I never heard of dark sky sanctuaries until I ran across this.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/oregon-is-now-home-to-the-world-s-largest-dark-sky-sanctuary

I discovered New Mexico has 5 dark sky sanctuaries.

My wife was in an astronomy club here before she died and once a month the club would go out and look through telescopes.  My wife had reflector and sometimes I would go out with her.  Drive ten miles in any direction outside the lights or Roswell and the number of stars you can see is incredible.  The night sky the way it's supposed to look.

We have no industrial air pollution and sit at an altitude of about 3600 feet.  On most days I can see the peak of Sierra Blanca 100 miles to the west.  It's over 12,000 feet high so it just juts up over the horizon.

Noel

 

Living in a built-up area I’m envious Noel. I’m visiting Tenerife in June and will be going on an astronomy tour up at 6,000ft on Mt Teide. Hopefully a memorable experience.

9 hours ago, birdguy said:

I never heard of dark sky sanctuaries until I ran across this.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/oregon-is-now-home-to-the-world-s-largest-dark-sky-sanctuary

I discovered New Mexico has 5 dark sky sanctuaries.

My wife was in an astronomy club here before she died and once a month the club would go out and look through telescopes.  My wife had reflector and sometimes I would go out with her.  Drive ten miles in any direction outside the lights or Roswell and the number of stars you can see is incredible.  The night sky the way it's supposed to look.

We have no industrial air pollution and sit at an altitude of about 3600 feet.  On most days I can see the peak of Sierra Blanca 100 miles to the west.  It's over 12,000 feet high so it just juts up over the horizon.

Noel

 

 

We have one on my doorstep. Noel. The island of Sark, 35 - 50 mins away on the ferry. First time I visited we  had to navigate the streets at night with a torch. In fact Sark was the first Island community in the world to gain the Dark Sky Island status, from the International Dark-Sky Association. Views of the Milky Way are common. 

 

https://www.sark.co.uk/nature/dark-skies

 

 

Edited April 28, 20251 yr by martin-w

On 4/28/2025 at 5:16 AM, martin-w said:

we  had to navigate the streets at night with a torch

Oh, how medieval Martin! Oh, you mean a flashlight... 🤣

When my sister and brother-in-law lived in Borrego Springs, Calif. (also a dark-sky town in the desert),
evening walks after dinner were fairly spectacular.  Also up at their cabin in Soda Springs near Donner Summit
The night sky and Milky Way was always visible!  No street lights and any outside lights on houses had to
shine downwards.

8 hours ago, n4gix said:

Oh, how medieval Martin! Oh, you mean a flashlight... 🤣

 

It's what we call em in UK/British Isles. Some refer to flashlights. 

Sidewalk is pavement.

Aluminum is aluminium.

Square tube is box section.

Soder is solder.

Ours is the proper way. 

Cats say torch, by the way. 

Edited May 1, 20251 yr by martin-w

35 minutes ago, martin-w said:

 

It's what we call em in UK/British Isles. Some refer to flashlights. 

Sidewalk is pavement.

Yeah, I know...

...and the dirt one is walking on is called the floor, which in most civilized tribes is called the "ground!"  🤪

20 minutes ago, n4gix said:

Yeah, I know...

 

Flashlights is silly because the majority of then don't flash. 👍

Quote

which in most civilized tribes is called the "ground!

 

Yes, Bill, but because we are highly intelligent, technical people, we know that "ground" could be confused with an electrical ground, so we say floor so we don't confuse American's who are easily confused. This is why its called SIDEwalk in America, so you guys know its on the side and you have to walk on it. We can understand that pavement is what you walk on. 🤣

Edited May 1, 20251 yr by martin-w

2 hours ago, martin-w said:

Flashlights is silly because the majority of then don't flash. 👍

Flashlights turn on “in a flash”, more modern,  whereas a torch takes longer to light up, so medieval (oops, unconscious plagiarism, change that to “knuckle dragging cavemen”)😆

Edited May 1, 20251 yr by Mike A
Extra phrase

2 hours ago, martin-w said:

because we are highly intelligent, technical people, we know that "ground" could be confused with an electrical ground, so we say floor so we don't confuse American's who are easily confused. (1)

 1: What then pray tell do y'all call the surface you walk on inside the physical structure? The "ground" perhaps?

Quote

This is why its called SIDEwalk in America, so you guys know its on the side and you have to walk on it. We can understand that pavement is what you walk on. 🤣(2)

2: Technically speaking, it would be incorrect to refer to a concrete sidewalk or road "pavement," since said noun is strictly referring to an asphalt construct.

I actually agree that "torch" is a better word for a handheld illuminating device as opposed to "flashlight".  Even in Italian the word is "torcia", pronounced in English as "torchia".

Now, when we're talking about the storage compartment on a car, I think that "trunk" makes more sense than "boot".

I think "ground" makes more sense than "floor" for the soil under one's feet outside.  The earth is the ultimate electrical "ground", actually.

Last, but not least, everyone knows that driving on the *right* side of the road is the "right" way.😀

Dave

1 hour ago, n4gix said:

 1: What then pray tell do y'all call the surface you walk on inside the physical structure? The "ground" perhaps?

 

The floor. As in... pick that up from the floor. As in laminate flooring, or oak flooring, or pine floorboards.

"Ground" would be used more commonly outside, as in, what's that doggy poo on the ground. But the two are interchangeable, I'm talking most commonly used. Might also depend on where you come from in the British isles. 

 

1 hour ago, n4gix said:

2: Technically speaking, it would be incorrect to refer to a concrete sidewalk or road "pavement," since said noun is strictly referring to an asphalt construct

 

Asphalt is used on our roads, and occasionally on our pavements. Paving slabs are commonly used on our pavements, hence where the name probably arose. Sometimes concrete, frequently block paving. 

Roads are never referred to as pavements, only roads or after a night on the booze some unsuspecting drunk might walk in the middle of the road.

Edited May 1, 20251 yr by martin-w

5 hours ago, martin-w said:

Cats say torch, by the way.

42 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

Now, when we're talking about the storage compartment on a car, I think that "trunk" makes more sense than "boot".

 

Both are weird, to be honest.

Could be the trunk of a car, the trunk of a tree, your body not counting the limbs.

Boot could be, what you put on your feet, the storage place at the rear of a car, kick something in a particular direction, firing up our mega PC simming machines. 

 

46 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

I think "ground" makes more sense than "floor" for the soil under one's feet outside.

 

It's what we usually call it, some say floor but it's usually ground. Floor inside ones mega pad.

 

49 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

Last, but not least, everyone knows that driving on the *right* side of the road is the "right" way.😀

 

Cats say no. They like the left. End... 😺

1 hour ago, Mike A said:

Flashlights turn on “in a flash”, more modern,  whereas a torch takes longer to light up

 

Negative Mr. Negative!

Both have fancy Cree LED's and lithium ion batteries and turn on hyper fast.

P.S. A Warning... These days you have to be careful how you say "Flashlight." 😮🫢Not that I know about such things.