Help StarWatch

StarWatch is a Canada-wide experiment in which citizens measure night sky brightness levels during the Earth Hour lights out event, and then shortly after the lights are turned back on.

The Question:

Will Earth Hour help you see more stars?

The Experiment:

Volunteers count stars they can see in the Little Dipper during Earth Hour and again when the lights come on.

When: 8:45 and 9:15, Saturday March 29th.

The times need to be as close together as possible so the only variable, or thing that changes, is the lights.

Where: Your yard, the sidewalk, a playing field… wherever, as long as you have a postal code.

Why: Change in sky brightness is an indicator of the amount energy wasted through light pollution.

Your data makes a difference. Here’s how to participate.

http://www.redshiftnow.ca/starwatch/howto.aspx

On March 29th, you can help. It's easy. Print out one of our star charts for the Little Dipper and record which stars are visible in your night sky during Earth Hour and then again once the lights are back on. Submit your results online and see your data appear on our night sky map of Canada!

What you'll need:

• a view to the North
• a printout of this Little Dipper star chart (You'll need the free Acrobat Reader to view or print the document.)
• a pencil

Instructions:

1. Turn out your lights at 8 p.m., it’s Earth Hour!
2. Head outside with your Little Dipper star chart and pencil. (You'll need the free Acrobat Reader to view or print the document.)
3. Find an unobstructed view of the sky to the North.

Locate the Big Dipper, high in the northern sky.	Trace an imaginary line connecting the two end stars of the bowl of the Big Dipper. Extend this line until you reach a moderately bright star. This is Polaris, the North Star.

Starting at Polaris, go along the handle and around the bowl to identify the stars of the Little Dipper. How many can you see?	At 8:45, count thee stars that you can see that form the Little Dipper. Use your pencil to circle them on your star chart. Be sure to record the date, time and location of your observation. At 9:15, repeat your observation. On the same sheet, place an ‘x’ next to the stars visible in the Little Dipper. Record the time.

9. Return to www.RedShiftNow.ca/starwatch/ and submit your data online.

Observing tips and tricks

• Optimize your night vision by allowing your eyes 15 minutes to adjust to the dark. Use this time to get yourself oriented by finding the Little Dipper.
• Shield your eyes from any direct light sources—bright lights will spoil your night vision.
• If you need a flashlight, tape a piece of brown paper bag or red tissue paper across the lens of a regular flashlight. This will dim the light and preserve your night vision.

Earth Hour events

• Ontario Science Centre celebrates Earth Hour with free activities: environmentally themed storytelling; music and art; telescopic observations of Mars and Saturn; dancing to the stars with an Earth Hour DJ set and more. Mar. 29 from 8 p.m. 770 Don Mills Rd. 416-696-3127 or OntarioScienceCentre.ca.
  

Bystanders are also welcome to do the "Twist" and produce enough human-generated power to light up CFL and LED lights, and even transistor radios, using "disco-generators." Brothers Lorrie and Lloyd Matchett will be demonstrating the invention starting at 5:30 p.m. and all evening outside the Science Centre.

• Earth Hour at the Observatory features astrophysicist Tom Bolton's lecture "Light Pollution — How Richmond Hill Tamed the Light Bulb" at 7 p.m., plus a tour of the facility's Administrative Building. That's followed at 8 p.m. with some outdoor telescopic viewing and tours of the night sky, and a sacred aboriginal ceremony with David Grey Eagle and his People. David Dunlap Observatory, 123 Hillsview Dr. Richmond Hill. savetheddo.org.

• Light your house with clear Christmas LED energy-efficient lights all year long.
• Put air in your tires. Well-inflated tires save gas and stay in good shape for a longer period.
• Make fewer left turns. You'll spend less time idling in the turn lane.
• Don't limit yourself to a green bin in your kitchen. Keep one in your bathroom and recycle used tissues, toenail clippings, etc.
• Get in shape and run your electronics at the same time. Hook up a generator to your exercise bike (Google it to get instructions) and power things like computers, toasters and blenders.
• Avoid washing some of your clothing altogether – really. Do this with jeans; you'll run your washer and dryer less, and it will mean expensive jeans will mould to your body and take longer to fade.
• Buy a smaller home. They require less energy to heat and cool.

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