A free Virtual Planetarium event is set to go live on Facebook this week, organized by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA).
DOST-PAGASA is presenting the virtual planetarium “to increase awareness of the significance of dark skies to human culture, heritage, and health, in addition to the health of ecosystems, and the value of dark and quiet skies for astronomical study.”
The event is part of the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Dark and Quiet Skies Global Outreach Project, aimed at raising awareness about “the need to preserve dark and quiet skies. These two elements – dark and quiet – go hand-in-hand but refer to two different types of interference.”
IAU explains: “Dark sky protection refers to the abatement of light pollution caused by artificial light at night by regional and national policy and law, in addition to public awareness. More recently, dark sky protection has also included the protection of the night sky from optical and infrared impacts (such as trails seen in images) resulting from the growing number of satellites in Low Earth Orbit. On the other hand, quiet sky protection refers to the threat posed by the radio interference of the same satellite constellations.”
The Virtual Planetarium will be hosted by the Space Science and Astronomy Section of the Research & Development and Training Division (RDTD-SSAS) on May 30, 2024, Thursday, at 2:00 PM, live on DOST-PAGASA’s Facebook page.
Additionally, the first and only planetarium in Mindanao, located in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, opened to the public this May 2024. The PAGASA Science Garden in Quezon City also has a 47-year-old planetarium.
Join the Virtual Planetarium to learn more about the importance of preserving our dark and quiet skies. Follow DOST-PAGASA on Facebook for updates and to catch the live event!
Share this article and help spread the word about this enlightening event!
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