Telescope Reviews: New Video Hightlights Importance of Dark Skies

Here is a new press release from IDA, which I have permission to post here:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

27 February 2013 – The International Dark-Sky Association in collaboration with Loch Ness Productions, a U.S.-based fulldome show production company, announces the availability of a new free-for-download video highlighting the issues regarding light pollution. It’s called “Losing the Dark.”

The 6.5-minute public service announcement is being distributed as a fulldome video for digital planetarium theaters, and as a high-definition video for use in traditional planetarium theaters, science centers, classrooms, and streaming from the Web.

The show illustrates problems caused by light pollution, with particular emphasis on how it affects night-sky visibility. Carolyn Collins Petersen, CEO of Loch Ness Productions, points out the domed theater is the ideal environment for the show’s message. “Planetariums champion the night sky already,” she said. “They tap into public awareness, so their audiences are a prime demographic for this message. The show gives planetarium professionals another tool to help educate the public about this critical issue. The HD version extends the message to more people through presentations by educators and dark-sky advocates.”

The simple solutions offered in the show for mitigating light pollution remind everyone it is not too late to save the starry sky. Bob Parks, IDA Executive Director said, “Everyone who views Losing the Dark can see how easy it is to make wise choices about outdoor lighting, and that together we can work to restore the night sky to its former glory.”

Losing the Dark is available on IDA’s YouTube channel, and can be downloaded from its Web site. Digital planetarium theater operators can preview and download the fulldome version from the Loch Ness Productions Web site. The show is produced in English, but translations are underway that will allow the program to reach a worldwide audience.

Major donations from Starmap (www.star-map.fr) and the Fred Maytag Family Foundation funded the “Losing the Dark” video. The project was launched with seed money from the International Planetarium Society (www.ips-planetarium.org), and donations from IDA members.

Media Inquiries:
Scott Kardel, International Dark-Sky Association, wskardel@darksky.org +1 520 293 3198

Carolyn Collins Petersen, Loch Ness Productions, ltd@lochnessproductions.com +1 303 642 7250

“Losing the Dark” on the International Dark-Sky Association Web site: www.darksky.org/losingthedark

“Losing the Dark” on the Loch Ness Productions Web site: www.lochnessproductions.com/losingthedark