@ashedarksky.org
Goodbye Waxing Crescent behind the mountain. Photo by John Boston.
November 24, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Goodbye Waxing Crescent behind the mountain. Photo by John Boston.
Galilean binoculars (William Optics Cat Eyes - each a 168.00 value) were donated to respondents who were found to provide constructive feedback or who encouraged several other survey responses. One respondent each from Jefferson and W. Jefferson. Congratulations to one of the recipients seen here!
November 19, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Galilean binoculars (William Optics Cat Eyes - each a 168.00 value) were donated to respondents who were found to provide constructive feedback or who encouraged several other survey responses. One respondent each from Jefferson and W. Jefferson. Congratulations to one of the recipients seen here!
A holiday gift idea for dark sky enthusiasts #astrophotography #astronomy #darksky #publichealth jeffpfaller.com/products/dar...
Dark Skies Photography Book
This book is my love letter to the National Park System. It explores America’s best idea in a way you haven’t seen before. After dark, when most of the crowds have gone home and you have the forest to...
jeffpfaller.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
A holiday gift idea for dark sky enthusiasts #astrophotography #astronomy #darksky #publichealth jeffpfaller.com/products/dar...
Our first prize draw was concluded today 11/16/2025 at 4pm. Congratulations to the winner! We will give them seven days to respond before moving to the second place winner. Please ignore the term "raffle" in the video.
The video of our drawing can be found here: drive.google.com/file/d/11dGe...
The video of our drawing can be found here: drive.google.com/file/d/11dGe...
Raffle 1 final draw.mp4
drive.google.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Our first prize draw was concluded today 11/16/2025 at 4pm. Congratulations to the winner! We will give them seven days to respond before moving to the second place winner. Please ignore the term "raffle" in the video.
The video of our drawing can be found here: drive.google.com/file/d/11dGe...
The video of our drawing can be found here: drive.google.com/file/d/11dGe...
We were not very optimistic with regard to the weather. November's DSO night turned out fantastic! We got to see just about every object worth sharing through our many various optics, Jupiter being the exception as it was a little too low at the end of the night. #darkskies
November 16, 2025 at 5:57 PM
We were not very optimistic with regard to the weather. November's DSO night turned out fantastic! We got to see just about every object worth sharing through our many various optics, Jupiter being the exception as it was a little too low at the end of the night. #darkskies
Final program at 221 access for the year! Thank you so much to the park staff for letting us enrich the experiences of the campers from time to time this year. We are looking forward to future events next year and many years to come.
November 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Final program at 221 access for the year! Thank you so much to the park staff for letting us enrich the experiences of the campers from time to time this year. We are looking forward to future events next year and many years to come.
Night 2 of aurora was not as good as it appeared to be low on the horizon and constrained directly north. No activity was detected at around 10pm so we packed up. We were able to share a few views of Saturn, Double Cluster, Andromeda, and the Pleiades while doing LP outreach.
November 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Night 2 of aurora was not as good as it appeared to be low on the horizon and constrained directly north. No activity was detected at around 10pm so we packed up. We were able to share a few views of Saturn, Double Cluster, Andromeda, and the Pleiades while doing LP outreach.
Jupiter is rising! Photo credit John Boston.
November 13, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Jupiter is rising! Photo credit John Boston.
Reposted
"Our findings show that ALAN disrupts the fundamental energetic constraints on ecosystem metabolism, warranting the inclusion of light pollution in global change and carbon–climate feedback assessments."
Johnston, Kim, & Harris. Nat. Clim. Chang. (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Johnston, Kim, & Harris. Nat. Clim. Chang. (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Widespread influence of artificial light at night on ecosystem metabolism - Nature Climate Change
The authors combine light intensity data with eddy covariance observations from 86 sites to show that artificial light at night increases ecosystem respiration and alters carbon exchange, with impacts...
doi.org
November 12, 2025 at 11:21 PM
"Our findings show that ALAN disrupts the fundamental energetic constraints on ecosystem metabolism, warranting the inclusion of light pollution in global change and carbon–climate feedback assessments."
Johnston, Kim, & Harris. Nat. Clim. Chang. (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Johnston, Kim, & Harris. Nat. Clim. Chang. (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Wonderful low latitude aurora taken 2 hours ago at The Lump Overlook on 11/11/25. Even better than last years! #Astronomy #astrophotography #publichealth #lightpollution #ashecounty #northcarolina
November 12, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Wonderful low latitude aurora taken 2 hours ago at The Lump Overlook on 11/11/25. Even better than last years! #Astronomy #astrophotography #publichealth #lightpollution #ashecounty #northcarolina
We attended the GLAD/Town Council "Friendsgiving" Potluck. We enjoyed the good food and hospitality of the community while having the opportunity to discuss the excellent position and potential Lansing has for becoming the first DarkSky community in Appalachia! #Northcarolina #Ashecounty #Lansing
November 9, 2025 at 4:08 PM
We attended the GLAD/Town Council "Friendsgiving" Potluck. We enjoyed the good food and hospitality of the community while having the opportunity to discuss the excellent position and potential Lansing has for becoming the first DarkSky community in Appalachia! #Northcarolina #Ashecounty #Lansing
We are always happy to help with school outreach for potential university students. DSO's open night was a success despite horribly overcast conditions. Everyone got a good look at the Moon and Saturn. Discussions were held about light pollution during DSI's 24 hour One-Sky event.
November 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
We are always happy to help with school outreach for potential university students. DSO's open night was a success despite horribly overcast conditions. Everyone got a good look at the Moon and Saturn. Discussions were held about light pollution during DSI's 24 hour One-Sky event.
Our founding president, David, has set up our design with a local apparel shop in Lansing, NC called Amy Anne Apparel Inc. (Lansing Trading Co). The sweater and t-shirt were acquired at an excellent price! If you want one please contact/inquire/order here: www.amyanneapparel.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Our founding president, David, has set up our design with a local apparel shop in Lansing, NC called Amy Anne Apparel Inc. (Lansing Trading Co). The sweater and t-shirt were acquired at an excellent price! If you want one please contact/inquire/order here: www.amyanneapparel.com
Our first sidewalk Astronomy event hosted by New River Brewing! Despite poor weather predictions, the sky managed to stay clear enough for the Moon and one of the best views of Saturn this year. Special thanks to owner Greg and his wife and Michelle for support #ashecounty #darksky ##northcarolina
November 2, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Our first sidewalk Astronomy event hosted by New River Brewing! Despite poor weather predictions, the sky managed to stay clear enough for the Moon and one of the best views of Saturn this year. Special thanks to owner Greg and his wife and Michelle for support #ashecounty #darksky ##northcarolina
Reposted
A very important step forward in our understanding of light pollution under cloudy skies, by Miroslav Kocifaj, Fabio Falchi and Frantisek Kundracik
"An all-sky light pollution model for global-scale applications that embraces a full range of cloud distributions"
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
"An all-sky light pollution model for global-scale applications that embraces a full range of cloud distributions"
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
An all-sky light pollution model for global-scale applications that embraces a full range of cloud distributions | PNAS
Light pollution has been traditionally modeled using clear or completely overcast
conditions. Usually, atmospheric conditions are more complex and ...
www.pnas.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:50 PM
A very important step forward in our understanding of light pollution under cloudy skies, by Miroslav Kocifaj, Fabio Falchi and Frantisek Kundracik
"An all-sky light pollution model for global-scale applications that embraces a full range of cloud distributions"
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
"An all-sky light pollution model for global-scale applications that embraces a full range of cloud distributions"
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
One of our favorite authors, Leigh Ann Henion has an event in Lansing on 5 December. If you are from the area, please check it out.
#Lansing #ashecounty #darksky #northcarolina
#Lansing #ashecounty #darksky #northcarolina
October 31, 2025 at 7:22 PM
One of our favorite authors, Leigh Ann Henion has an event in Lansing on 5 December. If you are from the area, please check it out.
#Lansing #ashecounty #darksky #northcarolina
#Lansing #ashecounty #darksky #northcarolina
We are going to be at the Brewery Saturday. The Moon and Saturn will be right next to each other. Hoping for clear skies. #ashecounty #Astronomy #publichealth #lightpollution #darksky
October 29, 2025 at 10:39 PM
We are going to be at the Brewery Saturday. The Moon and Saturn will be right next to each other. Hoping for clear skies. #ashecounty #Astronomy #publichealth #lightpollution #darksky
Our Mount Jefferson event was a bust due to clouds. Got a couple of good view of the Sun and that was it. Thanks to Ranger Tim Abee for support!
October 26, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Our Mount Jefferson event was a bust due to clouds. Got a couple of good view of the Sun and that was it. Thanks to Ranger Tim Abee for support!
October 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Another fine presentation and viewing on dark skies / LP at New River with around thirty guests!
October 25, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Another fine presentation and viewing on dark skies / LP at New River with around thirty guests!
#Astronomy #astrophotography #ashecounty #Jeffersonnc #westjeffersonnc #northcarolina #publichealth #AppState #boone #wataugacounty #mountrogers #ncparks #nature #darksky
October 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Occasionally members like to revive their relationship with the night. One way of doing this is through astrophotography, a low impact hobby. You can achieve fascinating images with inexpensive sensors. For instance, the Pleiades was shot using an old dslr. Credit: D. Heflin x 3 C. Dalton x 1.
October 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Occasionally members like to revive their relationship with the night. One way of doing this is through astrophotography, a low impact hobby. You can achieve fascinating images with inexpensive sensors. For instance, the Pleiades was shot using an old dslr. Credit: D. Heflin x 3 C. Dalton x 1.
Comets used to be visible under dark skies. Now they are hard to appreciate without a camera sensor. #darkskies #astrophotograpy #lightpollution #publichealth
October 24, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Comets used to be visible under dark skies. Now they are hard to appreciate without a camera sensor. #darkskies #astrophotograpy #lightpollution #publichealth