Commission for Dark Skies
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The Commission for Dark Skies (CfDS) (formerly the Campaign for Dark Skies; the name was changed on March 29, 2015) is the United Kingdom's largest anti-light-pollution campaign group forming part of the international dark-sky movement.
It is run by the British Astronomical Association[1] (BAA) and affiliated with the International Dark-Sky Association[2] (IDA), and composed of a network of local officers (and other members) who try to improve lighting in their areas and advise local people.
The campaign was founded in 1989 by amateur astronomers as a sub-section of the BAA specialising in combatting skyglow.[3] It is now open to non-members of the BAA, includes lighting engineers and environmentalists, and campaigns on the wider effects of light pollution.
Legislation
[edit]CfDS's work with the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on legislating against light pollution has resulted in the government including provisions in their Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill.[4][5]
Dark sky park, island and reserve
[edit]Members of the CfDS have been involved in the following International Dark-Sky Association designations:
- Galloway Forest Park – Dark Sky Park (2009)[6]
- Sark – IDA's first international dark-sky island (Silver tier) (2011)[7][8]
- Exmoor – Dark Sky Reserve (2011)[9]
- Elan Valley Estate (mid-Wales) Dark Sky Park (2015)
- Tomintoul and Glenlivet-Cairngorms Dark Sky Park (2018)
Publications
[edit]In 2009, the CfDS published its handbook Blinded by the Light?.[10]
Conferences
[edit]- CfDS 2006: Dark-Skies Symposium, Portsmouth, UK, September 15–16, 2006.
- Exterior lighting, statutory nuisance and light pollution, De Montfort University, April, 2006.
- Planning, Exterior Lighting and the Environment, De Montfort University, 20 April 2012.
Notes
[edit]- ^ British Astronomical Association Archived 2012-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ International Dark-Sky Association
- ^ About the Campaign for Dark Skies
- ^ Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 c. 16 Part 9 Statutory nuisances Section 102
- ^ Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 c. 16 Part 9 Statutory nuisances Section 103
- ^ Forest park given Dark Sky honour
- ^ "Sark Island and Hortobágy National Park Earn Dark Sky Status From the International Dark-Sky Association" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
- ^ Lights Out: Tiny Sark Named First 'Dark-Sky' Island
- ^ International Dark Sky Reserve – Exmoor National Park Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Blinded by the Light? handbook description". Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
References
[edit]- Campaign for Dark Skies, Blinded by the Light - A Handbook on light pollution, Campaign for Dark Skies, 2009
- Mizon, Bob, Light Pollution - Responses and Remedies, Springer, 2002. (ISBN 1-85233-497-5)
- Mizon, Bob, Light Pollution - Responses and Remedies, 2nd Edition, Springer, 2012. (ISBN 1-46143-821-7)
- Mizon, Bob, "20 years of fighting for the stars", Astronomy Now, September 2009. pp28–31
- Mizon, Bob, 'Finding a Million-Star Hotel' Springer, 2018 (ISBN 978-3319338545)
- Philip's, in association with the BAA Campaign for Dark Skies, Dark Skies Map, Philip's, 2004. (ISBN 0-540-08612-6)
- Tabb, Michael, "Where are the UK's darkest skies", Astronomy Now, November 2004. pp75–6 (Article on the production of the Philip's Dark Skies Map.)
- Various authors, "Focus - Light Pollution", Astronomy Now, April 2001. pp49–59
External links
[edit]- Official website
- The CfDS's online image library
- CfDS - Facebook
- CfDS - Twitter
- Light Pollution and Astronomy - House of Commons Report, 2003. (pdf)
- Conference Proceedings
- CfDS 2006 (pdf)
- Exterior lighting, statutory nuisance and light pollution, DeMontfort University, April, 2006
