Tell us what you can see on the longest night, help us map Australia\u2019s light pollution, and set a world record\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Scientists are asking all Australians to step outside on the longest night of the year to help them measure light pollution around the country.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re expecting thousands of people to join us on Australia\u2019s longest night, Sunday 21 June, to help researchers create a map of Australia\u2019s darkest skies, and learn about light pollution and its effect on people, animals, and astronomy,\u201d says Marnie Ogg, CEO and founder of the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance.<\/p>\n \u201cTogether, our observations will map how light pollution varies across Australia\u2019s cities and regions, and make a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS\u2122 attempt for \u2018Most users to take an online environmental sustainability lesson in 24 hours\u2019,\u201d says Marnie.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Australian night sky is amazing. Our galaxy, The Milky Way, is painted across the sky. It\u2019s a view that encourages us to wonder what\u2019s out there, amongst the billions of stars. It\u2019s a view that encourages kids to take up science and physics. But most Australians can\u2019t see it, their view of the sky is blinded by light pollution,\u201d says astronomer Professor Lisa Kewley, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) who are supporting the project.<\/p>\n \u201cLight pollution doesn\u2019t just disrupt our view of The Milky Way. It disturbs wildlife, disrupts people\u2019s sleep, and represents wasted electricity,\u201d says Marnie. \u201cYou can help us understand how light at night affects wildlife,\u201d says wildlife ecologist Dr Jen Martin from The University of Melbourne. \u201cFor example, light pollution from cities distracts bogong moths as they migrate from Queensland to Victoria\u2019s alpine regions. If they don\u2019t arrive on time, the endangered mountain pygmy possums that depend on them for food will starve.\u201d<\/p>\n The project is supported by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, which has produced The National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife. Other supporters include ASTRO 3D, AstroNZ, Bintel, ICRAR, Globe at Night, Unihedron, ANU, the International Dark Sky Alliance, Laing Simmons & Young, Waiheke Island Dark Sky Park and Dark Sky Traveller.<\/p>\n The GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS attempt starts from 1pm AEST on Sunday 21 June 2020 and follows nightfall around the world. All the submissions will be added to the international database of Globe at Night and participants from across the planet are welcome to take part.<\/p>\n For more information and to register, visit https:\/\/worldrecordlight.thinkific.com\/<\/p>\n Media contacts: <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Who has the darkest skies? Tell us what you can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":27015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-27018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-outreach"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\u201cThe information will help councils plan for darker skies and create opportunities for tourism,\u201d says Marnie. \u201cDark sky parks and tours are already popping up around the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Tanya Ha: tanya@scienceinpublic.com.au, +61 404 083 863
\n\u2022 Marnie Ogg: info@darkskytraveller.com.au, +61 417 689 003<\/p>\n