Dark Skies in focus on Astronomy Day

The invention of electric light pushed back the dark and allowed the extension of active life into the nighttime.

This isn't an entirely good thing, scientists will tell you. Visitors to National Astronomy Day activities at Sisters High School learned about the importance of darkness through the movie "The City Dark," and presentations by David Ingram, chairman of Dark Skies Northwest (the regional chapter of the International Dark Sky Association).

Ingram noted that dark skies matter to everyone, not just astronomers. Habitat and wildlife suffer disruption from constant light and humans find their sleeping patterns deranged. Dark skies are beneficial, and advocates have succeeded in passing dark skies ordinances that regulate the dispersion of light (Sisters has one). Dark skies ordinances preserve the beneficial dark and also save energy.