GREATER HAZLETON AREA ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

 

March 25, 2000

 

To: Kevin Fazzini

Hickory Run State Park

RR#1 Box 81

White Haven, PA 18661

 

From: Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical Society

P.O. Box 1032

Conyngham, PA 18219

 

Subject: Public Comment on Nescopeck State Park Resource Management Plan

The Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical Society was founded in 1977 to promote the study of astronomy and to provide an educational function for the Greater Hazleton Area. Since the Society's inception, we have been involved in science education through special astronomy programs for public and private schools in the Hazleton area. Our society also provides astronomy programs for local organizations, scouting groups, the gifted-student program and the general public. We operate an astronomical observing site in Eckley, PA where we conduct astronomical studies and provide astronomy programs.

We have reviewed the Resource Management Plan for Nescopeck State Park. A summary of our comments is as follows and a discussion of each comment is also provided below.

 

1. The Resource Management Plan should recognize our night sky as a fragile resource of the park. Steps should be taken to protect it that include using only full cutoff shielded fixtures that do not cause light pollution as required by local zoning ordinances.

2. An area should be established in the park for astronomical studies of the night sky.

3. The planned Environmental Education Center should be designed to allow astronomical observing programs for the public and for astronomy presentations and light pollution educational programs and studies.

 

Light Pollution - Resource Management Plan

When public input was sought on park plans years ago, our Society requested that any lighting proposed for the park be full cutoff shielded fixtures to avoid the light pollution problems of glare and skyglow. We have attached recent articles on light pollution in our National Parks where the problem has been extensively studied.

Since 1989, our Society has been working with local governments and businesses in our area to reduce light pollution. The proposed Nescopeck State Park would be located about six miles from our astronomical observatory site in Eckley. Outdoor lighting ordinances that require shielded lighting have been adopted in almost all local municipalities. We have attached a copy of the Butler Township ordinance that requires full cutoff fixtures. If any lighting is proposed for the park, it should meet IESNA lighting level standards and be full cutoff.

We are requesting that the lighting type for any outdoor lighting in the park be specified as Low Pressure Sodium (LPS). LPS is the most energy efficient lighting type and its light can be filtered for astronomical observing at the park using telescopes and binoculars equipped with the appropriate filters. Our light pollution abatement committee is available to assist the park with selection and design of environmentally friendly lighting.

The Pennsylvania 21st Century Environmental Commission was established on July 11, 1997 by executive order from Governor Tom Ridge. In the Governors Executive Order, the Governor asked the Commission to recommend environmental priorities. The astronomical community across the Commonwealth attended the Commissions meetings and provided comments to the Commission to request that Light Pollution be included as a top environmental issue for the State. The Governor asked the Commission to propose strategies to meet environmental priorities including proposed legislative and regulatory changes. The astronomical community during the course of the public input period recommended specific actions that could be taken to control Pennsylvanias Light Pollution problem. These specific actions included the following:

1. Require that fully shielded lighting be used for all state funded outdoor lighting so that no lighting is directed upward.

2. Development of a Light Pollution Plan to protect areas of the Commonwealth especially suitable for astronomical observatories or which provide nocturnal benefits to flora and fauna.

The Commissions Final Report to the Governor included a section on Efficient Energy Use. This section included the following recommendation:

One example of inefficiency is in the area of outdoor lighting that is designed so that nearly half of the energy to light the lamp is wasted upward instead of onto the ground. While it may appear to be a relatively minor item, redesigning a bulb (fixture) is the kind of solution or example that can be more broadly applied. Our sound land use practices can include model ordinances for outdoor lighting. Commonwealth procurement practices can be revised to include a provision for efficient lighting. Such leadership by example would produce efficient outlays of public funds, would conserve energy and would reduce emissions.

 

The parks Resource Management Plan should recognize our night sky as a fragile resource of the park and our area. The night sky has been lost to urban sky glow over most of Luzerne County and this resource that still exists in the Nescopeck State Park needs to be protected.

 

Area for Astronomical Observation

 

Our Society has been providing astronomy programs for the public at Hickory Run, Tuscarora and Locust Lake State Parks. These programs include astronomy and light pollution slide presentations, telescope demonstrations and star parties for nighttime observing through telescopes and binoculars. Our Society members volunteer their time and equipment for the programs at no cost to the Commonwealth.

We are requesting that the park be designed to set aside an area for astronomical observing. Such an area could be as simple as an open grassy field with an unobstructed view of the night sky. We are available to assist with the selection of a site in the park for this purpose.

 

Environmental Education Center - Astronomical Observatory

 

We recommend that the environmental education center be designed to incorporate an astronomical observatory. An astronomical observatory could become a primary attraction for such a center. The observatory could be used during the day for solar observing and at night for deep sky observing.

Through our astronomy programs, our society has monitored air and light pollution levels while building public awareness about clean air and preservation of a fragile resource of our area, the night sky. We have provided programs to the public on the effects of light pollution on our night sky environment.

The requirements for an astronomical observatory would vary. If incorporated into the design of the environmental center, there may be no additional cost to make accommodations for an observatory. Typical astronomical observatories utilize a dome shaped roof that opens for telescope viewing. Such a dome is typically 16 feet in diameter. Other observatory designs instead use a slide-back roof to access the sky. A slide-back roof allows for the use of multiple telescopes. Other alternatives would be an observing deck as part of the environmental education center building or a concrete or gravel pad adjacent to the building.

Our society could provide three different types of telescopes that are owned by the Society for nighttime observing. These are an 8 inch Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, a 6 inch Newtonian Reflector Telescope and a 4 1/2 inch Refractor Telescope. The 8 inch Celestron Telescope is equipped with a clock drive mechanism to track the movement of stars and can also be used for astrophotography or connected to video equipment for observing by large groups.

 

Our Society member leaders and volunteers would be available to assist with the operation of the astronomical observatory as a community service. Our society, as a non-profit educational organization, has experience in providing educational programs since 1977. Regular astronomy programs, environmental education programs and programs for special astronomical events could be provided. The society maintains an extensive astronomy library as well as audio visual and exhibit materials. Solar observing programs, astronomy and light pollution exhibits and astronomy slide presentations could be available during the day.

Nescopeck State Park offers a variety of locations for an observatory or observing area. One criteria for selecting a site would be consideration of the local terrain to maximize the portion of the sky that is unobstructed. Our Society can assist in studying locations for the site.

We thank you for allowing our input on park plans. We are hopeful that the night sky will be protected as an important fragile resource of our area and that astronomy and light pollution education will be made part of the parks educational objectives.

 

Gary J. Honis

Assistant Director - GHAAS