5 January 2007
COUNT THE STARS CAMPAIGN TO SAVE DARK SKIES
People in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes are being urged to join a
nationwide survey to find out how far light pollution is preventing us
from seeing dark skies full of stars. The smaller the number of visible stars, the greater the light pollution.
Light pollution comes from a range of sources, particularly street
lighting, security lamps, industrial estates and floodlit sports
grounds. Light spreading into the sky is wasted energy, valued at
£100 million each year. Light pollution increased by 24% between
1993 and 2000, reducing the amount of truly dark skies over England by
a quarter. The new survey will provide information about whether
things are getting better or worse.
Last month CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, and the British
Astronomical Association asked people to count the stars visible in a
particular part of the sky on any evening between 20 and 24
December.
But unbroken cloud across much of the country on those nights meant
that many people could not take part.
CPRE Buckinghamshire, which covers Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes,
is urging people to take part on one of the fall-back dates for the
survey, which is any night between 8pm and midnight from 14 to 21
January. Guidance on what to do is available on a link from CPRE Buckinghamshire's website.
CPRE Buckinghamshire's Chairman, Peter Cleasby, said:
"This is a bit of fun for everyone, which is a good way of learning
more about the stars and also contributes to an important campaign to
save the quality of our environment."
Notes to Editors:
1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a
national charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity
of rural England by advocating positive solutions for the long-term
future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, CPRE has 60,000 supporters
nationally and a branch in every county. The Buckinghamshire
Branch, with over 500 individual and 75 corporate members, covers the
areas administered by Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes
Council.
2. Information about CPRE's national campaigning on light pollution is available on the national website.
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