CU Boulder astrophysical professor gives tips on how to enjoy Colorado’s dark sky month
DENVER (KDVR) — June in Colorado is celebrated annually as “Dark Sky Month,” thanks to a 2021 proclamation by Gov. Jared Polis, and a University of Colorado professor emerita is giving some tips on how residents can enjoy the night sky from their backyards.
Erica Ellingson, professor emerita of astrophysical and planetary sciences at CU Boulder, told CU Boulder Today that the next couple of months will be “perfect” to look at Colorado’s night skies. Organizations like Dark Skies International have certified 15 Colorado parks and cities as official “Dark Sky Places,” but Ellingson said you can still enjoy the night sky without making the trek to one of those locations.
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One of the main issues preventing those in the city from seeing the stars is light pollution, which is excess light that radiates from things like streetlights, building lights (both interior and exterior), offices, factories and sporting venues. Even man-made items outside the Earth’s atmosphere, like satellites, also contribute to light pollution, according to Ellington.
According to a 2016 study, “World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness,” published in the journal Science Advances, 80% of the Earth’s population live under sky glow and 99% don’t experience a natural night.
Ellington said light pollution prevents many from ever seeing the stars.
“In most of the United States, and even worldwide, many people have never seen the Milky Way, or have never seen more than a few stars,” Ellington said. “We are losing a really, really old heritage—being able to walk outside and wonder at the stars.”
For those on the Front Range, Ellington says there are many options to see the constellations. She recommends that sky-gazers move away from light domes that surround Denver, Boulder and other larger cities.
“Sometimes, if you just go up the Peak to Peak Highway, the Flatirons in the foothills can block some of that light, and you can view darker skies,” Ellington said.
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She remarked on the further away Rocky Mountain National Park, which she said offers some star-gazing, but it isn’t the best location for watching the cosmos.
“Rocky Mountain National Park doesn’t have super dark skies because it’s close to Denver, but it’s certainly better than what you’ll find in any of the cities or suburbs,” the professor said.
DarkSky International offers a locater for all its certified Dark Sky locations, which includes 15 Colorado locations.
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