At the OAO, the month of May is dedicated to #DarkAndQuietSkies : protecting them and celebrating the wonders they hold.

Learn about our initiatives this year: iau.org/public/darkski…

How will you join the fight to preserve our skies?

#DarkSkies4All

AR 3654 approaching the west limb produced an M9.5 solar flare peaking at 23:46 UTC (Apr 30). A further update will be provided should any sort of CME be associated. Eruptions at this point will likely be directed mostly away from Earth.

Join us this May as we celebrate our dark and quiet skies!

#LookUp #DarkSkies4All #DarkAndQuietSkies

Good.

Today's H-alpha Sun in average seeing conditions at 16:30 UTC.

Recent law review I just found out about: 'Blinded by the Light: Resolving the Conflict between Satellite Megaconstellations and Astronomy' by Georgetown Law Prof. David A. Koplow.

PDF available on: transnat.org/post/blinded-b…

👀👀👀'In 2023, space insurers collected approximately $557 million in premiums, but paid out $995 million in insurance claims, resulting in a record-breaking net loss of $438 million.'

spacenews.com/orbital-conges…

We're proud to lead a coalition opposing CBP's horrendous plans to blast stadium-bright lighting into wildlife refuges & communities on the Texas border.

Light pollution isn't just bad for pollinators & wildlife, it affects humans too.

Our comments here: biologicaldiversity.org/programs/publi…

Light pollution could be one of the reasons for the tragedies surrounding several flamingos at Nerul in #NaviMumbai , initial studies show.

#IndiaNews #Maharashtra
deccanherald.com/india/maharash…

The seeing right now appears to be unusually good, at least from my part of Tucson. Stars above about 45° have no discernible twinkling to the eye. It’s very rare that I notice that around here.

Arcturus looks like a planet, like Mars far from opposition.

Telescopes can be a window into the Universe, an inspiration to reach further, and an invitation to participate in the exploration of the cosmos.

What does the dark and quiet sky mean to you?

Today's H-alpha Sun in fair seeing conditions at 17:15 UTC.

“A local school’s effort to overturn a court decision that its bright lighting at night constitutes a nuisance in the neighborhood was denied by the state Court of Appeals this week.”

record-eagle.com/news/local_new…

Today's H-alpha Sun in good seeing at 17:15 UTC.

The universe as a network of rivers:
This remarkable new map reveals how galaxies flow like water, following the pull of gravity across hundreds of millions of light years.
astrobites.org/2024/04/23/tem…

47-year-old me, too.