April 3, 2009 -- France aims to set up Europe's first "anti-light-pollution reserve" to help preserve the night sky for a historic observatory in the Pyrenees, it was announced Friday. The goal is to establish a zone with a radius of six to nine miles around the 130-year-old Pic du Midi mountain observatory so that views of the cosmos are not spoiled by intrusive light on the ground. The first steps will be made on June 11, when local villages sign a charter to regulate street lighting to ensure it does not trespass on viewing, said Sebastien Vauclair, an astrophysicist who is deputy chairman of a group that has been campaigning for the move. The goal is to eventually qualify for certification under the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), which claims a following among thousands of astronomers and educators in more than 70 countries in a campaign to curb light pollution. Related Content:
Excessive or wasteful lighting is a bane to astronomers as it casts a glare that blots out the faint glimmer from stars and planets. Light pollution also has a damaging effect on the natural environment, disrupting migration and mating among nocturnal species. Getting IDA certification is a demanding process that could take several years, but it could be a useful spur for tourism at the observatory, which has been open to the public since 2000, local officials say. The announcement coincided with a worldwide initiative, "100 Hours of Astronomy," which runs until Sunday with hundreds of grassroots events. It is a cornerstone event of the International Year of Astronomy, which commemorates the 400th anniversary of sightings by Galileo that revolutionized our understanding of the universe. Related Links: Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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