[Baps] Protect our Dark Skies Massachusetts

[Michael J Person]

Greetings Friends and Colleagues,

	For several years, the Massachusetts chapter of the International Dark Sky Association has been working with numerous other groups to attempt to pass sensible light pollution control regulations through the MA legislature.  This year we are closer than ever before with the bills needing only to clear one final committee hurdle in order to be voted upon by the full legislature. Our legislative consultants recommend that we obtain support letters from a wide variety of professional communities across Massachusetts to push the bill out of committee.  

	As part of this effort, I’m making this plea to astronomy and other dark-sky professionals in MA to support this bill.  If you would like to help protect our dark skies, please fill out this simple (1 minute) google form to add your name to the sign-on letter.

	https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYYDbYlspP_12ih0W-N8kOKFTRJxzAJXGgqUiBlQ66t7N0RA/viewform?usp=sf_link

	Currently, light pollution is increasing at a rate of 2% annually world wide with various parts of MA experiencing growth in night sky light by as much as 10% per year.  Any who have taught astronomy classes or given night-sky/observatory/star-party tours here in Massachusetts have seen our dark skies degrading year after year.  

	Examining data for Massachusetts from NASA’s Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) shows dramatic (and frightening) changes throughout our state in just this decade:

	https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=8&lat=5198601&lon=-7986074&layers=B0TFFFFFFFFFFFFT

	To combat this, we are supporting a few reasonable measures such as requiring fully shielded lighting for new state outdoor construction, lower color temperatures for outdoor lighting, and other regulations utilizing current best practices at no additional cost to the state or municipalities.  Details of the bill are available here:  

	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H2858

	We’re asking your support to get this bill through our legislature.  Again, if you’d like to add your name to our letter of support:

	https://tinyurl.com/IDA-MA-astro2020

	fill out this form:

	https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYYDbYlspP_12ih0W-N8kOKFTRJxzAJXGgqUiBlQ66t7N0RA/viewform?usp=sf_link

	Thank your for your time and support.  I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.

	Feel free to forward this letter or form link to any other Massachusetts astronomy professionals you think might be interested. 

Deepest Regards,

Michael Person
Officer and Founding Member
Massachusetts Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association (IDA-MA)

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Michael J. Person
Director, MIT Wallace Astrophysical Observatory
Research Scientist, MIT Planetary Astronomy Laboratory

MIT Bldg 54-418
77 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139

Office: 617-452-2304
Email: mjperson at mit.edu