Inyo County Dark Sky Group (ICDSG) Announces its Formation
(Press release)
A group of Inyo County citizens has formed the Inyo County Dark Sky Group (ICDSG) to encourage practices and policies that minimize artificial lighting. These policies and practices will enhance 1) the health and safety of the public, 2) animal habitats, 3) night sky viewing and 4) the economy of Inyo County. One of the group’s goals is to encourage Inyo County to enact a Dark Sky Lighting Ordinance.
ICDSG’s mission statement is to preserve and protect dark skies.
Over our lifetimes, artificial lighting has steadily increased.
Sky glow, trespass lighting, bright lights and glare not only waste energy and money, but also degrade our quality of life. A growing body of scientific evidence points to the negative impact of artificial light on human health, plants and animals.
Lighting practices are being implemented in towns and cities around the world that maintain public safety and preserve the dark sky. We encourage Inyo County residents, businesses and government agencies to protect dark sky by recognizing its benefits to our communities. As one of our natural resource wonders, it should be protected.
For more information contact us at: [email protected] or visit us on the website: inyosky.com
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Very few places other than remote global locations offer quick access to semi-dark sky locations in the Owens Valley and greater Inyo County. Las Vegas, the Antelope Valley/LA Basin glow and to a lessor extent, the San Joaquin valley towns all put about a 10% reduction of dark sky availablilty in the southern Owens Valley (Lone Pine/Keeler/Darwin avg.) compared to an even darker sky location – The northern WHITE MOUNTAINS (!) or truly oceanic locations. Despite some people (Bob commenting above perhaps?) not desiring to see the Milky Way (etc.!) at night… (a friend in LA says he has never see it!) …contrast that to Inyo County – it is there *every clear* night, incredibly. Consider this a luxury for star watchers. Despite some somewhat personal chat above, this is a rarer “experience” nationwide. However, even tiny Keeler and tniier Darwin suffer from “insecurtity Lights” that offer nothing but increased light trespass. Keeler has worsened since I move thee in 1999 but plan on departing in 2018 at long last, for greener pastures, literally. I will miss the dark skies but not the local-environmental decay and land-decay thanks to the OLDMP quarries nearby and the ruined anyon-sacrifice to put rock out on the playa, (overall) sorry to saym tho to give good credit too, it has helped the air quality in the OV overall, by far, so some give and take happened there. But, I have enjoyed the dark skies, especially mild Summer nights staring at Sagittarious/Scorpious in full glory. Please help preserve this rare and marvelous “experience” dare say “resource.” SpM
It’s a total waste of energy to be directing light upward into the sky. It’s a simple fix, use streetlights with shields that reflect most of the light downward where its needed.
…Bob…If I wanted to live in the dark,I’d move to Washington D.C.
If I wanted to live in the dark, I’d move to North Korea!
If I wanted to live in the bright lights, I’d move to Los Angeles!
Great news. May I humbly suggest asking LADWP to put a skirt or shade on their two new streetlights installed last summer in Independence. The new streetlights shine brightly over large areas of northern Independence, while they perhaps increase safety they pretty much ruined looking at the night sky in that area. Just a simple shade so the light shines on the street only.
Thankyou for your time.