nroath
09-14-2007, 04:33 PM
Night Sky Education and Protection is Focus for
New Mexico State Parks 'Reach for the Stars' Program
Submitted by: Erica Asmus-Otero - (505) 660-7017 Erica.asmus-otero@state.nm.us
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/hgast_galaxies_audience_400x388.jpg align=center vspace=4>
SANTA FE, NM – Governor Bill Richardson has proclaimed September 14, 2007 as “New Mexico Dark Sky Appreciation” night in order to bring attention to the beauty of New Mexico’s night sky and to educate the public about the importance of protecting the dark night sky from light pollution.
“New Mexico’s dark night sky is a precious resource that should be enjoyed and must be protected,” said State Parks Director Dave Simon. “Every household and business can help by reducing<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/barred_spiral_galaxy.jpg align=right hspace=4> excessive outdoor nighttime lighting—and save energy at the same time.”
In conjunction with the Governor’s Proclamation, New Mexico State Parks will host a number of star parties this weekend and for the remainder of September, through its “Reach for the Stars” program:
• Brantley Lake State Park – Saturday, Sept 15 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Caballo Lake State Park - Saturday, Sept 15 from 8:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
• City of Rocks State Park - Saturday, Sept 15 from 8:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
• Oliver Lee Memorial State Park (Celestial Cycles: Fall Equinox) – Saturday, Sept 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park (Harvest Moon Walk) – Wednesday, Sept 26 from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance (NMHPA) and El Valle Astronomers are also hosting the first “Southwest Night Sky Conference” in Taos from September 13 though September 15. <img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/blackeye_galaxy.jpg align=left hspace=4>The conference includes presentations on night sky protection policy and progressive lighting technology, and will also include star viewing through telescopes. For information on the NMHPA and the conference, visit www.nmheritage.org or call (505) 989-3696.
Initiated in 2004, the New Mexico State Parks “Reach for the Stars” program is a multi-faceted effort that promotes the night sky as a valuable educational, tourism and economic resource, while encouraging the protection of New Mexico’s night sky from<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/hoags_object_galaxy.jpg align=right hspace=4> light pollution. The program includes: over 100 night sky programs per year; staff and volunteer training; investment in park astronomy observatories; public education about light pollution prevention; and reduction of light pollution within state parks.
In 2006, the program won the NMHPA’s “Nebula Award,” which recognizes extraordinary innovation in a program, project, or product that contributes significantly to the protection and preservation of New Mexico's night skies.
Since 2005, observatories have been constructed at two state parks in New Mexico – City of Rocks and Clayton Lake State Parks. <img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/pinwheel_galaxy.jpg align=left hspace=4>The Division also retrofitted Oasis State Park with efficient outdoor lighting that protects the night sky and is installing innovative solar-powered LED lighting along park trails to save energy and reduce light pollution.
For more information on the New Mexico State Parks “Reach for the Stars” program, or to see a schedule of star parties throughout the year, visit www.nmparks.com or contact Steve Cary at (505) 476-3386 or steve.cary@state.nm.us.
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/sombrero_galaxy.jpg align=center vspace=4>
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/whirlpool_galaxy.jpg align=left hspace=4>To emphasize the importance of the Night Sky program to protect New Mexico's dark skies and it’s economic contribution to our state, Steppin Out has obtained a 3 minute IMAX video from the Hubble Telescope program and downsized it to make it available to our visitors. This video is designed to be shown on the large domed ceiling of an IMAX theater. Yet, even downsized over 100 times for the web, it is still very impressive.
We’ve created four versions of the film to fit the download capabilities of either dial-up or broadband visitors. One of these videos should be viewable for MAC, PC or Linux visitors using either Windows Media Player (on PCs or MACs (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/windowsmediaplayerformacosx.html)) or Real Player (on PC, MAC, or Linux (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed)).
To view this video, find your Internet connection method and favorite video player in the list below and click that link. Make sure your speakers are on!
For Windows Media Player
Hubble Galaxies Tour for Dial-up Visitors with Windows Media Player (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/video/Hubble_Galaxies/Hubble_Galaxies_034k.wmv) on a MAC (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/windowsmediaplayerformacosx.html) or PC
Hubble Galaxies Tour for Broadband Visitors with Windows Media Player (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/video/Hubble_Galaxies/Hubble_Galaxies_150k.wmv) on a MAC (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/windowsmediaplayerformacosx.html) or PC
For Real Player
Hubble Galaxies Tour for Broadband Visitors with Real Player (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/video/Hubble_Galaxies_034k.ram) on MAC (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed), PC (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed) or Linux (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed)
Hubble Galaxies Tour for Broadband Visitors with Real Player (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/video/Hubble_Galaxies_150k.ram) on MAC (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed), PC (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed) or Linux (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed)
Enjoy!
New Mexico State Parks 'Reach for the Stars' Program
Submitted by: Erica Asmus-Otero - (505) 660-7017 Erica.asmus-otero@state.nm.us
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/hgast_galaxies_audience_400x388.jpg align=center vspace=4>
SANTA FE, NM – Governor Bill Richardson has proclaimed September 14, 2007 as “New Mexico Dark Sky Appreciation” night in order to bring attention to the beauty of New Mexico’s night sky and to educate the public about the importance of protecting the dark night sky from light pollution.
“New Mexico’s dark night sky is a precious resource that should be enjoyed and must be protected,” said State Parks Director Dave Simon. “Every household and business can help by reducing<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/barred_spiral_galaxy.jpg align=right hspace=4> excessive outdoor nighttime lighting—and save energy at the same time.”
In conjunction with the Governor’s Proclamation, New Mexico State Parks will host a number of star parties this weekend and for the remainder of September, through its “Reach for the Stars” program:
• Brantley Lake State Park – Saturday, Sept 15 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Caballo Lake State Park - Saturday, Sept 15 from 8:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
• City of Rocks State Park - Saturday, Sept 15 from 8:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
• Oliver Lee Memorial State Park (Celestial Cycles: Fall Equinox) – Saturday, Sept 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park (Harvest Moon Walk) – Wednesday, Sept 26 from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance (NMHPA) and El Valle Astronomers are also hosting the first “Southwest Night Sky Conference” in Taos from September 13 though September 15. <img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/blackeye_galaxy.jpg align=left hspace=4>The conference includes presentations on night sky protection policy and progressive lighting technology, and will also include star viewing through telescopes. For information on the NMHPA and the conference, visit www.nmheritage.org or call (505) 989-3696.
Initiated in 2004, the New Mexico State Parks “Reach for the Stars” program is a multi-faceted effort that promotes the night sky as a valuable educational, tourism and economic resource, while encouraging the protection of New Mexico’s night sky from<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/hoags_object_galaxy.jpg align=right hspace=4> light pollution. The program includes: over 100 night sky programs per year; staff and volunteer training; investment in park astronomy observatories; public education about light pollution prevention; and reduction of light pollution within state parks.
In 2006, the program won the NMHPA’s “Nebula Award,” which recognizes extraordinary innovation in a program, project, or product that contributes significantly to the protection and preservation of New Mexico's night skies.
Since 2005, observatories have been constructed at two state parks in New Mexico – City of Rocks and Clayton Lake State Parks. <img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/pinwheel_galaxy.jpg align=left hspace=4>The Division also retrofitted Oasis State Park with efficient outdoor lighting that protects the night sky and is installing innovative solar-powered LED lighting along park trails to save energy and reduce light pollution.
For more information on the New Mexico State Parks “Reach for the Stars” program, or to see a schedule of star parties throughout the year, visit www.nmparks.com or contact Steve Cary at (505) 476-3386 or steve.cary@state.nm.us.
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/sombrero_galaxy.jpg align=center vspace=4>
<img src=http://sonewmex.com/images/whirlpool_galaxy.jpg align=left hspace=4>To emphasize the importance of the Night Sky program to protect New Mexico's dark skies and it’s economic contribution to our state, Steppin Out has obtained a 3 minute IMAX video from the Hubble Telescope program and downsized it to make it available to our visitors. This video is designed to be shown on the large domed ceiling of an IMAX theater. Yet, even downsized over 100 times for the web, it is still very impressive.
We’ve created four versions of the film to fit the download capabilities of either dial-up or broadband visitors. One of these videos should be viewable for MAC, PC or Linux visitors using either Windows Media Player (on PCs or MACs (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/windowsmediaplayerformacosx.html)) or Real Player (on PC, MAC, or Linux (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed)).
To view this video, find your Internet connection method and favorite video player in the list below and click that link. Make sure your speakers are on!
For Windows Media Player
Hubble Galaxies Tour for Dial-up Visitors with Windows Media Player (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/video/Hubble_Galaxies/Hubble_Galaxies_034k.wmv) on a MAC (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/windowsmediaplayerformacosx.html) or PC
Hubble Galaxies Tour for Broadband Visitors with Windows Media Player (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/video/Hubble_Galaxies/Hubble_Galaxies_150k.wmv) on a MAC (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/windowsmediaplayerformacosx.html) or PC
For Real Player
Hubble Galaxies Tour for Broadband Visitors with Real Player (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/video/Hubble_Galaxies_034k.ram) on MAC (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed), PC (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed) or Linux (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed)
Hubble Galaxies Tour for Broadband Visitors with Real Player (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/video/Hubble_Galaxies_150k.ram) on MAC (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed), PC (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed) or Linux (http://www.real.com/freeplayer?rppr=fed)
Enjoy!