Look up - Skies above Crater Lake are clear, too
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, OR
September 25, 2003
For more than 100 years Crater Lake's blue waters have been
regarded as a world wonder.
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Now Crater Lake is ranked by the National Park Service as one of
the system's top 10 spots for star-gazing.
The park service's "dark sky team" said the absence of light
pollution from cities and suburbs provides excellent conditions
for amateur astronomers.
Owen Hoffman, a former Crater Lake park ranger and member of the
Crater Lake Institute, said Crater Lake and other national parks
are "also major destinations for tourists in general, many of
whom have little knowledge of the night sky. Thus, a perfect
opportunity is created in national parks for the public and the
amateur astronomer to meet."
Hoffman said that when amateur astronomers share their time,
knowledge and equipment with a public curious enough to stay out
after dark, the activity is often referred to as "sidewalk
astronomy."
Sidewalk astronomy was a focus last month of the Crater Lake
Institute, a non-profit public service organization formed in
1995 by former park ranger-naturalists. Hoffman said the event
was especially popular with guests of the Crater Lake Lodge,
including many first-time star watchers.
Hoffman said the Crater Lake Institute encourages amateur
astronomers to "serve in our outstanding natural areas as
volunteer sidewalk astronomers and promote public enjoyment of
dark skies above our sacred lands."
- Lee Juillerat
On the Net:
www.parktrust.org/parklandnews/articles/DarkNightSkies.htm.