April 18, 2001
Study illuminates area light pollution
Students measure brightness of stars in constellation Orion
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Sparking students' interest in science and astronomy while performing a public service is a win-win situation for any educator.
By conducting a light pollution survey, area middle school students are documenting lighting trouble spots around the Grand Traverse region and learning about the scientific method all at the same time. The surveys, which measure the brightness of the stars in the constellation Orion, will show how artificial lighting in various parts of the county affect nighttime visibility.
With everyone from Jerry Dobek, curator of the Northwestern Michigan College Rogers Observatory, to the Grand Traverse County Planning Commission to the International Dark Sky Association interested in the results, it is a project that makes their lessons all the more real.
For some students, participating in the survey has jump-started their interest in astronomy.
"I want to study astronomy more, that is about the only thing in science I am really interested in because it is pretty fascinating," said Lexy Powell, an eighth-grade student at Traverse City West Junior High. "The survey is what sparked my interest and doing it was fun because you get to learn more about the stars. My whole class likes astronomy a lot now."
Other participating schools are Traverse City East Junior High and Elk Rapids Middle School along with area homeschool students.
Powell completed three surveys and was so excited about the project she drew the cover for the final report. Her teacher, Sandy Mills, has been thrilled with her students' interest and response to the project. More than 80 percent of her 110 students participated during the past three months, turning in their results after spring break.
The survey began just after her classes studied constellations and different types and sizes of stars as part of Project Astro. Project Astro is a national program that brings astronomers, whether professional or amateur, into classrooms to teach astronomy as a supplement to the regular science curriculum; Northwestern Michigan College is one of 10 colleges and universities offering this opportunity.
"We talked about nebulas and there is a massive nebula in the sword of Orion's belt they could look for," Mills said. "I have several kids who have stayed keenly interested and they are helping me compile information onto a county map. Our goal is to have it done in the next couple of weeks."
Mills and the other science teachers participating found that they covered significant ground with just this one assignment: from science to math to local zoning ordinances (four area townships have lighting ordinances and the survey may help determine their effectiveness.) At East Junior High, some of science teacher Lauren Chapple's students took on compiling the survey data as their semester project.
"This is information that stretches out from the walls of the classroom," Mills said. "A lot of the kids got really excited about this and I hope that 10 years, 20 years from now they remember that, when they look up at the Orion."
Dobek, who is concerned about how encroaching light pollution illuminates the night sky, spearheaded the light pollution survey. He said that when lights glare up into the sky, it is not just astronomers who suffer.
Glaring lights at night prevent people on the ground from seeing in the darkness, whether with the naked eye or a telescope pointed at the stars. This glare can be dangerous to drivers, an invitation to the crime it was supposed to prevent and a waste of electricity and money, Dobek noted.
Armed with data from the light pollution survey, Dobek can talk to township officials, business owners and residents about lighting issues and help preserve the night sky for all to enjoy and learn from.
"In 20 years at the Observatory, I have noticed a change viewing toward the north, toward the Little Dipper," Dobek said. "You used to be able to see all seven stars in the Little Dipper 15 years ago and today you have difficulty finding two stars."
"Because we (the observatory) sit in the geographic center, the entire county affects us. We get some glow from Leelanau County."