Point Reyes Residents Push for Darker Skies

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KQED

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 14 September 2023

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Point Reyes may be known for its cows and lighthouse, but locals also want it to become a destination for darkness. Residents have petitioned to certify part of Marin County as a Dark Sky Reserve. But, persuading some people to dim their lights has turned out to be a challenge. Those efforts are just one part of an international movement to reduce light pollution and preserve dark skies. While the invention of the lightbulb – less than 150 years ago – changed the course of human history, excessive use of artificial light has become a nuisance that disrupts the wellbeing of humans, wildlife, and the planet. We’ll talk about light pollution, stargazing and the benefits of darker skies. Guests: Josh Riedel, author of the novel "Please Report Your Bug Here" and the recent article "Saving the Night Sky," which was published in Esquire magazine John Barentine, astronomer and founder, Dark Sky Consulting, LLC; former director of public policy, International Dark Sky Association Peggy Day, Point Reyes Station resident and dark-sky advocate; cofounder, DarkSky West Marin Don Jolley, astronomy teacher and storyteller, DarkSky West Marin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Support for KQED podcasts comes from San Francisco International Airport.
0:05.3	You can fly back in time and visit SFO's Aviation Museum and Library to learn about the history of commercial aviation.
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0:17.0	Support for forum comes from Broadway SF, presenting Parade, the musical revival based on a true story.
0:24.8	From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of Leo and Lucille Frank,
0:31.2	a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is accused of an
0:36.9	unspeakable crime, it propels them into an
0:39.7	unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and devotion. The riveting and gloriously hopeful
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0:53.6	on sale now at Broadwaysf.com.
0:58.1	From KQED.
1:15.6	From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal. For thousands of years, up until about 100 years ago, nighttime meant darkness, real, true
1:21.6	darkness.
1:22.6	The kind of dark where you feel more than see where your hands are, where thousands of stars
1:27.8	are visible, and the Milky Way is painted across the sky.
1:31.6	But we're losing dark places.
1:33.3	Most Americans can barely see the stars where they live.
1:36.6	In West Marin, a group of Point Reyes residents are trying to preserve and even extend the
1:41.9	darkness they have.
1:43.4	They're working to certify part of Marin County
1:45.4	as a dark sky reserve. But battling light pollution isn't easy. We'll talk about the tools we've got
1:51.3	and how they might work here in the Bay Area. That's coming up next after this news.
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