about keeping the night sky dark. Please don’t put up bright lights that stay on all night. Use motion sensors so that lights are on only when needed! Be aware of the privilege we have been given to live in a place where we can see the Milky Way and all those beautiful stars for wishing.

Several years ago, Los Angeles had a blackout and residents could see the night sky for the very first time.  There was an avalanche of calls made to 911 with people reporting UFO’s and expressing great fear about all the lights in the sky!

What are Lightscapes? Read more here….

Did you know? Two–thirds of Americans cannot see the Milky Way from their backyard, and 99% of the population live in an area that scientists consider light polluted. The rate at which light pollution is increasing will leave almost no dark skies in the contiguous US by 2025.

A Dark Sky Over Sequoia National Park
[360 panoramic skyview from Mount Whitney, Summer 2009]
Credit: D. Duriscoe, C. Duriscoe, R. Pilewski, & L. Pilewski,
US National Park Service Night Sky Program

from the NPS website….about the Night Sky Team

The NPS Night Sky Team was formed in 1999 to address increasing alarm over the loss of night sky quality throughout the network of national parks; the team set out to quantify light pollution at four California parks.

To accomplish this, the team developed instrumentation and methods for measuring the brightness of the night sky and identifying light pollution sources.  Data inventories have now been collected at a number of NPS units. Team members often work closely with park staff who have taken initiative in protecting natural lightscapes. Though originally focused on the human visual perception of the night sky, capabilities have been broadened to include artificial light impacts to wildlife, cultural resource issues, facility lighting, and night sky interpretation.

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See these lovely constellation art pieces…
night sky art by Brooklyn artist, Jessica Marquez

More star-gazing in the summer night skies

Sponsored by the Sequoia Natural History Association…..

Friday, August 14 from 8:30 to 10 pm Join us to watch the Perseid Meteor Showers from the middle of Lake Kaweah near Three Rivers, California. Jupiter will be in opposition which is the best time to view the King Planet and its moons. This is a special floating astronomy trip in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy*. Cost is $20 for adults and childdren. Call 559-561-4251 to reserve a space.

Wednesday, August 19 from 8-9 pm “Splendors in the Night Sky”
Join photographer, Wally Pacholka, on a celestial visual tour of our National Parks via his dazzling night sky images! Learn how he is able to capture his beautiful photographs and ask questions that may aid you in creating your own.  Program will be held at Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park. Tickets are $10/adult and $5/child, available at Wucksachi Lodge or by calling 550-561-4070.

Twin Lakes with the Milky Way and Jupiter

Haleakala Galactic Rainbow Panorama

Images © Wally Pacholka, prints for sale at www.astropics.com
Single exposure photographs, no photoshop used here.
His current project is blazing around the West’s bevy of beautiful national parks
for some late-night sky collaborations with the stars.  When people ask if these images are really, Wally answers, “Just tell them NASA has published 33 of my images which they can see on any search engine.” (use these search terms APOD, Pacholka)

*The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) is a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture and marks the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei.  The aim of the Year is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people, in astronomy and science under the central theme “The Universe, Yours to Discover”.  IYA2009 events and activities will promote a greater appreciation of the inspirational aspects of astronomy that embody an invaluable shared resource for all nations.

Google is honoring today’s 40 year remembering
of first human feet on moon surface with this image.

Star-gazing this Saturday at Dry Creek Preserve

The Sequoia Riverland Trust is sponsoring a star gazing series at the Dry Creek Preserve on Saturday, July 18, from 8:30-10:30 pm.  Several large telescopes will be on hand, and amateur astronomer Dave Adalian and others from the Tulare Astronomical Association will answer questions on the stars and planets, the constellations, and the universe. For details go to the Trust’s website event link where you will find more details about this particular event. Another stargazing evening is also planned for this Fall on October 24.

The Dry Creek Preserve is located near Lemon Cove. From Visalia, travel east on Highway 198 to Highway 216.  Follow Highway 216 west toward Woodlake one-half mile and turn right (north) on Dry Creek Road. The preserve is located two miles down on your right.

pasture near Dry Creek