Join us in showing what a beautiful night sky view we have from West Virginia!
The Green Bank Observatory Science Center is launching a West Virginia Dark Skies program to bring awareness of the importance of dark skies to our earth and encourage folks to do some stargazing. It is an excellent activity for getting some fresh air while practicing social distancing! West Virginia has some of the darkest skies in the eastern United States, and we’d love to get our state recognized for its dark sky opportunities.
One way that you can help is by completing dark sky reports through Globe at Night (globeatnight.org). Globe at Night is an international campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting the public to measure and report their night sky brightness observations. The next Globe at Night campaign runs from April 22 – May 1. Filling out the survey is easy to do and we’ll walk you through the steps. Browse our videos below for instructions on reporting and tips for making your observations!
This month is filled with night sky and earth-friendly happenings!
Lyrid Meteor Shower – peaks night of April 21
Globe at Night Campaign: April 22 – May 1
International Dark Sky Week – April 22-30
Earth Day – April 22
Drake Lecture, Alyssa Goodman – April 23
Resources
Join our Facebook Event to get the latest news and activities!
We’ve made a series of videos to help you start exploring your dark skies! Watch our YouTube channel
Intro to West Virginia Dark Skies
Green Bank Observatory: How to complete a Globe at Night survey!
Observatory Dark Skies Time Lapse
Listen to this great interview on Allegheny Mountain Radio
West Virginia’s first International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) has been designated! An IDSP is a land possessing a distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment. Watoga State Park, Calvin Price State Forest, and Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park are now recognized for their exceptional dark skies – an achievement that is not easy to obtain!
If you live in Pocahontas County, take advantage of the Pocahontas County Libraries’ stargazing backpacks! Each of the county’s five libraries has a backpack filled with everything you need to get started in learning about the night sky. They can be borrowed just like library books, stop by and find out more!
Did you know that the International Space Station is visible to the eye from earth? So is the Hubble Space Telescope! Find out how to track and view these objects from where you live at heavens-above.com. The website is a great resource for tracking other interesting astronomical objects like comets and asteroids too!
Find free, printable resources at skymaps.com. The evening sky maps are a useful tool for navigating the night sky and beginning your journey into stargazing!
What is light pollution? The International Dark-Skies Association explains why starry skies are a vanishing treasure https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/