Starlight Conferences and Workshops
Starlight Conferences and Workshops
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand - 11,12 and 13 June 2012
The New Zealand International Starlight conference will take place at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand in June 2012.
This conference is recognized by the Starlight Initiative as the third of a series started in 2007 on the island of La Palma with the World Conference in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Observe the Stars, where the Sta...
Where the Earth meets the Universe 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
La Palma (Canary Islands), 9-10 November 2009
Starlight Workshop
Close to the finalisation of the International Year of Astronomy, the aim of this open workshop is to make us think over the important progress made in night sky defence and preservation of the associated cultural, scientific and environmental heritage, as well as the objec...
Starlight Reserves and World Heritage - Fuerteventura 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), 10-11 March 2009
The International Workshop and expert meeting “Starlight Reserves and World Heritage: Scientific, Cultural and Environment Values”, was hosted by the...
International Workshop on Light Pollution - Antofagasta
Atacama Desert Museum, Antofagasta. August 2-4, 2010
Conclusions
The participants of the International Workshop on Light Pollution held between February and August 4, 2010, meeting in Antofagasta, Chile, together with representatives of ESO (European Southern Observatory), Municipality of Antofagasta, OPCC (Office for the Protection of the Quality of the Skies of Northern Chile), OTPC...
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand - 11,12 and 13 June 2012
The New Zealand International Starlight conference will take place at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand in June 2012.
This conference is recognized by the Starlight Initiative as the third of a series started in 2007 on the island of La Palma with the World Conference in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Observe the Stars, where the Starlight Declaration was adopted. It will address themes concerning
- the defence of the quality of the night sky,
- the right to observe the stars,
- the heritage of starlight,
- the issues of light pollution,
- the protection of observatory sites,
- the benefits of public outreach in astronomy and
- the cultural aspects of visual astronomy.
The Starlight Conference in New Zealand has been planned in conjunction with a bid we recently submitted to the International Dark-Sky Association for a Dark-Sky Reserve to be recognized in the Mackenzie Basin region around Lake Tekapo, and also in the nearby Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. A Starlight Reserve for the Mackenzie Basin was also proposed in the recent IAU-ICOMOS Thematic Study. We will discuss the concept, implementation and benefits of Starlight Reserves as a means of protecting the night sky, with the benefits for public outreach and astro-tourism, and for astronomical research.
In addition, several radio astronomers have pointed out that the issues of radio-frequency interference have much in common with issues of light pollution. We will therefore expand the topics under discussion to RFI and the development of radio-astronomy in New Zealand, especially the selection of radio-quiet sites. This is topical as New Zealand may participate with Australia in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio-astronomy project.
Earlier Starlight meetings were held at La Palma in April 2007 and in Fuerteventura (both in the Canary Islands) in March 2009. The New Zealand meeting will continue the progress made at these earlier meetings.
Web Site of the Conference
Topics of the conferences
- Role and purpose of a Starlight Reserve
- Public education and outreach at a Starlight Reserve
- Starlight Reserves and astro-tourism
- The Starlight Declaration (2007) and the right to see the stars
- Light pollution and light pollution controls through lighting ordinances
- The dark sky park movement, including science-based park management and related visitor experiences
- Integrating starlight protection with protection for the landscape, ecology and biosphere
- Radio astronomy and radio frequency interference (RFI); radio-quiet zones and RFI mitigation; the selection of sites in NZ for radio-astronomy
- Starlight Reserves as a protection for astronomical research
- Cultural aspects of stars and starlight in civilization and society
- The role of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO MaB Programme, Starlight Initiative and other bodies (International Dark Sky Association, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, government departments, local government etc) in regulating and operating Starlight Reserves.
The conference will be a multidisciplinary meeting, and contributions will be welcome that not only include scientific and technical aspects of starlight, but also on themes which are educational, cultural, environmental, aesthetic, legal or political. It is hoped to include astro-tourism, Maori astronomy and public outreach through star-gazing. The relationship between stars and the ecology of the nocturnal biosphere will also be discussed.
Other related conferences
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand - 11,12 and 13 June 2012
The New Zealand International Starlight conference will take place at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand in June 2012.
This conference is recognized by the Starlight Initiative as the third of a series started in 2007 on the island of La Palma with the World Conference in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Observe the Stars, where the Sta...
Where the Earth meets the Universe 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
La Palma (Canary Islands), 9-10 November 2009
Starlight Workshop
Close to the finalisation of the International Year of Astronomy, the aim of this open workshop is to make us think over the important progress made in night sky defence and preservation of the associated cultural, scientific and environmental heritage, as well as the objec...
Starlight Reserves and World Heritage - Fuerteventura 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), 10-11 March 2009
The International Workshop and expert meeting “Starlight Reserves and World Heritage: Scientific, Cultural and Environment Values”, was hosted by the...
International Workshop on Light Pollution - Antofagasta
Atacama Desert Museum, Antofagasta. August 2-4, 2010
Conclusions
The participants of the International Workshop on Light Pollution held between February and August 4, 2010, meeting in Antofagasta, Chile, together with representatives of ESO (European Southern Observatory), Municipality of Antofagasta, OPCC (Office for the Protection of the Quality of the Skies of Northern Chile), OTPC...
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand - 11,12 and 13 June 2012
The New Zealand International Starlight conference will take place at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand in June 2012.
This conference is recognized by the Starlight Initiative as the third of a series started in 2007 on the island of La Palma with the World Conference in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Observe the Stars, where the Sta...
Where the Earth meets the Universe 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
La Palma (Canary Islands), 9-10 November 2009
Starlight Workshop
Close to the finalisation of the International Year of Astronomy, the aim of this open workshop is to make us think over the important progress made in night sky defence and preservation of the associated cultural, scientific and environmental heritage, as well as the objec...
Starlight Reserves and World Heritage - Fuerteventura 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), 10-11 March 2009
The International Workshop and expert meeting “Starlight Reserves and World Heritage: Scientific, Cultural and Environment Values”, was hosted by the...
International Workshop on Light Pollution - Antofagasta
Atacama Desert Museum, Antofagasta. August 2-4, 2010
Conclusions
The participants of the International Workshop on Light Pollution held between February and August 4, 2010, meeting in Antofagasta, Chile, together with representatives of ESO (European Southern Observatory), Municipality of Antofagasta, OPCC (Office for the Protection of the Quality of the Skies of Northern Chile), OTPC...
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
La Palma (Canary Islands), 9-10 November 2009
Starlight Workshop
Close to the finalisation of the International Year of Astronomy, the aim of this open workshop is to make us think over the important progress made in night sky defence and preservation of the associated cultural, scientific and environmental heritage, as well as the objectives and challenges of future beyond IYA 2009.
Expert Meeting
After the Fuerteventura meeting (Starlight Reserves and World Heritage: Scientific, Cultural and Environmental Values, April 2009), and taking into account the Kazan recommendations (UNESCO-IAU Conference on Astronomy and World Heritage, August 2009), the group of experts was convened with the aim to go forward on the identification of case studies, contents and proposals of natural areas, nightscapes and exceptional sites for astronomical observation that should be included in the World Heritage List. The second objective has been to analyse and propose coordination, dissemination and networking actions to promote the defence of star-related cultural, scientific and natural heritage, and of those places that can be promoted as starlight and dark sky reserves.
Sessions and Presentations...>
Main references
“An unpolluted night sky that allows the enjoyment and contemplation of the firmament should be considered an inalienable right of humankind equivalent to all other environmental, social, and cultural rights, due to its impact on the development of all peoples and on the conservation of biodiversity.”
Declaration in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Starlight. La Palma, Spain 2007.
“The meeting encouraged States Parties to develop appropriate frameworks for the protection of dark skies, and where these are in place to implement and respect them. Where legally protected Starlight Reserves are already in place States Parties should ensure local level efficient management and enforcement of criteria covering the wider tourism experience, the local inhabitants, climate change, cultural, astronomical, and natural issues, noting that failure to do so may result in withdrawal of reserve status”.
Starlight Reserves and World Heritage International Workshop and Expert Meeting. Fuerteventura, Spain 2009.
“Protection of the astronomical quality of areas suitable for scientific observation of the Universe should be taken into account when developing and evaluating national and international scientific and environmental policies, with due regard to local cultural and natural values”.
RESOLUTION B5 in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Starlight. IAU General Assembly 2009. Rio de Janeiro. Brazil.
Other related conferences
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand - 11,12 and 13 June 2012
The New Zealand International Starlight conference will take place at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand in June 2012.
This conference is recognized by the Starlight Initiative as the third of a series started in 2007 on the island of La Palma with the World Conference in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Observe the Stars, where the Sta...
Where the Earth meets the Universe 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
La Palma (Canary Islands), 9-10 November 2009
Starlight Workshop
Close to the finalisation of the International Year of Astronomy, the aim of this open workshop is to make us think over the important progress made in night sky defence and preservation of the associated cultural, scientific and environmental heritage, as well as the objec...
Starlight Reserves and World Heritage - Fuerteventura 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), 10-11 March 2009
The International Workshop and expert meeting “Starlight Reserves and World Heritage: Scientific, Cultural and Environment Values”, was hosted by the...
International Workshop on Light Pollution - Antofagasta
Atacama Desert Museum, Antofagasta. August 2-4, 2010
Conclusions
The participants of the International Workshop on Light Pollution held between February and August 4, 2010, meeting in Antofagasta, Chile, together with representatives of ESO (European Southern Observatory), Municipality of Antofagasta, OPCC (Office for the Protection of the Quality of the Skies of Northern Chile), OTPC...
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), 10-11 March 2009
The International Workshop and expert meeting “Starlight Reserves and World Heritage: Scientific, Cultural and Environment Values”, was hosted by the Fuerteventura Island Council, and organized in cooperation with the UNESCO-World Heritage Centre, IAC (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias), and IAU (International Astronomical Union).
The International Workshop and Expert Meeting "Starlight Reserves and World. It was attended participants and experts from 10 countries including representatives of private organizations, companies, the tourism industry, NGOs, scientific bodies and research stations, as well as international organizations such as UNWTO, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the European Landscape Convention, the UNESCO MAB Programme and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, Ambassador Maria Jesús San Segundo, also participated in the workshop.
This meeting is part of the cycle of the UNESCO-World Heritage activities “Astronomy and World Heritage: across time and continents”, launched within the framework of the World Heritage Initiative on Astronomical Heritage during the celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, IYA2009.
One of the most important contributions of the meeting was to provide final review of the Starlight Reserve Concept and promote the creation of DSAG - IUCN (Dark Sky Advisory Gorup).
The expert meeting concluded with a set of recommendations for consideration by the UNESCO-MaB Programme, World Heritage Committee, States Parties, Member States of UNESCO, the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Convention (IUCN, ICOMOS, ICCROM), other UNESCO programmes as well as other UN organizations, scientific institutions and other relevant bodies.
"The combination of increased awareness of the need to minimize impacts of light pollution, growing need to promote energy efficiencies in rural and urban development planning for mitigating climate change consequences and greater public appreciation of the recreational and educational benefits of a clear-night sky could help to move the Starlight idea into mainstream development processes". Natarajan Ishwaran - Director, Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, UNESCO.
More information in UNESCO-World Heritage Center
Other related conferences
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand - 11,12 and 13 June 2012
The New Zealand International Starlight conference will take place at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand in June 2012.
This conference is recognized by the Starlight Initiative as the third of a series started in 2007 on the island of La Palma with the World Conference in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Observe the Stars, where the Sta...
Where the Earth meets the Universe 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
La Palma (Canary Islands), 9-10 November 2009
Starlight Workshop
Close to the finalisation of the International Year of Astronomy, the aim of this open workshop is to make us think over the important progress made in night sky defence and preservation of the associated cultural, scientific and environmental heritage, as well as the objec...
Starlight Reserves and World Heritage - Fuerteventura 2009
International Workshop and Expert Meeting
Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), 10-11 March 2009
The International Workshop and expert meeting “Starlight Reserves and World Heritage: Scientific, Cultural and Environment Values”, was hosted by the...
International Workshop on Light Pollution - Antofagasta
Atacama Desert Museum, Antofagasta. August 2-4, 2010
Conclusions
The participants of the International Workshop on Light Pollution held between February and August 4, 2010, meeting in Antofagasta, Chile, together with representatives of ESO (European Southern Observatory), Municipality of Antofagasta, OPCC (Office for the Protection of the Quality of the Skies of Northern Chile), OTPC...
Atacama Desert Museum, Antofagasta. August 2-4, 2010
Conclusions
The participants of the International Workshop on Light Pollution held between February and August 4, 2010, meeting in Antofagasta, Chile, together with representatives of ESO (European Southern Observatory), Municipality of Antofagasta, OPCC (Office for the Protection of the Quality of the Skies of Northern Chile), OTPC (Sky Quality Protection Technical Office, Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias - IAC), StarLight Initiative (in partnership with UNESCO-MaB), AURA (Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy), CARSO (Carnegie Institution of Washington), University of Hawaii, CieloBuio, ISTIL (Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute, Italy), IDA (International Dark Sky Association) Institute of Astronomy, Universidad Catolica del Norte, ILAV (Light, Environment and Vision Research Institute), AURA, and the National Astronomical Observatory (University of Chile),Recalling the resolutions and recommendations of the First International Conference on Light Pollution (La Serena, 2003) and of XXXVI Symposium of Spanish Committee of Illumination;
Taking into account the resolution 7 of the Starlight International Declaration (La Palma, 2007) which says: “Public administrations, the lighting industry, and decisionmakers should also ensure that all users of artificial light do so responsibly as part of an integral part of planning and energy sustainability policies, which should be supported by light pollution measuring, both from the ground and from space.”;
Recognizing the guidelines set forth during the International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009 - IAU-UNESCO) regarding the need for dark skies for the development of astronomy, and their importance for nature conservation highlighted in this International Year of Biodiversity (2010);
Given the need to act consistently to defend the quality of the night skies as a most important scientific, cultural, environmental and tourist resource...
Read Conclusions (pdf)
More information in the OPCC Web Site
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Starlight Initiative collaborates with the
PORTAL TO THE HERITAGE OF ASTRONOMYUpdates
- Global Astronomy Month (GAM 2012)
- Starlight - Covenant of Mayors Related Initiative
- El Montsec inicia el proceso para la certificación como Destino Turístico Starlight
- Light Pollution - IAU General Assembly
- Comments on EC Green Paper
- Starlight Tourist Destinations
- Alqueva - The First Starlight Destination
- Amman - Starlight
Starlight Finder
Starlight related links
Covenant of Mayors Related Initiative
Colaborating with IAU Working Group
IUCN Dark Sky Advisory Group
Dark Skies Awareness Project
Partnership Unesco-MaB
Member of the Knowledge Network
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
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The Starlight Initiative is designed as an international action in defence of the values associated with the night sky and the general right to observe the stars. It is open to the participation of all scientific, cultural, environmental, and citizens' organizations... |
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