Thank you for the information about the tour.  We called today and
signed up.  It is a very special opportunity, and only a few spaces
left.  We are camping for the two nights on site, and hoping to see
and meet some of you.
Kathy Burgess

Hello Greater Tehachapi Astronomy Club Members,

Your newest member, Tom Cohen (aka biggrhammer) here.  My wife and I
have a lot in Alpine Forest and spend a several weekends a year there.
Lots darker than Sun Valley (near Burbank).  We were wondering if you
folks ever get together on new moon weekends and if so, where?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

The skies have finally cleared; it's time to get together.  I get the
impression that our members aren't checking the website of late.  Let's
get on the phone and get something going.  As a starter, I offer my
place in Golden Hills West as a gathering site for the first weekend
following the next New Moon -- July fifth -- to break our scopes and
welcome our new members.  How 'bout it?

/s/ Hawk

Tehachapi Sky Watch

by Dale Hawkins

Stars That Go `Boom' In the Night

      We have learned much about those pinpoints of light in the night sky that we call `stars' since the first person looked up in inquisitive wonder a couple of million years ago.  We've learned that they are suns like our own, though of nearly infinite variety.  We've learned much about how they come to be, how long they live, and what happens at the end of their lives.

      Stars are giant balls of gas so huge that their mass generates a gravitational field that crushes them to such an extent that the temperatures in their centers are high enough to cause atoms to fuse into larger atoms (usually hydrogen into helium) while giving of a tremendous amount of energy.  They are, in effect, a continuously exploding hydrogen bomb.  (If we could manage to do that on a small, controlled scale, the world's energy concerns would be at an end.)  A stable star—like our sun, whose proper name is `Sol'—maintains a balance between the inward pull of gravity and the outward pressure of its nuclear furnace.

      The fun begins when the star starts to run out of nuclear fuel.  Without embarking on a dissertation here, suffice it to say that few stars just burn out quietly like a dying camp fire.  The largest stars die in a colossal explosion as the outward pressure of the nuclear furnace stops and gravity wins long the battle for control.  Its remaining mass rushes in on the burnt-out core like tacklers on a sacked quarterback—who's just pulled the pin on the football bomb!  The core is crushed into a neutron star or black hole, while the rest of the star's mass literally bounces off of the core in one of the most bodacious explosions in the universe—a supernova.  This event doesn't happen very often.  It is estimated that there is only one supernova every fifty years in our entire galaxy of at least 100 billion stars; and ours is a fairly typical spiral galaxy.

      Why, you may wonder, do I bring this subject up now?  Most of us learned about this stuff in high school.  The reason is that while astronomers and astrophysicists have studied supernovae for a long time, all we've been able to observe is the aftermath of the explosions.  Whole networks are set up to alert the astronomical community to a new supernova, including legions of amateur astronomers with computerized systems that systematically scan stars nearing their end so as to report anything unusual.  While this system is indeed admirable, it suffers from an inherent problem—it only detects stars that have already blown up!  It can't—without incredible luck—catch a star in the act.

      Well, if luck is the determining factor we just hit the jackpot!  NASA's Swift satellite actually caught a star in the act of doing itself in.  Called simply SN 2008D, it lies in another galaxy known as NGC 2770, which is ninety million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Lynx.  It was discovered while studying another supernova in the same galaxy.  While luck was a factor, so was quick thinking.  The team was alerted by a powerful x-ray burst, which they identified as the first shockwave of a supernova.  The word went out over the astronet, and most of the world's giant telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope, swung into action.  Swift Team Leader Doctor Alicia Soderberg says that, "This newly born supernova is going to be the Rosetta stone of supernova studies for years to come."  Go Team!

      You can learn more about SN 2008D on the Web at http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6955.

Night Sky Watch

      The bright moon will thwart astronomers as it approaches a full moon on June eighteenth.  The summer solstice follows two day later on the twentieth officially beginning summer.  This is the earliest solstice in 116 years.

      Before the waning moon rises in the early morning of June 27th, the Boötid Meteor Shower peaks.  While not considered a major meteor shower, it has been known to produce spectacular bursts of meteors.  Outbursts are possible between dusk on June 26th and 2AM of June 27th as the earth crosses the debris trail of Comet Pons-Winnecke.

Manned Space Watch

      As we go to print, Space Shuttle Discovery has successfully delivered and attached the pressurized module and remote manipulator system of the Japanese Kibo Laboratory to Space Station Alpha during three spacewalks.  After swapping out a crewmember, they should be on their way home to a touchdown at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday morning, June fourteenth, at 7:13 Tehachapi Time.

Space Probe Watch

      Early Thursday morning, June nineteenth, at 12:59 AM (00:59), NASA is planning to launch the Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2 aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base.  If the sky is clear—and they don't postpone the launch again—you should be able to see the launch from Tehachapi.  It will appear as a bright white-orange star just south of due west slowly rising from the horizon.  There is a nine minute launch window, but if it goes, it'll probably go at 12:59.  You can check on the launch status before setting your alarm clock by going to http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

Sunrise/Sunset (PDT)

5:39 AM/8:09 PM

By the time we found out about GT Astronomy Club, we had already made
plans for the next two new moon weekends.  In the meantime, would
love to chat with
some
of you to learn where you observe, etc.

I'm going to try to post a few of my astrophotos.
Check out your Photos section in the next day or two.











-- In GTAstronomyClub@yahoogroups.com, "sifuhawk" <sifuhawk@...>
wrote:
>
> The skies have finally cleared; it's time to get together.  I get
the
> impression that our members aren't checking the website of late.
Let's
> get on the phone and get something going.  As a starter, I offer my
> place in Golden Hills West as a gathering site for the first
weekend
> following the next New Moon -- July fifth -- to break our scopes
and
> welcome our new members.  How 'bout it?
>
> /s/ Hawk
>

Correct that last post of mine.  I've put 3 photos into Files, not
Photos.  I realized once I got there that Photos was for photos of
club events.


--- In GTAstronomyClub@yahoogroups.com, "biggrhammer"
<biggrhammer@...> wrote:
>
> By the time we found out about GT Astronomy Club, we had already
made
> plans for the next two new moon weekends.  In the meantime, would
> love to chat with
> some
> of you to learn where you observe, etc.
>
> I'm going to try to post a few of my astrophotos.
> Check out your Photos section in the next day or two.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -- In GTAstronomyClub@yahoogroups.com, "sifuhawk" <sifuhawk@>
> wrote:
> >
> > The skies have finally cleared; it's time to get together.  I get
> the
> > impression that our members aren't checking the website of late.
> Let's
> > get on the phone and get something going.  As a starter, I offer
my
> > place in Golden Hills West as a gathering site for the first
> weekend
> > following the next New Moon -- July fifth -- to break our scopes
> and
> > welcome our new members.  How 'bout it?
> >
> > /s/ Hawk
> >
>

Hi all,

I'm going to take the opportunity this evening to do some "sidewalk
astronomy" at BVS's Cub Lake.  Each summer they have what's called
Starlight Theater where they setup a big projection TV and show a
movie for the kids every Friday night.  I understand they do the same
thing, or similar, at Tehachapi's Central Park.

Anyway, I'm bringing my 8" to share views of the moon and planets (and
whatever not seriously affected by light polution).  If anybody's
interested in joining me please do!  (I can call in a gate pass for
those not in BVS, call me at 238-9384.)

The movie is Waterhorse (PG), snacks are sold by Girl Scouts 012, and
movies start at dusk (8:15pm).

Clear Skies!
  Brandon Wood

• ITEM CA-13) Response to Board of Supervisors Referral from May, 2006, Related to Addressing Development Project Dark Sky Issues in Rural Communities

• VIDEO: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid452319854/bctid1690279119

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/19/AR2008021902398.html

According to The World Atlas of the Artificial Night Sky Brightness, most people no longer see a starry sky where they live due to the glow of artificial lights. These comprehensive night lighting surveys are based on military satellite imagery archived at NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center's Earth Observation Group.

Last month, researchers suggested in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that artificial lighting may be linked to colorectal cancer among women who work the nightshift. Earlier this year, scientists reported in Chronobiology International that there may be a link between neighborhood night lighting and breast cancer.

As night lighting becomes more pervasive world-wide, the International Dark Sky Association is promoting sky-friendly lighting practices and local lighting ordinances that favor more efficient, low-wattage lighting.

As filmed by astronauts aboard the International Space Station, the world's cities at night look like so many galaxies of light. Nighttime Lights from the International Space Station (Video) An archive of astronaut photography is rich with images of Earth at night. An interactive map of the Nighttime Lights of the World highlights the urban glow caused by nocturnal artificial lights.

Richard Cayia Rowe, Kern County voter & homeowner
PO BOX 8
395 Woodland Drive
Wofford Heights, CA 93285
E-MAIL: eworinkrv@...
Phone: (760) 333-4561

I'm afraid I didn't get the word in time, or I would have been there.
Can anyone give us an accounting of the proceedings?

/s/ Hawk

Posted by: "sifuhawk" sifuhawk@...   sifuhawk

Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:14 pm (PDT)

• Those in favor of a Dark Sky Ordinance succeeded beyond their wildest imagination.
• Instead of 'RECEIVE AND FILE' the Board unanimously directed the planning department to work on a Dark Sky ordinance. And NOT for just the rural areas of the County.
  

• Richard Rowe (me, Wofford Heights)
• Rick Crockett (Canebrake Café, Onyx)
• Ron Hyatt (Wofford Heights/Kern River Valley)

• Ted Hodgkinson (China Lake Astronomical Society) had driven all the way from Mojave to attend. He said he didn't speak because we'd made his points already AND he had communicated with Supervisor Mabben (I believe).
  

• The Item: CA-13) Response to Board of Supervisors Referral from May, 2006, Related to Addressing Development Project Dark Sky Issues in Rural Communities
   http://www.co.kern.ca.us/clerk/minutes/bosagenda/MG220255/AS220271/AS220272/AI220336/DO220505/ DO_220505.pdf

• The item & several written comments: http://krvr.org/index.php?option=com_joomlaboard&Itemid=26&func=view&id=14868&catid=7

• It should NOT apply just to the rural areas. But also to the urbanized parts of the County outside of municipal boundaries.
• It should apply to single family residences too.
• Maybe 'Retroactive' provisions could be considered, but must be studied to see how that worked out elsewhere.

• The minutes aren't posted yet.  When they are, look here for them: 2pm 7-29-08 http://kern.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2

-- Richard Cayia Rowe, www.KRVR.org website administrator
PO BOX 8
Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0008
E-MAIL: eworinkrv@...
Phone: (760) 333-4561

Mr. Rowe,
The minutes from Tuesday's meeting are now available on the County's website. You can access the agenda/minutes/video page by clicking the following link 

• http://kern.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
  

Hope this is helpful.
Regards,
Kathy
Kathleen Krause
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
Kern County Administrative Office
1115 Truxtun Avenue, 5th Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 868-3585 phone
(661) 868-3636 fax

13) Response to referral from May, 2006, related to addressing development of
      project dark sky issues in rural communities (Fiscal Impact: None) -
      RICHARD ROWE, RICHARD CROCKETT, AND RON HYATT, HEARD;
      RECEIVED AND FILED; DIRECTED PLANNING TO CONDUCT PUBLIC
      WORKSHOPS AND RETURN IN FEBRUARY 2009 WITH
     A DRAFT ORDINANCE FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION

      Maggard-Maben: All Ayes

      RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY
      Engineering and Survey Services
      Continued Hearing
      S.D. #4

Richard Cayia Rowe, www.KRVR.org website administrator
PO BOX 8
Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0008
E-MAIL: eworinkrv@...
Phone: (760) 333-4561

Bakersfield Californian, Saturday, August 2, 2008

• SOURCE: http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/512798.html

KERN CONSIDERS 'DARK SKY' LAW

BY JENNY SHEARER, Californian staff writer jshearer@...

Kern may become one of several California counties to implement a “DARK SKY” ordinance to protect against light pollution, an adverse effect of man-made illumination.

Residents in rural areas of Kern’s mountain and desert communities say the glare from inefficient, unshielded outdoor lighting disrupts their quality of life and could jeopardize tourism.

Visitors come to Kern to stargaze. In fact, Mount Pinos [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pinos] was included in a list of locations of “STAR PARTIES” in the August issue of "Men’s Journal" magazine.

Men’s Journal August 2008 | Volume 17 | Number 7 | Page 120
The Men’s Journal Guide to the Night Sky
The joy of stargazing has been nearly lost in an orange haze of light pollution. Here are the tools you need to reclaim it, the celestial events you won't want to miss, and the best places to look skyward.

The sky’s inky canvas should be protected, several residents told county supervisors Tuesday.

Policymakers agreed and directed county planners to return with a draft ordinance in February. Dark sky measures are intended to minimize glare and light pollution.

“I think we should start somewhere, and I think we should start now,” said Supervisor Ray Watson, who wants to see dark-sky policies apply to both rural and urban areas.

The county’s building ordinance doesn’t require new or existing development to use low-glare lighting or shields or to direct lighting away from neighboring properties. But the zoning ordinance does include requirements to shield and limit the height of lighting for new residential, commercial and industrial projects.

A potential ordinance could involve retrofitting existing lighting or focus on new uses only, said Ted James, director of the Kern County Planning Department. Dark sky ordinances can employ measures such as restricting bulb types, using shielding and light curfews.

Planners will eventually host public workshops about the proposed ordinance. Dark sky principles are components of the Kern River Valley’s specific plan, a land-use document that’s in process.

Wofford Heights resident Richard Rowe said compared to Los Angeles, where he used to live, the sky above him has incredible depth, and he can pinpoint the colors of the stars. But not everyone has the chance to gaze in wonder at constellations and other bodies.

“You don’t put your fence on someone else’s property. You shouldn’t put your light on someone else’s property,” he said.

Astronomer Rick Crockett told supervisors inexpensive pieces of sheet metal could get rid of bad lights.

San Bernardino, San Diego and El Dorado counties have these ordinances, as do individual cities such as Palm Desert.

Night lights in the Wofford Heights area are seen at dusk from the Camp 9 area Thursday evening. The reflection is from the top of a vehicle and Isabella Lake is in the center.
Photo by Bakersfield Californian photographer Casey Christie

• http://static.bakersfield.com/smedia/2008/08/01/07/121-NIGHTLIGHTSCC.standalone.prod_affiliate.25.jpg

Richard Cayia Rowe
PO BOX 8
Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0008
E-MAIL: eworinkrv@...
Phone: (760) 333-4561

• http://krvr.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=125&Itemid=1

-- Richard Cayia Rowe, www.KRVR.org website administrator
PO BOX 8
Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0008
E-MAIL: eworinkrv@...
Phone: (760) 333-4561

I apologize for the late notice, but tonight Tuesday, between 9:35 and
9:38pm, the International Space Station will be making what should be
a memorable pass above us in Tehachapi.  See the following link for
more details:
<http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544&lat=35.17107&lng=-118\
.65878&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=PST>

It will be high in the sky to the Northwest headed southbound.  You'll
know it when you see it because it will be BRIGHT, very BRIGHT, like a
police helicopter...well not quite, but it will be BRIGHT.  But then,
within the span of a few seconds, it'll disappear.  You'll be
witnessing its transition into the shadow of our planet directly
overhead.  I'll go from magnitude -2.1 to dark in just a few seconds.

If you miss tonight's quick show, there'll be another on Thursday
evening at 8:52pm.  It should me marginally brighter Thursday, but we
won't get the same overhead disappearance that tonight offers.

It's only a few minutes, go outside and see for yourself!

  - Brandon

--- In GTAstronomyClub@yahoogroups.com, "wood1744" <bwood44@...> wrote:
>
> I apologize for the late notice, but tonight Tuesday, between 9:35 and
> 9:38pm, the International Space Station will be making what should be
> a memorable pass above us in Tehachapi.  See the following link for
> more details:
>
<http://www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary.aspx?satid=25544&lat=35.17107&lng=-118\
.65878&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=PST>
>
> It will be high in the sky to the Northwest headed southbound.  You'll
> know it when you see it because it will be BRIGHT, very BRIGHT, like a
> police helicopter...well not quite, but it will be BRIGHT.  But then,
> within the span of a few seconds, it'll disappear.  You'll be
> witnessing its transition into the shadow of our planet directly
> overhead.  I'll go from magnitude -2.1 to dark in just a few seconds.
>
> If you miss tonight's quick show, there'll be another on Thursday
> evening at 8:52pm.  It should me marginally brighter Thursday, but we
> won't get the same overhead disappearance that tonight offers.
>
> It's only a few minutes, go outside and see for yourself!
>
>  - Brandon
>

I was able to take a picture of this evening's ISS pass.  Try this
link to see the picture:

<http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/0C-ZSB7oPg6fNAjDfVQqVvaXWiW3DqQYTqpMDaaKxqnM20M08E\
A5wlbDkGTKuYqA5b5uPJKU-EbwWYT2n_n43g/GTAC%20Astrophotograghers/Brandon%27s%20Pic\
s/ISS%20Over%20Tehachapi.jpg>

If that doesn't work, you can find the picture in my folder (Brandon's
Pics) in the Files/GTAC Astrophotogaphers section of our Yahoo Group.

In this timed exposure, the bright streak is the International Space
Station coming over the horizon.  As you can see, it appeared to rise
straight up from the Northwest.  The clouds are illuminated by
Bakersfield and the foreground is my backyard in Bear Valley Springs.
  The reddish streak to the left is a airliner, so you can get an idea
of the space station's brightness (magnitude -2.1).

The stars are not out of focus but smeared by the Earth's rotation
during the three minute exposure.  The bright, white stars in the
middle-right are the Big Dipper.  The ISS passed between the two stars
at the end of the Big Dipper's handle.  I started the exposure when I
first saw the ISS on the horizon and ended it when the ISS disappeared
into the Earth's shadow, nearly overhead.

Picture Details:
Nikon D70 DSLR
Nikon 18-200mm @ 18mm, f/3.5
177 seconds
5 Aug 08, 9:35pm
Processing: dark frame subtraction, unsharp mask, brightness
adjustment, crop and 50% resize

  - Brandon Wood

Summary of Testimony & Discussion on Dark Sky Item #13

Posted to KRVR.org’s Preserving the KRV’s Dark Sky forum:

http://krvr.org/index.php?option=com_joomlaboard&Itemid=26&func=view&id=14918&catid=7

http://krvr.org/components/com_joomlaboard/uploaded/files/Dark_Sky_BOS_transcript.pdf

This was taken from the Video of the Kern County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting Tuesday 7/29/08 - 2:00PM  Minutes

JM Jon McQuiston District 1

DM Don Maben District 2

MM Mike Maggard District 3

RW Ray Watson District 4

MR Michael J. Rubio District 5

TJ Ted James http://www.co.kern.ca.us/planning/ presented Item #13, summarizing his 3 page report.                                                   (briefly summarized)

This item is a referral that you made in 2006 related to dealing with dark sky issues. Specifically it has to do with the glow of lighting in rural areas and how we could address. It was specifically a project up in the Golden Hills area of Tehachapi that brought this issue up. Supervisor Maben had made this referral to your board – look at dark sky issues and report back.

This report was coordinated with the Engineering Services Department because they actually administer the building code.

There were 3 citizens who came forward to speak on this item (summarized as follows).

Richard Rowe (Wofford Heights, CA):                                (summarized)

Full Written comments.

Main Points

·        I disagree with the recommendation to merely receive and file this item. I would like to see that the Board direct staff to come up with a process, schedule and budget. Instead of just ‘receive and file’ I’d like to see some action.

·        Local communities can help hold Dark Sky Forums. Examples: Kern River Valley Revitalization (KRVR) and the Mountain Community Town Council in Frazier Park; Both have indicated a willingness to help by holding a Dark Sky forum.

·        Don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are several Dark Sky ordinances which can serve as models.

Rick Crockett (Onyx, CA):                                                 (summarized)

I only found out about this item this 5pm past Friday afternoon. I came to this meeting 650 mile trip to be here today.

I have been involved in this issue for a long time. I’ve progressively moved from one rural area to another in search of dark skies.

[Pointing out a name badge with a photo of the North American Nebula - his 2-hour photo taken from the Kern River Valley on the overhead projector] The point I want to make with this is that used to be able go out in the city and see things like this as I can still in the KRV. At 10:30pm tonight (7-29-08) this object will be straight overhead here, yet I dare any of you to see it even with whatever equipment you might use to see it. It’s been lost to Bakersfield with the loss of its Dark Sky.

With the loss of dark sky, we’ve lost beauty & education. Our children are now into video games not nature, things in the sky or the math or science behind them.

I’ve long been involved in Astronomy. I was chair of the 1976 Western Amateur Astronomers Convention with the theme ‘Loosing Dark Skies.’

I was responsible for the very 1^st dark sky ordinance in California in San Diego county, prompted in 1979 by concerns over the effect of light pollution on the  Mt. Palomar Observatory 200” Hale Telescope (then the world’s largest).

I’ve offered my experience in this. In 1992, I spoke before this board this issue as dark skies part of a conditional use permit.

Many people get overly wrapped up in the law.

If we start thinking about terms of enforcement, Light pollution as a nuisance has been regulated for more 150 years. There are federal and state late laws which cover it. But enforcement of existing laws is lax.

Code compliance is often complaint driven. When you call, they tell you they have to have 2 complaints to do anything. When my neighbors complained about 2 25,000 watt lights put up by another neighbor, that neighbor intimidated them into silence.

Your really don’t have to worry about type of lighting. Full cut off shielding will take care of 90% of the problem.

Astronomers have one particular goal, residents another. Low pressure sodium met the Astronomer’s goal at one time, more or less. It doesn’t make dark skies, just selective dark skies in certain light frequency spectra.

If we get to 100% cut off shielding, then enforce the code and get those lights fixed, it’s a really simple thing.

Sometime it only takes $2 of sheet metal to take care of a bad light. But it’s getting people willing to do it. Not a lot of money or effort. I willing to volunteer any advice I can on this.

Another issue is crime and night time lighting. Adding night time lighting enhances security is a myth. Experience has shown that when you put up lights, you get crime, you don’t prevent it.

A neighbor put up 3 mercury vapor lights (illegal since the 1990s). Within 2 months, he was burglarized 3 times. It’s a common situation & the conclusion of studies: Put up lights you get more vandalism & theft.

Ron Hyatt (Wofford Heights, CA):                                    (summarized)

I’d like to start by saying ‘Ted, Thanks for Listening to us!” In the Kern River Valley, our Community can take a 2-sided issue and make a multi-sided issue of it. But this particular issue, of Dark Skies, I have not talked to anybody who is opposed to some kind of ordinance that would protect dark skies.

SO as this moves through the process, whatever that process is, I ask that you give Ted James marching orders to make a comprehensive, inclusive ordinance package for your review. Give him the funds that he needs to make that happen.

And also ask him to give deliberate considerations to retrofitting. We’ll probably get some objections then. But I think it’s worth our time. 

Other dark sky advocates (like Mojave School Board member Ted Hodgkinson, Secretary China Lake Astronomical Society) where present, but choose not to speak as the 3 speakers covered the points they wished to make.

It was pointed out that the Board of Supervisors had received many e-mails on this item. Having heard from the 3 citizens, the Supervisors discussed the item (summarized as follows).

MR: Supervisor Maggard

MM: Thank you Mr. Chairman, I would move that we receive and file and direct staff to evaluate over a period of time and come up with a reasonable response time but come up with a bit of an idea of how we might implement what a strategy might be to move in this direction.

        This isn’t nearly as complicated as it just sounded, not to disparage you gentlemen who just spoke, but I was very involved in the RE development projects in NE Bakersfield out in the Rio Bravo Valley area.

        I used to ride my mountain bike often times at nighttime. There is a complete difference experience at nighttime than you have in the daytime. And not to disparage Mesa Marin, I’m a big fan and want to be helpful in their success in the future. But when the old track was located there they didn’t know any better and they put lights in that even when you were several miles away in the hollows of those ravines those lights on the horizon significantly changed the entire sky. For miles and miles around there was an impact.

        We have an opportunity even if we don’t do any retrofitting. I’d like to hear what your opinion is about that. We have an opportunity to change the way we make the future turn out. And I think it is worthwhile to have us explore this and come back to us with ideas to make this plausible and how we might have, at least for our consideration, a plan that might incorporate some of these philosophies.

        It’s not very much more if any more expensive. It’s not intrusive if we are doing something prospective. But we will never get an opportunity to change the future if we don’t start doing it.

        I’m eager to hear what staff and my colleague’s opinions might be. But that would be my motion.

MR: Supervisor Maben

DM: Thank You Mr. Chairman. Would the maker of the motion add that they come back in February of ‘09 with a draft ordinance after conducting public workshops and possibly using the San Bernardino County ordinance as a base.

MM: OK

DM: Second.

MR: Supervisor Watson,

RW: Thank You Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to simply get an answer to one of the questions that were posed: Can more strict standards be applied retroactively? #1 and then with respect to new development, can we through the site plan review address a lot of these issues even without an ordinance or while we are waiting for an ordinance to come forward?

TJ:   Through the Site Plan Review process, Supervisor Watson, we do address these issues by requiring shading, direction of lighting in that process. We do that in conditional use permits, site plan reviews, any other discretionary project we have. One thing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to get further direction on in embarking on this ordinance is again I heard comments about having it be retroactive and if that’s something you’d like us to look further into. I’d also like some direction related to would this apply to single family residence as well as to multi-family, commercial or industrial.

MM: I’d like your opinion about retroactivity, but it is significantly more expensive and complicated to go backwards. But the longer we take X the more new plans would be processed so certainly I’m very interested in prospective application of the rules and I’d like your opinion about retroactive. I think it should apply even to the single family residence level in some fashion. Just because it is one single house doesn’t mean it should have a light pattern in its yard that disrupts everyone for miles around. So, I’m interested in your perspective on whether that might even apply at that level.

TJ:   And Mr. Chairman, the intent of this would be to focus on rural, mountain and desert areas and I want to clarify that as to direction.

MM: But the uplands on the Kern would certainly be viewed as just downriver from Hart Park on the N side of Kern River. You know that some people would view that as being urban yet semi-rural. It has impacts I think much closer to urban areas that are within the County’s jurisdiction. I’m interested in your perspective on how to broaden it than have it restrict it.

MR: Mr. James could we have parallel ordinances or proposals moving forward? Perhaps this one and the rural areas, the uplands, the valleys and then in the metro general plan area, could we just get the street lights to work?

MR: Supervisor McQuiston.

JM: One thing I hear, at least in the areas that I am familiar with, there is as a general statement almost universal support for something. In the Kern River Valley we’ve heard it. We’ve heard it preliminarily with respect to the Indian Wells Valley.

        I see this very much like some of our animal control ordinances. You start with something. It could be the San Bern ordinance, but I would request that you look at several. I presume you have. Give the public examples of several. Go out and do some meetings. Get some input. Then at some point in time, submit a draft. I think it’s important to note that anything we do has no jurisdiction in the cities. And so this would be something county and in Kern County in terms of planning areas is pretty much broken into two big chunks: the metro planning area and everything else. Albeit in the ‘everything else’ area we do have some specific plans that are subsets of that.

        So in the metro Bakersfield area I think it’d be important for us to work with the City of Bakersfield because it’s a joint planning document and we don’t want to end up accidentally creating an ordinance that may be in conflict with the City. We’ve had many times when we talked about where we can and when we can have a common approach to these types of things. So, I kind of think the metro planning area is one unique geographic area and the rest.

        But no, I think there is broad public support for us to do something. And the best way to do that with consistency & conformity is through the zoning ordinance. I think it’s something we’re being asked to do. And with respect to single family residential, yeah, I think it’s fair we take a look at it. You come back at some point in time. There will be public input to this. There will be arguments ‘fer it’ & arguments ‘agin it.’ But then that something we can crunch and digest and form our own conclusions on. I’d like to see something go forward.

MR: Supervisor Watson

RW: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to see it apply to all county development both rural and urban. I think already the city and the county are applying lighting standards, glare standards in major developments. I don’t see why it shouldn’t to every home, every residence and in all new development. If we’re talking about the pollution of the sky with light the fact that you have it in the urban area impacts the skies for miles around. SO, I think you have to start somewhere and I think we should start now. And I don’t see why anybody would prefer to have lights that glare to the sky when it’s not necessary. This is not Las Vegas. Thank you.

MR:  There is a motion and a second, please cast your vote

                 http://krvr.org/components/com_joomlaboard/uploaded/images/Dark_Sky_BOS_Action_7_29_08.jpg

MR: Staff do you have your direction?

TJ: Yes, I do Mr. Chairman

-- Richard Cayia Rowe
PO BOX 8
Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0008
E-MAIL: eworinkrv@...
Phone: (760) 333-4561

• Attached
• or a link►http://krvr.org/components/com_joomlaboard/uploaded/files/KR_Courier_Dark_Sky_articles_8_8_08.pdf
  

KRVR.org’s DARK SKY page:

• http://krvr.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=125&Itemid=48
  

Richard Cayia Rowe
PO BOX 8
Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0008
E-MAIL: eworinkrv@...
Phone: (760) 333-4561

BELOW & ATTACHED IS A TIME SENSITIVE ARTICLE

RE: Friday Aug 29th & Sat Aug 30th

Star Parties in/near the KRV!
Want to know why the Dark Sky is such a passionate issue for some? Attend a nearby Star Party!

Why is the Kern River Valley’s dark sky important? The night skies surrounding the Kern River Valley are some of the darkest and clearest in California as pointed out by this article:  

Bakersfield Californian 7-11-06: Night skies attract stargazers to eastern Kern Valley http://www.bakersfield.com/243/story/61412.html

Typically a dark sky site away from light pollution is chosen as a Star Party location. Participants bring telescopes and binoculars of all types and sizes and spend the nights observing astronomical objects such as planets, comets, stars, and deep sky objects together. Star Parties are held after Sunset (about 7:30pm these days) and as Twilight ends (roughly around 8:30pm). People show up early to set up and admire the equipment. Star Parties are usually free events. 

There are some do’s & don’ts for those attending Star Parties (don’t show up with your high beams blaring or brandishing one of those 2,000,000 candle power spot lights you got at Costco).

• Guide to how to attend a Star Party
  http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/stargazing_dos_donts_000607-1.html  
• Star Party Survival Guide
  http://docs.sdaa.org/_tds/TDS_StarPartyGuide.pdf  

This week, there are 2 nighttime Star Parties in or near the Kern River Valley on Friday the 29th & Saturday the 30th.

Friday, August 29: China Lake Astronomical Society

China Lake Astronomical Society http://www.chinalakeastrosoc.org

The China Lake Astronomical Society holds its Star Parties at a site in the open desert south of Ridgecrest.

• ·         Friday, August 29: Signs out at 7:30 p.m., Star viewing at 8:00 p.m.
• ·         Friday, September 26: Signs out at 7:30 p.m., Star viewing 8:00 p.m.
• ·         Friday, October 24: Signs out at 7:00 p.m., Star viewing at 7:30 p.m.
• ·         Friday, November 28: Signs out at 5:30 p.m., Star viewing at 6:00 p.m.

To reach the China Lake Astronomical Society Star Party site from Ridgecrest, go south on China Lake Boulevard 6.5 miles from its intersection with Ridgecrest Boulevard. Continue straight across Highway 395 and you will be on Brown Road (old HWY 395). Follow Brown Road as it curves to the right and go west. After 2.3 miles there will be a 30-inch orange cone on the left. Turn left and follow the dirt road marked by 12-inch cones. The China Lake Astronomical Society Star Party is a ½ mile long along this road.

http://krvr.org/components/com_joomlaboard/uploaded/images/CLAS_Star_Party_location.jpg

For more information, contact China Lake Astronomical Society Vice President: Bruce Churchill (760) 375-7247 rbc605gem@...

Saturday, August 30: Kern River Valley Astronomy Club

Kern River Valley Astronomy Club http://www.astronomy.kern-river-valley.com/

During the summer, the KRV Astronomy Club holds Star Parties in the Tillie Creek Campground in Wofford Heights (the last one was August 9^th). But on occasion the club ventures out on a short field trip to take advantage of the best Saturday night closest to the new Moon. Saturday August 30^th is one such night. By the time the moon sets, it will be dark enough to show star clusters as well as distant dark & faint objects.

http://krvr.org/components/com_joomlaboard/uploaded/images/Fairview_Helispot_Google_Ma.jpg

The KRV Astronomy Club Star Party on Aug 30th will be held at the Fairview Helispot up the Kern River. The Fairview Helispot is on the old Fairview dump site, on the East side of the road (away from the river) about 12 miles N north of Kernville, 1 mile S of McNally’s Fairview Lodge. Orange traffic cones will indicate the turnout point on Mtn. Hwy 99 (Sierra Way from Kernville). If you plan to attend, best to call KRV Astronomy Club president Rich Burdge Daytime: (760) 376-1291; Evening: (760) 376-6290.

The KRV Astronomy Club monthly meeting is held at 7pm every 3rd Thursday of month at the Kern Valley Museum, 49 Big Blue Road, Kernville.

The KRV Astronomy Club’s new website address is www.astronomy.kern-river-valley.com. For info, contact Rich Burdge (760) 376-6290 richburdge@....

Richard Cayia Rowe
PO Box 8
Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0008
eworinkrv@...
(760) 333-4561

Bakersfield Californian Blog “Bout time for Dark Sky plan...”

• http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/tedabrown/31983

Bakersfield Californian Letters to the Editor Differing views on dark sky ordinance Wednesday, August 13, 2008

• http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/story/522836.html

I read the recent article about Kern County's consideration of a "dark sky ordinance." I cannot believe these elected officials now want to tell us that we can't have lighting on our own property! The absolute gall of that is amazing.

So when someone gets attacked by a bear, mountain lion or other wild animal because of the lack of night lighting, can we sue them for the medical costs or the funeral costs? If not, then I suggest they find another line of work and quit telling those they don't live next to how to live and how much to be safe!

I am sure big city dwellers would be more than happy for them to dictate their lighting.

MATT HYATT

Tehachapi

Lights won't scare bears

The dark sky ordinance is the best idea we have heard of to affect change in the mountain. Now that the bright lights are becoming an money issue, the powers that be in the county are recognizing the need to rid us of the ever present bright lights that really do disturb our quality of life. The small towns are struggling enough without causing them more problems that will eventually jeopardize tourism.

People come to the mountains to enjoy the dark, beautiful night time sky. It is becoming very difficult to see them. We have the flood lights from a neighbor's roof lighting up our house and that of our other neighbors' home. We cannot sit in darkness and see the sky or use a telescope to view the stars.

This is unnecessary and rude. Why disturb others? We have tried talking to these people, but they don't get it. Security they say, to protect against bears up here.

Bears could care less if there is a light on or not. Lights just makes it easier for them to see the trash cans they topple.

Why move here and then pollute the sky? This is a needless and wasteful energy consumption that must be stopped. Motion detector lights with low-energy and low-glare bulbs would eliminate a lot of the pollution. That type of light would probably startle any intruders enough for them to leave. We need to pass this ordinance soon.

CAROLYN A. KIMBALL

Frazier Park

-- Richard Cayia Rowe, www.KRVR.org website administrator
PO BOX 8
Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0008
E-MAIL: eworinkrv@...
Phone: (760) 333-4561

• Attached is the PDF version (312kb).

-- Richard Cayia Rowe
PO BOX 8
Wofford Heights, CA 93285-0008
E-MAIL: eworinkrv@...
Phone: (760) 333-4561

I would like to extent an open invitation to all Astronomy enthusiasts
in Tehachapi to join me Saturday evening at my house.  The new moon
this weekend is a good excuse to meet.  I would like to discuss
creating a more formal club organization, whatever that means to us,
and developing a schedule for future star parties.

I also know there are many people out there that have telescopes but
need assistance setting them up or using them.  Tomorrow would be an
excellent opportunity for me or others to provide help.  There are
some bright lights near my house in Bear Valley Springs but it works
well enough for casual observing and certainly a good location if you
are just learning how to use your telescope.

So join me at my house Saturday night, Aug 30.  My address is 29721 N
Lower Valley Road.  Please respond or call me at 661-238-9384 for a
BVS gate pass.  7pm-midnight.  Rain or shine.  Please park on the
gravel portion of my driveway, so we can use the concrete portion for
telescopes.  There's plenty of room.

I have a fancy new eyepiece arriving today, so I know I'll be running
it through it's paces Saturday night.  I hope to see you there!

- Brandon

--- In GTAstronomyClub@yahoogroups.com, "wood1744" <bwood44@...> wrote:
>Dear Brandon,

    My name is Kimie, and I am your neighbor.
I would like to attend the star party or meeting with my husband John
tonight.

    I am supposed to be a member of GTAstronomyClub since January this
year but not really active yet. Although I have found my interest on
cosmology since then, English is not my native language; I really need
to take another effort. So far I enjoy reading Astronomy magazines
with a dictionary more than observing the sky. I am really beginner of
astronomy that I even do not know how to pronounce constellation's
name. I have an anniversary-gift-telescope that took back from my
parent in law, Celestron, NexStar 4, Aperture 4.5 inches?  I don't
really satisfy for the view but think that I must have a lot of things
to learn from it.  See you soon!

Kimie

> I would like to extent an open invitation to all Astronomy enthusiasts
> in Tehachapi to join me Saturday evening at my house.  The new moon
> this weekend is a good excuse to meet.  I would like to discuss
> creating a more formal club organization, whatever that means to us,
> and developing a schedule for future star parties.
>
> I also know there are many people out there that have telescopes but
> need assistance setting them up or using them.  Tomorrow would be an
> excellent opportunity for me or others to provide help.  There are
> some bright lights near my house in Bear Valley Springs but it works
> well enough for casual observing and certainly a good location if you
> are just learning how to use your telescope.
>
> So join me at my house Saturday night, Aug 30.  My address is 29721 N
> Lower Valley Road.  Please respond or call me at 661-238-9384 for a
> BVS gate pass.  7pm-midnight.  Rain or shine.  Please park on the
> gravel portion of my driveway, so we can use the concrete portion for
> telescopes.  There's plenty of room.
>
> I have a fancy new eyepiece arriving today, so I know I'll be running
> it through it's paces Saturday night.  I hope to see you there!
>
> - Brandon
>

Thanks to those that had the opportunity to join me last night--I
enjoyed the company and conversation!  The RV and van definitely
helped with my local light pollution.  I even remembered to remove the
bucket from atop my neighbor's light.  (It wasn't warm by the way, and
will be reused!)

Let's see, we viewed Jupiter, Herschel's Garnet Star, Albireo, the
Double Double, Lagoon nebula (M8), Dumbbell nebula (M27), Hercules
Cluster (M13), Andromeda Galaxy w/neighbors (M31/M32/M110), the Double
Cluster, Ring nebula (M57), and Veil nebula.

We briefly discussed the next meeting, a better publicized star party.
  Looking at a calendar, I'd suggest Sep 19, 20, 26 or 27 depending on
the THS football schedule.  I'll scout out the Bright Lake area at
night, which I think has high promise.  I'd like to nail the
date/location down early enough to post some notices in the local
papers.  (Maybe Hawk can add a paragraph to his column in the Loop ;) )

For October, let's aim for the evening of Oct 18th.  Location TBD.

Then maybe in November we can have a "Lunatics Night", on the Nov 7th
or 8th.  The moon will be a nice 10-day old waxing gibbous with an
interesting terminator.  We should probably plan for Friday the 7th
and the 8th would be a weather backup.

Lauren got me interested in the Grandview campground at Bristlecone
Pine Forest.  I'm now planning to do a trip up there next summer.
Looks like Father's Day weekend of Jun 19-21 might be a good target
date.  Maybe we can coordinate with some other locals clubs (Antelope
Valley, China Lake, Kern River) and increase the scope count.

Before then I need to finish the refurbishment of my 18"...

- Brandon


--- In GTAstronomyClub@yahoogroups.com, "Brandon Wood" <bwood44@...>
wrote:
>
> Wonderful--Come on by!  When you learn how to pronounce all the
> constellations, please help me!
>
> I'm not really sure how many people will attend.  I don't expect
more than
> just a few.
>
> As a club, we haven't done much since starting the Yahoo group last
year.
> Dale Hawkins is coming over and we'll be doing some club planning,
setting
> up schedules, etc.
>
> Please feel free to bring your NexStar.  Hopefully the tennis court
lights
> will go out early!
>
> - Brandon
>
> On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 3:51 PM, kimietedo <kimietedo@...> wrote:
>
> >   --- In
GTAstronomyClub@yahoogroups.com<GTAstronomyClub%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > "wood1744" <bwood44@> wrote:
> > >Dear Brandon,
> >
> > My name is Kimie, and I am your neighbor.
> > I would like to attend the star party or meeting with my husband John
> > tonight.
> >
> > I am supposed to be a member of GTAstronomyClub since January this
> > year but not really active yet. Although I have found my interest on
> > cosmology since then, English is not my native language; I really need
> > to take another effort. So far I enjoy reading Astronomy magazines
> > with a dictionary more than observing the sky. I am really beginner of
> > astronomy that I even do not know how to pronounce constellation's
> > name. I have an anniversary-gift-telescope that took back from my
> > parent in law, Celestron, NexStar 4, Aperture 4.5 inches? I don't
> > really satisfy for the view but think that I must have a lot of things
> > to learn from it. See you soon!
> >
> > Kimie
> >
> > > I would like to extent an open invitation to all Astronomy
enthusiasts
> > > in Tehachapi to join me Saturday evening at my house. The new moon
> > > this weekend is a good excuse to meet. I would like to discuss
> > > creating a more formal club organization, whatever that means to us,
> > > and developing a schedule for future star parties.
> > >
> > > I also know there are many people out there that have telescopes but
> > > need assistance setting them up or using them. Tomorrow would be an
> > > excellent opportunity for me or others to provide help. There are
> > > some bright lights near my house in Bear Valley Springs but it works
> > > well enough for casual observing and certainly a good location
if you
> > > are just learning how to use your telescope.
> > >
> > > So join me at my house Saturday night, Aug 30. My address is 29721 N
> > > Lower Valley Road. Please respond or call me at 661-238-9384 for a
> > > BVS gate pass. 7pm-midnight. Rain or shine. Please park on the
> > > gravel portion of my driveway, so we can use the concrete
portion for
> > > telescopes. There's plenty of room.
> > >
> > > I have a fancy new eyepiece arriving today, so I know I'll be
running
> > > it through it's paces Saturday night. I hope to see you there!
> > >
> > > - Brandon
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>

Hi all,

I wanted to let everyone know that I added a few things to the Yahoo!
Group website: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GTAstronomyClub/

On the Home page, I added a Future GTAC Events link for upcoming
events.  These are also accessible by clicking the Calendar link on
the side column.  I also added the Clear Sky Clock that's setup for
the Tehachapi Airport.  So by going to the Home page you can see the
next event coming up, other future events, and what the near-term sky
conditions are Tehachapi.

Other features available online are:

Messages: All messages are archived and available online.
Files: The files section allows larger files and pictures to be saved.
  This is where local astrophotographers can upload and share their images
Photos:  This section allows small pictures and will soon have
pictures taken at local events
Links:  This has links for other local astronomy clubs and other
nearby Clear Sky Clocks
Database:  I'll populate our "Local Observing Sites" database once we
figure out good locations!
Polls:  There are a few polls setup that help you get a better sense
of our membership interests

Enjoy!
  Brandon