Dark Wars Tourism Part1
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Why should your tours stargaze at Bryce? (Tues, Thurs, Sat, May - October) Great Sky! – 7.4 magnitude • Great Rift in Milky Way • Andromeda Galaxy • 7500 Stars!
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This is the first half of version of my famous Dark Wars astronomy presentation that I give at Bryce Canyon National Park. This version is "geared" for the tourism industry, encouraging them to help protect natural darkness by supporting astronomy tourism.
Transcript of Dark Wars Tourism Part1
Why should your tours stargaze at Bryce?
(Tues, Thurs, Sat, May - October)
Great Sky! – 7.4 magnitude • Great Rift in Milky Way• Andromeda Galaxy• 7500 Stars!
KPOE’s
It cannot be seen,It cannot be felt.
Cannot be heard, Cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars, And under hills, And empty holes it fills.
It comes first, And follows after.
Ends life, And kills laughter.
- J.R.R. Tolkien
It is a place to hunt,It is a place to hide.
A common fear to overcome, Rare beauty protected with pride.
It brightens the stars, And endures our Moon,But by our cities laid ruin.
Celebrating its function, May make many wealthy,
But ignoring its necessity,Will make all unhealthy.
- Kevin “The Dark Ranger” Poe
Darkness is Dangerous?
So darkness is… Essential?
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
Not long ago, in a national park nearby….
By ark Ranger Kevin Poe
DP
KPOE’s
Lehman Cave, Great Basin NP, NV
Websters says:Darkness (n) is the absence of light
Modern Physics says Light is:- a particle = “photon” (and/or)- a wave = “probability wave”- has mass (or at least electro-mass)- travels at 186,282 miles/sec (300,000 km/sec)- measures distance (light year = 10,000,000,000,000 km)
So where isn’t Light (=darkness)?- empty space? (between galaxies?)- in black holes? (‘cuz they’re black?)- underground! (caves and mines!)
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
So darkness is… in the eyes of the beholder?
Threshold of Vision- 15 photons/sec per rod - 150,000 rods per mm2 (Human retina) - 1,000,000 rods per mm2 (Great Horned Owl retina)
& with tapetum lucidum = 40x night vision
Darkness is when I can’t see?
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
Math says…
Light’s intensitydiminishes at: S
4пr2
So darkness is…
Very Dispersed light?
1/15 sec refresh rate
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
Sphinx Moth
Owl
Darkness is Noisy!
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
Sphinx Moth
Moth
Owl
Frog
Fish Lion
Darkness is noisy!
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
Sphinx Moth
So darkness sustains:
- Almost all amphibians- Innumerable insects- Most mammals- Frequently fish- Bunches of birds
Darkness is noisy!
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
The light from a single candle:- is visible at 3.5 miles (6 km)- kills moths
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
Light pointed sideways
The light from a single Candle:- is visible at 3.5 miles (6 km)- kills moths- at 24” (60 cm) can increase spread of cancer!
Zzzzz
Melatonin
Light pointed up
Light pointed down but bouncing up
So darkness is… Fragile?
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
Darkness is increasingly… Rare!
Because darkness is… Fragile
What’s Darkness Anyway?
KPOE’s
“I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day”
- Vincent van Gogh
So darkness is…Beautiful?
What’s Darkness Anyway?
