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LIVE from Grand Canyon: Turning the Park Dark · Star Stuff

0:00
This is a vol observatory podcast.
0:13
Hello and welcome to the latest episode of
0:15
Star stuff. My name is Kevin Sc, and
0:17
I'm the historian in public Information off or
0:20
Lo observatory. And I'm joined by my good
0:22
friends.
0:23
Raider Lane, the Dark sky manager at Grand
0:25
Canyon National Park and Clover More morale, the
0:27
residency program manager with Grand Canyon.
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Welcome both of you.
0:32
Thank you. Today, we're gonna talk about some
0:34
stuff that's really close to our hearts on
0:36
those dark skies with as well as the
0:38
Astronomer residents program. Mh. So to get things
0:41
start, let's just... For those not familiar with
0:44
you too,
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first boo on you. A second.
0:48
Second, Raider, how long have you've been here
0:50
at Grand Canyon.
0:51
I've been wearing with the park for
0:53
14 years and
0:56
and Employed during that time. Yeah. Yeah.
0:59
And and
1:01
the... I've been working closely with Dark skies
1:03
here, for about 8 of those years. And
1:06
I might add 1 of the leading push
1:07
areas for Grand Canyon National Park. To get
1:10
the Dark sky status?
1:12
Yeah. 1 of the 1 of the bulldog
1:13
ons for sure. Yeah. Well, thanks for that.
1:15
You've bad. Hey, Clover, how about you? How
1:17
long have you been working at Grand Canyon?
1:19
Well, I've been here just under 2 years.
1:21
I was the first program manager hired for
1:24
the artist and residence and the astronomer and
1:26
residence program.
1:28
I came here after 25 years in Chicago,
1:31
so it's a very different experience,
1:34
and it's just been it's been incredible bowl.
1:36
So when we talk about dark skies here,
1:38
for you, they really are dark. They really
1:40
are dark. Yeah. Yes. And, yes, very significant
1:44
animal way that I
1:47
didn't really understand until I got here. Yeah.
1:49
A place of inspiration for sure. Yeah. Way
1:52
And ray ray, you... You're... Of course, involved
1:54
with us a lot with the programming side.
1:56
Mh. So what what do astronomers residents typically
1:59
do on with
2:00
and Well, I mean, as Clover saying, like,
2:02
the goal of the programs to...
2:05
In a lot of ways,
2:07
create a hole that's greater than the some
2:09
of it parts, you know, we are looking
2:10
at
2:11
dark skies,
2:13
the threats of light, pollution, the benefits of
2:16
Pristine natural darkness from several different angles. So
2:18
it's not like a traditional program. Yes. You
2:21
know, where you have...
2:22
I mean, it it is in many ways,
2:24
but in many ways, it's not where you
2:25
have you know,
2:27
the astronomer coming and
2:29
providing lectures to the public. I mean, that's
2:31
that's 1 aspect of of the program. But,
2:33
of course,
2:35
as Clover saying, we've had, you know, Lauren
2:38
Camp who's
2:39
the the poet oriented of new Mexico so
2:41
no now. She
2:43
came here and did a residency
2:46
writing poems about the the Grand Canyon. She
2:48
was so prolific
2:49
you know, in her in her time that
2:51
she was able to publish some work
2:53
based on program
2:55
poems,
2:57
about the night skies over Grand Canyon.
3:00
Astro photographers, you know, in Ema, She's a
3:02
an a, a an Alumni who came and
3:06
and did
3:07
incredibly beautiful
3:09
of photographs of the night skies,
3:11
and all sorts of other people from diff...
3:13
Coming at dark skies and light pollution from
3:16
from photographs slightly different angles. And then when
3:18
you kinda step back and you you see
3:20
the...
3:21
All the alumni who have who have
3:23
contributed to this understanding of of dark skies.
3:26
You you start to realize just how
3:29
how diverse dark skies is just how
3:32
sort of integral it is to all aspects
3:34
of our lives. I mean,
3:36
doctor Ad dean Dent, for example, She did...
3:38
She came here and she did a residency
3:42
of of public programs, but she also did
3:44
in interpretive dance piece.
3:46
She's an astrophysicist physicist, but she's a she's
3:48
a modern dancer as well. And so she
3:50
she came and she
3:52
by living here at the Canyon invert camps
3:54
and really just
3:56
letting the canyon see into your poor, she
3:58
was able to
4:00
to hike down to the bottom the came
4:01
to hike back up, do a bunch of
4:03
public presentations turn out her experience through dance,
4:06
and we have that awarded, and she she
4:08
did public presentations on it.
4:11
And so
4:12
that's the really fun aspect of this program
4:15
boarded is is being able to see people
4:17
like yourself, you know, come here and do
4:19
incredible
4:20
recreation photo projects of the Apollo Astronauts, you
4:22
know, taking their incredible trip down to the
4:25
body of the canyon in preparation for their
4:28
foray on the lunar surface and and and
4:31
recreating those shots and putting them side by
4:33
side
4:33
on those type of things just give you
4:35
so many
4:36
incredible insights about
4:38
dark skies and its place in not only
4:41
science but
4:42
as well. So that's that's what excites me
4:44
the most about. And that's something that really
4:45
struck me when I was fortunate enough to
4:47
do the program and up doing it again.
4:49
As an alumni. Yeah. Yeah. And that's great.
4:51
But is mean, you guys were brilliance in
4:53
putting this together
4:54
because I I didn't quite get the gist
4:57
of that until being here for a little
4:58
bit. And this is such a human experience.
5:02
Of seeing the dark sky. Mh. And connecting
5:04
with the universe, and it's a little bit
5:06
different for all of us because wired differently.
5:08
Right. And to have artists and scientists and
5:11
historians and and musicians and others
5:14
interpret in their way. It makes it more
5:16
accessible,
5:17
for the rest of humanity. Right and and
5:20
the the stuff they're they're doing like, the
5:22
first astronomer residence on Tyler Na Yeah. Who
5:25
who
5:26
came up with the coin coin the phrase
5:28
half the park after her. Come right there.
5:30
I'm back here. And it's brilliance and yeah.
5:33
And it really captures
5:34
the Grand Canyon,
5:36
that holy, you... During the daytime,
5:39
this is a phenomenal destination. Yeah. It is
5:42
a nighttime also.
5:44
Yeah. 1 of the things that I love
5:46
about the program to, which you mentioned is,
5:48
like, Tyler produced. This print. Yep. Which now
5:51
continues to be
5:53
purchased and placed in homes everywhere to raise
5:56
awareness, and that also, most of the astronomers
5:59
that we have had in residents are producing
6:02
something with the work that they've done here
6:03
because of their love for astronomy and dark
6:05
skies.
6:06
And so we've got, you know, books that
6:09
you have written as a result of being
6:11
here and the book of poems, in old
6:14
sky that Lauren
6:15
Camp wrote and Dean Dent after she left,
6:19
she wrote an article for Dance magazine
6:22
about an her
6:24
relationship to
6:25
understanding space, and the astronaut,
6:29
how they move in relationship to. Dance. And
6:33
that chore.
6:34
So those inner
6:36
connections and then how it lives beyond the
6:38
park
6:39
I think is really wonderful. And and it's...
6:42
And
6:44
there's also been a lot of great residents
6:46
who... Of broad,
6:49
their expertise in education and outreach as well.
6:52
Right? So it's there's there's this incredible artistic
6:55
aspect. And I think that's 1 of the
6:56
reasons of why Clover is such a strong
6:59
program manager for this is because she comes
7:00
from,
7:01
you know, that artist and residents type of
7:03
a background, man. And so she's able to
7:05
really infuse this this this this beautiful creativity
7:09
that comes
7:11
a typically an artisan resonance programs
7:14
into the astronomer residence program and get really
7:16
people thinking about
7:18
dark skies through that that lens. So we
7:20
have that whole aspect of it. But then
7:23
we've had an, you know, incredible alumni, like
7:26
you know, doctor Cameron Hu and,
7:28
doctor Daniel Fl and, you know, Dean Reg
7:31
shout out to everybody,
7:33
who have come and have given
7:35
the park,
7:37
just
7:38
insights into how to connect to the public.
7:41
I mean, doctor Jennifer Hoffman, for example, she
7:43
did this incredible
7:45
project where she she went out to the
7:47
rim at sunset every night, I had to
7:49
hop points. Like, 1 of the most popular
7:51
views for sunset.
7:52
And, you know, during the E,
7:54
you know, the sun every night is moving
7:57
really
7:58
far, you know, along the asthma of the
8:00
along the horizon, and she
8:03
set up this tripod in the same place
8:05
every night. She was inviting visitors to set
8:07
up their own cameras and take... Pictures of
8:10
the setting sun around the same time, and
8:12
then she's
8:13
stitching them together to show
8:16
how the sun moves, very fast along the
8:19
horizon
8:20
on the E, and that's just... She was
8:22
engaging with people directly on the ground in
8:24
this pop up way
8:26
you know, there was snow on the ground
8:27
here and there so she was bundled up
8:30
in in her in her warm clothes, but,
8:32
you know, she really in she's... You know,
8:34
you know, somebody is...
8:36
You know, directing an observatory up in Colorado,
8:39
but she's she's she's able to come here
8:41
and just just and bring astronomy down to
8:45
folks like us. And and it's just a
8:47
really beautiful thing. So just I just love
8:50
that confluence of science and culture that and
8:53
and art that this this residency program has
8:55
been a hold provide. And when you have...
8:57
When you have visitors that can participate directly,
8:59
that it just rings true with them. It's
9:01
more than just watching somebody else do it.
9:03
Right they do it themselves, they become part
9:05
of it. Yes. Right. It was really exciting
9:08
to see her set up you know, just
9:10
a telescope that was looking at the moon
9:12
to have people see the moon for the
9:14
very first time during their visit to the
9:17
Grand Canyon, which for most people is also
9:19
fur... Yep. And that was a really moving
9:21
experience to watch people. I also have that
9:24
additional,
9:25
level of relationships. Mh. So this is this
9:28
is obviously a synergistic synergistic program, Grand Canyon
9:31
National Park, Grand Canyon cons.
9:34
What's this the connection between the 2? And
9:36
and how did this... How did it evolve
9:38
from the original funding source doesn't were to
9:41
these programs?
9:43
Well, that's a really good question. So, there
9:45
was a,
9:46
a researcher here named Eddie Mc mcgee, who
9:49
decided that he wanted to find a way
9:51
to support the park and its efforts.
9:54
So he established the Grand Canyon
9:57
association. I believe it was first called.
9:59
History association. Okay. History. That was the piece
10:02
that was things. We just found some,
10:05
notes from, like, 19 35 or so.
10:07
That were related to the organization. The very
10:10
these beginning. See.
10:11
Anyway, I think it was established,
10:13
yeah. 19 35.
10:15
And
10:17
so that organization has grown over time to
10:20
be able to serve the park and all
10:22
of its priority projects.
10:25
I am not completely sure how the field
10:28
institute came a part of our programming. But
10:31
the field institute is 1 of our mission
10:33
based programs and the residency as the other
10:35
mission based premium program.
10:37
So where you look at these now as
10:40
an opportunity for us to really,
10:43
help people cherish
10:44
a the Grand Canyon. In addition to, you
10:48
know, changing the hearts and minds of the
10:49
people who are here to understand why
10:52
preservation of the park and the dark skies
10:54
are important among other things. And,
11:01
the Sorry. It's been a great partnership what
11:03
I say Yeah.
11:05
And Greg Canyon service been integral in
11:08
in in supporting some of the these park
11:11
priorities. And, you know, the thing about
11:14
dark skies is,
11:16
you know, wasn't always
11:18
necessarily... I mean, in history Grand Canyon, AAA
11:22
park priority. I mean, it's it's interesting, you
11:24
know, I was I was thinking as Clover
11:25
was saying history you know, this was started
11:27
back in in the 19 thirties, by adding
11:30
the Kia Park Ranger.
11:31
There are some early what are called Grand
11:33
Canyon in nature notes.
11:35
The, you know, 1 of the first interpretive
11:37
offerings
11:38
from the National Park service. And, you know,
11:41
there's even there's there's a little article in
11:43
in the nature notes of when Grand canyon
11:45
Natural History Association was was started. But another
11:48
thing in those early nature notes was
11:52
were
11:55
articles from early park rangers talking about
11:59
Saturn up in the nice sky or a
12:01
lunar Rainbow Yeah or
12:04
seeing the Aurora from from Grand Canyon with
12:07
those price.
12:09
There's some really early gems in there, but
12:11
the really interesting thing about it is if
12:13
you think about that, all of the things
12:15
that they were saying
12:17
early on, were more like what I like
12:20
to call the charismatic mega of the night.
12:23
Right? It's like, the things about the moon
12:25
or planets or things like that where
12:28
it was interesting to talk about these these
12:31
astronomical
12:32
phenomena guy in the in the context of
12:34
Grand Canyon, but you you don't see
12:37
talk about
12:39
being able to see andromeda with the naked
12:40
eye, Yep. Or being able to see the
12:42
milky way with the naked eye because back
12:45
in the 19 twenties, that was more or
12:47
less ubiquitous with everybody did. Yeah. Throughout the
12:50
United States. In and so it it was
12:52
it was more of a novelty to talk
12:54
about seeing things like Saturn in the moon
12:56
at the Grand Canyon. It was only about
12:58
the 19 sixties or seventies.
13:01
That
13:02
became,
13:03
you know, a coin as a term. Yeah.
13:06
And
13:07
star parties started to be seated in different
13:09
national parks. You know, the first iteration of
13:11
Grand Canyon and Star party was actually seated
13:14
here in the mid 19 seventies by,
13:17
none other than John Do, you you know,
13:19
the the founder of the creator of the
13:21
famous Do telescope, which is now a standard
13:24
telescope on all that star party fields,
13:28
and and and the
13:31
appreciation for pristine natural darkness started to take
13:34
hold.
13:35
And so from there, we slowly started to
13:37
integrate
13:38
dark skies
13:40
into
13:41
the national parks because we quickly started realize
13:43
from the 19 seventies onward that some of
13:46
the last
13:47
san
13:48
for Pristine natural darkness are happened to be
13:51
found in these mass of, you know, protected
13:55
spaces.
13:56
Yeah. And and and so
13:58
as about the nineties is when the park
14:00
service to started to really cod
14:04
dark skies as a as a resource worth
14:06
protecting. You know, we came up with the
14:08
the a national park nights Guy's team in
14:11
19 99,
14:12
which is basically comprised of 2 people.
14:15
And know it was about the the, 2010
14:18
around that
14:20
that was finally turned into a a proper
14:24
division in the national Park service called the
14:26
natural sounds and night sky divisions. Like, there's
14:30
there's 3 things. That's as there's like, a...
14:32
There's this entire division in the parks that
14:34
are... That that is dedicated to this these
14:36
more
14:37
and you know, intangible, ne type of resources.
14:41
Matching it's a really beautiful idea, and it
14:43
was it was really around that time that
14:45
a lot of
14:48
cooperating
14:49
associations like Grand canyon
14:51
and working together with their their respective national
14:54
parks
14:55
started to raise
14:56
funds and start programs like
14:59
the astronomer residence program,
15:02
to to meet that growing need
15:04
Yeah. So when you got here, that was
15:06
starting,
15:07
that effort was starting in the grand Canyon.
15:09
Right. Right. But it was still kind of
15:10
in the early days of the Grand Canyon
15:12
of...
15:12
More than just
15:14
mentioning it. I mean... Yeah. I here are
15:16
actively starting to do some... Yeah. You know,
15:19
you have... I've done a lot of research
15:20
into this.
15:21
Shockingly way enough. And and, you know, you
15:24
you you you do have rangers
15:27
you know, as early as the 19 fifties
15:29
and sixties,
15:31
giving campfire fire programs about the night skies.
15:33
But that's just, you know, personality based rangers
15:37
doing this that or the other, But you're
15:39
absolutely right. It was about
15:41
so it was about 2000,
15:43
you know, 10 ish where we really starting
15:46
to make. This push
15:48
to to to make dark skies
15:50
sort of AAA found... 1 of the foundational
15:53
resources that that, this park offers among the
15:56
many others. Right? The geology, the, you know,
15:59
the indigenous peoples hear the history,
16:03
the the ecology,
16:04
you know, we... We're starting to understand nice
16:06
guys
16:07
in that same realm now. Which a big,
16:09
a big victory for the movement. And that
16:11
was a time also when we're looking forward
16:13
to the centennial park service as well as
16:16
Grand Canyon as a national park. Right. And
16:19
so was that tied in with those kind
16:21
of celebrations with... This is coming up in
16:23
a few years, Yeah. So the the the
16:25
park service... So the park service started in
16:28
19 16.
16:29
And so our Centennial was 2016.
16:32
About 5 years prior to that 2011,
16:35
the park service came out with a a
16:37
document,
16:40
called a call to action, and it in
16:42
it outlines the next hundred years of stewardship
16:45
in the Natural Park service. And there's about
16:47
a Can't remember how many bullet points, Maybe
16:49
a hundred bullet points,
16:52
of, of different areas that we really wanna
16:54
focus on. And number 27
16:57
was
16:58
titled starry starry night, and it was about,
17:00
you know, leading the way and protecting
17:03
dark skies, nationwide,
17:05
developing
17:06
cooperative with different agencies,
17:10
you know, the the the the Colorado Plateau
17:12
Dark skies, cooperative. Mh. The basin range, dark
17:15
skies is cooperative, which works with
17:17
different federal entities and private,
17:20
public, you know,
17:22
entities
17:23
to work in dark skies on that more
17:25
whole. Stick level. And so that's that's precisely
17:28
when that type type of stuff
17:30
started to happen. And
17:32
and it's only taken off from there. I
17:34
think it's like, oh. Yeah. You can... As
17:35
you can attest to,
17:37
you know,
17:38
Dark skies programs
17:40
fascinating
17:41
are...
17:42
I the most popular programs in the park.
17:45
I mean Mean, you... You... If you have,
17:46
say, 50 people at a geology talk, you're
17:48
gonna have 250
17:50
people that. Right. A nice sky talk. And
17:52
that's not to diminish the grandeur and beauty
17:55
of
17:56
Grand Canyon geology. I mean, it's just... It's
17:58
it's more of a testament to add
18:02
just the hunger that people have for experiencing
18:05
something that is
18:07
increasingly
18:08
disappearing from our life lives.
18:09
Yeah. I didn't realize
18:11
until I hear what a privilege it is.
18:13
Mh. You know, what a resource it is,
18:15
And I... You know, and you don't know
18:17
until...
18:18
You,
18:20
have the opportunity really to see what the
18:22
difference is Mh. After having lived lived in
18:24
Chicago for 25 years you know I'm coming
18:27
here. And and, being able to see the
18:29
milky way with the naked eye, and it's
18:32
just incredible
18:33
And...
18:34
Yeah. 80 percent of the world lives in
18:35
a place that you can't see the milky
18:37
way. Mh. And so if we have this
18:39
a little observatory to South of the Grand
18:41
Canyon that, you know, these dark skies we
18:43
have here people are stunned.
18:45
And I think that's 1 of the great
18:46
things that Grand Canyon they're... Certainly, as time
18:49
goes on, there's more awareness about the programs
18:52
that you guys are doing, but they're still...
18:54
You talk to folks at night and they're
18:55
just... They're just stunned. I had no idea.
18:58
Yeah. They're expecting to see some really cool
19:00
rock layers during the daytime. That no idea
19:03
that there is this bonus,
19:05
at nighttime. Yeah. And and, you know, 1
19:07
thing we always love talking about is, it
19:09
mean, the... This park when we
19:12
first started to pursue international dark. Die park
19:16
certification.
19:18
You know, we we we took some initial
19:20
measurements of the park measuring the the quality
19:23
of the Night skies. And it was it
19:25
was already...
19:26
They.
19:27
Yeah. It was a pretty I mean, very,
19:29
very dark side already.
19:32
And... But I I always love mentioning, you
19:34
know, that the the the the efforts that
19:37
this park took to
19:40
to certify as an international dark by park
19:42
because Mh. You know, this is
19:45
this is such a unique location in many
19:47
ways because, you know, were there only national
19:50
park in the entire country with a k
19:51
through 12 school inside it's borders. Hey No.
19:54
Yeah. So it's it's as much a community
19:58
as it is, a national park,
20:00
And so we when when we initially
20:04
grand canyon cons
20:06
provided the funding to hire a night skies
20:09
inventory special, like, a lighting inventory special basically.
20:11
Back in 2013,
20:13
and she went around the park and she
20:15
basically
20:16
marked every single
20:19
fixture in the park. It took, like, almost
20:21
2 years. That's a project. It's a project.
20:23
And It that included down
20:26
the fan ranch. It included Fan Ranch, desert
20:29
view, the north rim, even the the 4
20:32
lonely lights out in.
20:34
A tour we've valley, which is, you know,
20:36
there's there's 1 ranger,
20:38
shout out to Todd Ce, who who, who
20:41
who works out there,
20:42
he
20:44
but that that is... That ranger station is
20:46
totally off the grid, you know, produces it
20:48
gets its own water. Its own lecture City,
20:50
and he manages this massive amount of space
20:53
out there, and there are 4 little lights
20:55
on his. Say. We went out there and
20:57
make sure they got retrofit the but it
20:59
ended up all told being 5094
21:02
lights, which in terms of,
21:04
you know, this the scale of... The the
21:07
retrofit process
21:09
for Dark Sky park has been un... It's
21:11
it is unprecedented. Yeah.
21:13
And so it's the and so it it's
21:16
it's been this massive undertaking, and, you know,
21:19
that whole process is fascinating. I mean, we
21:21
can get into the the... Nuts a bolt
21:22
that, but it's I just wanted to introduce
21:24
that as an idea because
21:26
it takes a lot of work to preserve
21:29
natural dark. Sides out.
21:31
So and a lot of and a lot
21:32
of support and and funding from
21:35
grand Kenny consultancy and its members and donors
21:37
and
21:38
and so,
21:40
we we we are celebrating and continue to
21:43
celebrate that,
21:46
in a international dark sky park in 2019,
21:49
and and the work's not done. We're still
21:50
we're still working at it, but it's it's
21:52
been a massive undertaking. So they... So that
21:54
coming international Dark sky association now called. I
21:56
think it's Dark sky. Dark sky International. Yeah.
21:59
They changed the names to make it easier
22:01
to talk about it. Thank. Right. So they
22:04
have a pretty strict
22:06
series of things you have to check off
22:08
list. Right. To be a Dark sky Park
22:10
or Dark sky community or whatever.
22:12
And in several phases. Right? And so where
22:14
are you in the in this... Now? You're
22:16
kind of on the home stretch. Right? Yeah.
22:18
So...
22:20
It's a it's a really fascinating process. You
22:21
have to... When you want you apply to
22:23
the, the
22:25
certification, you have to show Dark sky International
22:28
before... In international dark Sky park, that you
22:31
have retrofit 2 thirds of your lights. So
22:34
67
22:35
percent of our lights,
22:36
I'm in out of 5000. That's that's a
22:38
big chunk. Right? So happily we had about
22:41
34 percent of our lights already dark sky
22:44
from. May just bite by happens stands. The
22:46
the the guidelines are, you know, a certain
22:48
amount of Kelvin. They have to put out,
22:50
you know, they have to be shielded,
22:52
this that and the other. So 34 percent
22:54
of those met met those guidelines.
22:56
That means we had to actively retrofit about
22:59
1700
23:00
lights or so.
23:01
Just to become an international dark Scott Park.
23:04
And we did that
23:06
in in June of 2019
23:08
which gave us that certification. But as you
23:11
said,
23:12
we have... From that day, you have 5
23:15
years then to make 90 percent of your
23:17
lights, dark guy plan. And and that, meant
23:20
that we had a 20 20 first, but
23:22
again. Yeah. 20 24 bringing this up to
23:23
June 20 24 and about 1516
23:26
hundred more fixtures. Mh.
23:29
We happily
23:32
surpassed that my milestone in January of 20
23:35
24. So we are 92
23:37
percent compliant, something like that 93 percent compliant.
23:40
Now, and we have,
23:42
you know, 5 more years now to make
23:45
those last 10 percent of lights,
23:48
Dark sky friendly and
23:50
of people wonder, you know, what? Why why
23:52
are you celebrating 90 percent. Like, what is
23:54
the big? Just wait till a hundred percent?
23:55
Like, come
23:57
the the big deal is that 90 percent
23:59
really does rip a percent, the the bulk
24:01
the bulk of the lights in the park,
24:03
and and Dark international specifically gives you 10...
24:07
5 extra years for that last 10 percent.
24:09
Because they're inherently the most difficult lights to.
24:12
Yeah. Right? Get the low hanging fruit first.
24:13
You get all the hanging fruit, but then
24:15
you're dealing with, you know, think about
24:17
you know, the clinic lights for our for
24:20
our emergency services folks, or, you know, we're
24:22
working on the the the... I mentioned we
24:24
have a cater 12 school here? There's an
24:26
outdoor basketball core that has, you know, flood
24:29
lights for the team? It's like, how do
24:31
you
24:32
provide lights that both
24:34
let the teams be able to see the
24:36
color of their Jersey
24:37
and also be dark sky friendly. So those
24:40
type of trickier light, 1 off type of
24:42
lights that we're we're we're working on. What,
24:45
what's interesting to me with this is because
24:47
of the length the time you have... It's
24:49
tech technology is changing so fast. Yeah. That
24:51
5 years ago, yeah, these these alternates, now
24:55
you have new ones. And so, hopefully, that
24:57
makes it easier.
24:59
As you get closer to the end. And,
25:00
the the the tougher ones to deal with
25:02
but you have more resources.
25:04
Yeah. You know, and flags stuff is... Is
25:07
leading the way, I think in a lot
25:08
of ways as a international dark Sky place
25:10
as the first world's first international dark sad
25:13
place, where where you're from
25:15
you live currently and and where lowell observatory
25:17
is.
25:18
Really is... I I think doing a great
25:20
job and in, you know, keeping everybody up
25:23
to date on those the newest technology, things
25:26
like narrow band, Amber lights and those type
25:28
of things that
25:30
are
25:31
are are are incredibly nice guy friendly. And
25:35
and so kudos to to
25:38
lowell dorian and and the... All the entities
25:40
down there at a at flags staff for...
25:42
You know, because we all work together in
25:44
Northern Arizona here. It's kinda figure out
25:47
the the best practices
25:50
and 1 1 interesting thing about this that
25:52
I think you'd appreciate to Kevin is,
25:56
you know, there was a lot of fixtures
25:57
here. Up and up in the park that,
25:59
you know a lot of people don't think
26:01
about this, but, you know, when it comes
26:03
to historic structures here. You know, we're we're
26:05
sitting in Vi
26:07
the patty cams residence, which, you know, as
26:09
Clover was saying earlier was was built in
26:11
19 o 6.
26:13
We're we're on the the the eastern end
26:16
of the historic
26:18
village, which is an, you know, AAAAA
26:21
landmark, a national historic landmark.
26:23
And
26:24
there are, basically every building here is historic
26:27
in some way. And so,
26:29
you know, as somebody who appreciates history. 3
26:32
and the night skies. You know? It's... As
26:35
do I, It's something really interesting to think
26:36
about. It's like,
26:38
how do you go about retrofit fitting fixtures
26:42
on historic buildings. Right? You don't... You you
26:45
don't wanna ruin the integrity of exactly that
26:47
the building occurs because there's a lot of
26:49
fixtures like at Bright angel lodge. If you
26:51
ever got come to the Canyon and walk
26:53
by, you know, Bright angel launch. The cabin,
26:56
they're are these beautiful ornate neat you know,
26:58
like, 10
26:59
metal,
27:01
fixtures that you just you just can't
27:04
change out, you know,
27:06
to become more nights got friendly. So there's
27:08
a lot of little historical things that we
27:11
did,
27:12
historical
27:13
restoration projects that we did during this whole
27:15
process to,
27:17
both restore the historical integrity of these his...
27:20
Of, of these structures, but also improve,
27:23
the the the lighting. So there's there's a
27:25
lot of, you know, like, the El Our
27:28
hotel we were able to,
27:30
remake the original fixture that they had originally
27:33
installed, and then just put some really,
27:37
warm lamps inside them to make a magic.
27:39
Yeah. Those type of things are really just
27:41
fascinating to me. And I fixed So... Oops,
27:43
sorry. Go ahead. No. Good. Good. So I
27:46
have a question which turns it just still...
27:47
A little bit.
27:48
Which is that... I mean, since I've been
27:50
here, I have loved learning about all of
27:52
this. Because this is new for me. This
27:54
really is an education. A every time I
27:57
I sit and listen to you talk about
27:59
it, and the work that's been done here
28:01
is incredible.
28:02
We... And Now live in Grand Canyon National
28:06
Park, You and I do at least. Mh.
28:07
Kevin's not far away, and.
28:10
It's a home your mom that's right. And
28:12
it's and it's pretty safe here. You know?
28:15
It is pretty safe. And we've talked about
28:18
the night sky and the importance of having
28:20
the night sky available
28:21
to look at,
28:23
to understand who we are as a people
28:25
where we've been where we're going. I mean,
28:28
were made of star us,
28:29
etcetera. Mh. But for those people who don't
28:32
live in an environment where they feel safe.
28:36
How would you address the idea that darkness
28:40
is something to fear?
28:43
That's a really good question.
28:46
I've got thoughts. Do you do you want?
28:48
Do you have any thoughts??
28:51
I I think I think it's okay to...
28:54
Fear
28:55
darkness. I think... I mean, it's a natural
28:57
thing to fear darkness,
29:01
it's a very complicated thing because,
29:04
you know, and
29:06
there's a lot
29:07
there's a lot of natural fear and darkness,
29:09
but there's also a lot of things that
29:12
we don't have to fear
29:14
on a societal level, I think. I think
29:16
it's... There's an an an innate fear of
29:17
darkness,
29:18
but out
29:20
that's quite different
29:22
from
29:24
the societal fears of darkness. I feel like
29:26
we have. You know, there's there's this there's
29:28
this notion that that more light
29:32
equals safety. And this is this is 1
29:34
of, you know, the the, you the trickier
29:38
aspects of the dark skies movement to navigate
29:41
even though the the there's there's tons of
29:43
science tobacco. That, you know, increased lighting in
29:47
certain areas does not necessarily equate to decrease
29:50
crime. Right? Right? And and so, you know,
29:53
that problem is is, for example, for a
29:56
crime and safety. You know, big problems are
29:58
just our our poor lighting choices, like the,
30:01
like, really poor lighting interpret. Like
30:03
think of, you know,
30:06
parking lots in front of grocery stores that,
30:08
you know, the lights cast
30:10
incredibly bright lights down, but it it creates
30:13
contrast, for example, like deep deep contrast. Mh
30:16
well, that's where a,
30:18
potential perpetrator might dwell, you know. And so
30:23
so so it's it's poor lighting choices that
30:25
really lead to
30:27
some of these things that can that can
30:28
introduce crime and safety. Mean, there's there's a
30:31
lot of studies that show for example that,
30:33
you know, having your porch light on
30:36
at your house all night
30:39
doesn't
30:40
necessarily make you, you know,
30:43
well, I should flip that having your lights
30:46
off all night doesn't make you more susceptible
30:49
to
30:50
Burglary, for example.
30:52
A lot of people actually argue about having
30:53
your lights on all night is basically just
30:55
showing the burglar what's on. Yeah. You know,
30:58
Was like, they gotta a... They got... Yeah.
30:59
This out front this front. The the smart
31:02
lighting decision, for example, would be something like,
31:04
you know, motion sensors.
31:06
Because they the burglary it comes up to
31:07
the front of the house. They don't know
31:08
if the that a motion sensor that triggered
31:11
the light to come on or the owner
31:13
of the house about to meet them outside.
31:16
And so it's these type of of of
31:19
of
31:20
lighting choices that really help to
31:23
decrease crime and safety, and and and it's
31:25
really not a mutually exclusive thing. You can
31:27
be incredibly safe
31:29
while also protecting dark skies. III agree with
31:32
that. But but,
31:34
you know, you gotta a place this dark
31:36
sky, and it is... You notice it's dimmer.
31:38
But
31:40
I don't know I think if you're used
31:42
to really bright bright lights, you can feel
31:44
it feels different, but really,
31:47
you know, protecting the dark skies isn't about
31:49
getting rid of all the lies. Mh And
31:51
and as as Raider was saying, it's what
31:54
light is appropriate. Mh. And so, you know,
31:58
light shining at the sky?
32:00
Does that help you with safety or to
32:02
help you to see sidewalk?
32:04
It's it's, you know, the car lots will
32:06
use for advertising?
32:07
So there's 1 thing you look at is
32:09
how lights are are directed.
32:12
Shielded lights point down where you need the
32:13
light. So pointing light where you need it
32:15
this 1. And another thing is, you know,
32:17
your neighbor that has the right light on.
32:20
Right. You don't have shining beside, you... You're
32:22
supposed to be starting on a sidewalk. So
32:24
having it properly pointed as 1 thing, the
32:26
type of light,
32:28
you know, we mentioned
32:30
amber lights for instance, the warmer colors,
32:33
it doesn't have to be a blinding white
32:34
or blue,
32:36
Amber, you still have lights, but it doesn't
32:39
affect your night vision as much. Mh.
32:42
Or or other negative impacts of artificial light
32:45
that we're finding, you know, the Dark sky
32:47
movement and started with astronomy. We're finding
32:49
biologically,
32:51
artificial light is not good. Right. It's not
32:53
good for us. It's not good for a
32:55
creature trials. Right. Right. And then and then
32:58
other things, the like, the... You know, when
33:00
you use the light?
33:02
You know, do you need all of the
33:03
light on a 2AM, for instance.
33:05
And and,
33:07
how much light you're using? Oh, sure. You
33:09
have to have 800 watts
33:11
burning through the sidewalk
33:14
so there's a lot of things that you
33:16
can do that, you know, maintaining a safe
33:18
environment for people, but just just it's just
33:22
reducing
33:22
all that extra glow that goes into the
33:24
night. Well, so in Clover, you know, you're
33:26
coming from Chicago. Been here 2 years now.
33:28
Mh. What's
33:30
your... What's been your transition like, if there
33:33
has been 1 or or
33:35
revelations about your relationship with darkness,
33:39
Pristine natural darkness or the night sky in
33:40
general,
33:41
having now lived in Grand Canyon for 2
33:43
years coming from Chicago Mean, is, when you
33:47
how do you relate to it now? I
33:48
mean, is there is or is there a
33:50
different feeling
33:51
when,
33:52
you know, night approaches,
33:55
and is it is it different What's your
33:57
experience been like? I guess.
33:59
Yeah.
34:00
I could talk about it from the perspective
34:01
of a physical feeling on So yeah. It's
34:04
emotional also.
34:05
There's this vast
34:07
that
34:09
it doesn't it doesn't... I don't feel as
34:11
anxious to be honest. I feel like
34:14
there's something about being able to see the
34:17
sky
34:19
in its full glory from... I mean,
34:22
as full as it is here. And
34:26
the
34:27
experience of being safe has been something that
34:30
I've come to slowly, which actually started with
34:33
Lauren Camp and and and I talking through
34:36
darkness. Mh. And
34:38
how...
34:39
Especially is women,
34:40
you know, we've we've
34:42
have an extra layer of fear of going
34:45
home at night in the dark by ourselves.
34:47
Right. And she sort of challenged to me
34:49
after having converse patients with you and said,
34:53
what if you weren't? Like, what if you
34:55
weren't scared of the dark? And what if
34:57
you were to to look at it from
34:59
them per objective of curiosity
35:01
and how it challenges your way of relating
35:03
with space and
35:06
yourself
35:07
and how it forces you to go
35:10
inside and really look at yourself and your
35:13
own limitations.
35:15
Sort of spiritually, I think. So. So I
35:18
say... Very lauren camp. Yeah. Yeah. I'm.
35:21
It really, really. I mean, it really shifted
35:23
my experience and
35:25
being here just... I feel so much more
35:30
secure, and I think that is not just
35:32
because we're in a, you know, a pretty
35:35
safe.
35:36
Location, but it's also because of that expansive
35:39
ness that
35:41
you can see and sense.
35:43
With all of your being.
35:45
Nice. Well, and I think, again, returning into
35:47
that that earlier point. I mean,
35:50
I think it's a complicated
35:51
relationship I think that's why we we really...
35:54
We
35:55
specifically
35:56
saying the astronomer residence program, you know, that
35:58
we are dealing with these complicated a complex
36:02
relationships with
36:03
natural darkness because, you know, you you introduce
36:06
very good points, societal points, you know, mountain
36:09
being a, you know, a woman,
36:11
and how that's different from my experience, for
36:13
example, you know? And that these type of
36:15
discussions are what made this this program so
36:17
beautiful. And, you know, I think in a
36:19
lot of ways, it's it it it is...
36:21
I mean, for me,
36:22
you know, it's it's totally okay to have
36:25
that fear of natural darkness
36:27
And but as Lauren kinda was implying, there,
36:29
it's like, sitting with that a little bit,
36:31
and maybe,
36:32
you know, in a lot of ways, it's
36:34
it's the same type of feeling that the
36:36
Grand Canyon itself
36:39
gives to people during the day. It's this
36:42
this mh overwhelming saint of awe and terror
36:47
at the beauty
36:48
and
36:49
overwhelming of nature. It is. You know what
36:52
Mean?
36:53
So you you you stand on the rim
36:54
of the canyon, and I don't think a
36:56
lot of people are, I guess, right at
36:58
the, you know, top feeling afraid, but I
37:01
think
37:02
for
37:02
sample those first explorers coming here, you know,
37:06
like, Joseph Christmas eyes, John Mo Powell for
37:08
or for the people who who've been living
37:10
here since time of Memorial. The 11 traditionally
37:13
associated tribes of the canyon. I mean, there
37:15
is, you know, this this this intimacy that
37:18
you set you you experience with the Canyon.
37:21
That really does have
37:23
some fear mixed in there at just like,
37:26
whoa, the the pro propensity of nature. And
37:28
and the night skies, I mean, be able
37:30
to come out like you said, to the
37:32
candy by day and experience that, and then
37:34
a night to be welcomed by that feeling
37:37
as well is I think it's it's complex,
37:39
but it's it's good for us to to
37:42
reconnect with some of those, those those earlier
37:45
sort of... Those emotions that in a lot
37:47
of ways
37:48
are art... We have we have
37:51
blu a little bit
37:53
because of the way that we've structured society,
37:55
right, with the excess light and things let's
37:56
like that, for example, You know what I
37:58
mean? I I agree we're... You know, we're
37:59
so tuned into technology.
38:01
Mh. And
38:02
and so many of us live in welded
38:05
areas
38:06
you're you're
38:07
disconnected with the universe quite quite often. And,
38:10
the Grand Canyon is 1 of those places
38:12
where you go and
38:13
it makes you cause and think.
38:16
To think about the darkness and, why, I
38:18
thought had been afraid of the dark, How
38:20
do I feel now standing on the edge
38:21
of this mile deep abyss. Yeah. Exactly exactly.
38:24
But it it makes you it makes you
38:26
stand back and think and get connected with
38:28
the universal little but I think if everybody
38:30
can do that for a few minutes,
38:32
we're really succeeding. Yeah. 1 word that has
38:35
come up, again and again from the people
38:37
who come to do their work with excitement
38:40
and say, look at everything that exists here
38:43
is off.
38:45
Yeah. And I remember doctor Daniel Fl coming
38:47
and saying, I am interested in awe. Yeah.
38:51
You know? And, how
38:53
the Grand Canyon relates to that. I really
38:56
and it's easy to say as all inspiring,
38:58
but to really reflect on what that experience
39:01
is as a human being. Mh. In a
39:04
really tangible way. I don't think you can
39:06
do that. And you with an ipad in
39:08
front of your feet or... And yeah, we
39:10
had a we had a great conversation about
39:11
this 1 a last
39:13
of live stream warning that we did. And
39:16
some of the past astronomers residents we're talking
39:18
about was there a moment
39:21
that just really struck you. Mh. And for,
39:23
I think it was Dan who said,
39:25
just the stark,
39:27
the stark, the darkness
39:29
and how brilliant
39:31
the stars and the milky ain't and everything
39:33
were. And I I certainly feel that as
39:35
an astronomy person
39:36
but also on the other end of the
39:38
spectrum,
39:39
with the moon up, And, you know, nature's,
39:43
light pollution to if you could call that,
39:45
You can't see his stars as much and
39:46
stuff, but I was odd. I mean, of
39:49
course, When his dark appearance and it's like,
39:50
but, you know, you're just dumbfounded. But seeing
39:54
the full moon, shining has rays down into
39:56
the canyon,
39:57
and it really allows you to connect the
40:00
eons of time
40:01
below and above.
40:02
And and that to me was just stunning
40:05
to have that... Yeah. No. Absolutely. I mean,
40:07
it's it's...
40:09
We
40:10
we tend to organize our astronomy programs around
40:13
the new moon cycle,
40:14
and so there always tends to be sort
40:16
of this
40:17
disdain a little bit for when the moon
40:18
comes out, but, you know, the the the
40:20
truth is, I mean, your residency really brought
40:22
this, home to us and then brought that
40:25
understanding to this park is is is the
40:28
moon is very much part of of the
40:30
natural darkness here. And and, you know,
40:33
when you our
40:34
living in a place works or visiting a
40:37
place
40:38
like in international Dark Sky park, and you're
40:40
able to stick around for a new moon
40:42
phase and then the full moon phase. Right,
40:45
you really start to understand why for example,
40:49
the term luna sea became termed at all.
40:52
And and my understanding of the the the
40:55
origin of that word is is prior to
40:57
the age of electric light.
40:59
People were simply able to be out and
41:01
about getting into trouble more during a full
41:04
moon, and so you were... You off your
41:06
out there getting trouble. You were a Luna
41:08
tech because, you know, the the the the
41:10
brightness of the moon in a pristine
41:15
a Dark sky Park is
41:18
profound. And and you and you can see
41:21
the Grand Canyon. You can make out color
41:23
in the grandkids case. Yes. You know, and
41:25
and the temples and
41:28
and the formation out there. I just... They
41:31
take on this almost spectral form. You know,
41:33
it's like their ghosts are coming out at
41:36
at night and and and
41:37
it it really just has this this completely
41:40
different
41:42
vibe to it and and and feeling. And
41:44
so you know, if you ever come to
41:46
the Grand Canyon and you're you're disappointed that
41:49
you came on a full moon. I mean,
41:51
1, it's it's good to to research this
41:53
before you come depending on what when you
41:55
wanna come and what you wanna see that.
41:56
If you happen to come on a full
41:57
moon
41:58
cycle light we're sort of in right now.
42:00
It's magical. It's magical. Walking along the rim
42:03
of the canyon at night. You don't need
42:05
any lights at all. I mean, I've I've
42:07
done
42:09
bought, you know, hikes and long hikes into
42:11
the grand canyon of a purely under full
42:13
moon moonlight, you know, and no no need
42:15
for a head lamp at all.
42:17
It's it it's
42:18
it's a truly magical experience. Yes. It's Yeah.
42:21
And I think, you know, for people who
42:24
are going on in life and you start
42:25
getting worn down,
42:26
and home drum and you're working all the
42:28
time. If you wanna feel alive,
42:31
go to place like Grand Canyon Mh. Where
42:33
you have of course, it's blend over the
42:35
day, but the dark skies, and you really
42:37
feel connected again, and I I don't know
42:39
to me, every time I do it, I
42:41
it's just
42:42
I just feel alive. It it's like you
42:44
got zap, and you're and you're really connected
42:47
again. And when you're not able to do
42:48
that,
42:49
I don't know. You just feel this list,
42:51
I think that we're we're just losing,
42:55
you know, it's like staring at a Tv
42:56
screen. That's what it feels like to me.
42:58
You know, everyday life, and then you you
43:00
break out about, and you really you really
43:02
get that reconnect connection with nature in the
43:04
universe.
43:05
From all the residents who come,
43:08
every time they leave,
43:10
they all say the same thing. Yeah. Just
43:12
like you, the impact was so... Incredible and
43:15
so intense, and I am going to miss
43:17
it so deeply. Yeah. And I cannot wait
43:20
for the opportunity to come back
43:22
because,
43:24
I don't know how I live without it.
43:25
And I... And... You know, I I live
43:27
in the dark sky or. And I... And
43:29
that's what I do. Like I, you know,
43:31
I celebrate dark skies,
43:34
but being at the canyon,
43:36
and experiencing that with the Canyon itself is
43:39
it's...
43:40
Dark skies on steroids, the the call factor.
43:43
Hopefully that en
43:44
them in their research to as a lot
43:46
of these records continue on with their research
43:48
that come here they get. You know, in
43:51
about what they're actually doing on that more
43:53
theoretical level. Yeah. And and and purse, you
43:56
know,
43:57
pursue the the great science
43:59
that they're that they're doing. And I know
44:01
we've we've inspired that here.
44:03
And it, you know, again, it just gets
44:04
back to that,
44:06
that that complex relationship, I think, we're we're,
44:09
you know, having
44:10
depriving yourself a little bit almost. You know,
44:12
the Canyon kind of it it it makes
44:14
you work little harder you know, to experience
44:17
it. You know, you gotta get outside. You
44:19
gotta walk around. You've got to navigate a
44:21
slightly different way. Little you know, and and
44:24
and having a little bit of that fear
44:26
or having a little bit of that
44:28
tired. And. You know. If feel more alive.
44:30
If you fail more alive and that. And
44:32
that's a that's a really good lesson. I
44:34
think for all of us, On just that
44:35
larger level how what Dark guys, you know,
44:37
and it's but that's just 1 aspect of
44:39
this of course. But
44:41
right it it speaks to the the importance
44:43
of national parks
44:45
on a whole and how it truly is,
44:47
you know, 1 of America's best... Idea yes
44:50
to to be able preserve various places,
44:52
and and and not only preserve the ecology
44:55
and the pristine scenery, but but
44:58
very very deliberately to preserve those
45:02
experiences that make us
45:04
make us alive. Right. Okay connect as a
45:06
nation. So it's they're incredibly. You know, in
45:09
hearing you talk I I think of fe,
45:10
you know, sucking the marrow out of life,
45:12
and and just
45:14
living life to the basics. He built his
45:16
cabin
45:17
just basically living
45:19
and really absorbing the universe around him, and
45:21
it was profound for him, and it... And
45:24
his writing continued to be profound for met
45:26
people today.
45:28
And it's the same year just put away
45:30
the other stuff and just...
45:31
Absorb this for a few minutes and it's
45:33
it's stunning. It's 1 to where you take
45:34
a back country hike or something in the
45:36
canyon or elsewhere, all of a sudden,
45:39
you know, your morning bowl of Oatmeal becomes
45:41
gold. Yeah Yeah. Or just a a hot
45:45
cup of tea or something like that. All
45:47
of a sudden you you don't take it
45:49
for granted anymore end.
45:51
And and so III
45:53
like to think for
45:55
those
45:56
those moments that are visitor are coming onto
45:58
these programs and and seeing the Milky way
46:01
for the very first time. They're having a
46:03
similar type of experience where they're just fully
46:06
en inviting
46:07
what they're what they're viewing in the Milky
46:10
way. And and that's just... I mean, it's
46:12
tested to the fact that we'll just
46:15
tons and tons of programs for my time
46:16
here. You'll just have people break breakdown and
46:19
and cry at looking at right milky way.
46:22
And hugging you or something like that is
46:24
not holding back and you can tell in
46:26
that moment. They just they... Well, people wanna
46:28
hug you anyways. Well, yeah I hope that
46:30
honest Blanket, like a so it's kinda be
46:32
easy to get around the base there. Yeah.
46:35
But... No. It's very... It's very it's wonderful
46:37
dude to to
46:39
share that with visitors, and
46:42
and this program...
46:43
Astronomer residence program in our dark skies program
46:45
in general has, you know, in 2020
46:48
We we've we we've reached... We reached out
46:51
to me, like, 50000,
46:52
you know, visitors through our programs. And so
46:55
it's just been free fantastic journey so far.
46:57
And it's really great because it... You know,
46:59
so much of this is collaboration working with
47:02
different groups and.
47:03
Grand Canyon El Park, Grand Canyon conservative lobes
47:06
of.
47:07
It's been such a great,
47:09
partnership, and we're all doing the same thing.
47:11
Trying to, you know, show people the wonders
47:14
of the universe. Mh. Step back and and
47:17
feel that awe and be inspired,
47:19
And you like to think that folks leave
47:21
and, you know, they're a little bit better.
47:23
They're a little bit more inspired.
47:24
They have gratitude. Yeah. And
47:27
and it's it's great to be able to
47:28
talk about these things and keep promoting it.
47:30
Mh. And knowing that tonight,
47:33
whether cloudy or not. They're gonna be people
47:36
outside, they wanna to look at the night
47:38
sky or learn about the night sky. Right.
47:40
Every night, it's like that. Yeah. And sometimes,
47:43
you know, there's disappointment because as much as
47:45
we complained about the clouds, mother nature doesn't
47:48
listen to us. Yeah. Right. Right. And so
47:50
but there's still today, last night, we went
47:53
to another point
47:54
to look at the nearly full moon rising,
47:57
and it was hidden
47:59
for most of the time.
48:01
Early on and then to start coming in
48:03
a little bit. And it was so eerie.
48:05
And on the end of the canyon, and
48:06
then
48:07
you start seeing more of the moon that
48:09
you could start seeing more of the Canyon.
48:10
Yeah. And it was just like it was
48:12
like a 19 forties Black and White movie,
48:14
but, you know, it just had this ear
48:16
ness in this mysterious. Business to it. Mh.
48:18
I mean, had a really need feel. Yeah.
48:20
No. It's it's an it's it's incredible to
48:24
to experience that and you've been... A great
48:26
a great part of that. And, you know,
48:28
your residency was
48:30
you know, 1 of my favorites and and
48:32
much too short And much short. Yeah. So
48:35
you had you you come crawling back there
48:37
missed this
48:38
Alumni visit and where we're excited to have
48:40
you. It's just been it's been awesome to
48:42
to partner with Lowell and and Grand Canyon
48:44
absorb in the National park service. I agree.
48:46
It's been a... It's been a incredible partnership
48:49
And
48:50
and, again, I hope hopefully, we are inspiring.
48:52
Not only of those experiences here, but like
48:54
you say,
48:55
we're
48:57
inspiring people to take some of these messages.
48:58
But takes community, you know. And every once
49:01
in a while and, actually, literally, yesterday was
49:05
1 such piece occasion.
49:07
We get,
49:08
you know,
49:09
reached out to by a visitor who, you
49:12
know,
49:14
went on 1 of our dark sky programs
49:15
and and have took the time to reach
49:19
out and say, hey, this inspired me to
49:22
such an extent I'm now actively pursuing, you
49:25
know, Dark sky, community or Dark sky clay
49:28
status at my local park or my local
49:30
Mh city. And That just happened to me.
49:33
I I read it earlier today, somebody out
49:35
in the Los Angeles area, and trying to
49:38
create an urban dark sky place in 1
49:40
of the the local. Parks there. And, based
49:43
off of her experience,
49:45
specifically,
49:46
she... And I'll send this to you guys
49:48
she quoted flags stuff and Grand Canyon
49:51
for,
49:52
for inspiring her to do that this So
49:53
it's kinda it's kinda odd. That's great.
49:56
And it shows the value of partnership and
49:59
and us all being inspired to to wanna
50:02
make a difference. And when you see that,
50:04
you know, every... Talk to 1 of your
50:05
arrange who you give. How many people are
50:07
in the audience then and then not all
50:09
of them. But so many of them are
50:11
affected in some way, some to actively do
50:13
something and you know, y'all all... We should
50:15
all try to make the world better place
50:16
in some way. Yeah. And if somebody leaves
50:18
and said, I'm gonna help, you know, protect
50:20
the dark skies.
50:23
Absolutely It's what it's all about. Yep. Well,
50:26
this has been great talking. Wait. As always,
50:29
it goes it's way too fast.
50:31
But our time has run out. So,
50:33
any final questions. Oh, we have a couple
50:34
of questions. You don't mind anything a package.
50:36
Nope. And that's from that's from Cody Hoffman.
50:38
We're talking about,
50:39
the origin of the term Luna, and yeah.
50:42
Half. I'm sorry. Go. I don't know if
50:44
she's has Luna.
50:46
I only have. Yeah.
50:47
Someone is asking. This is Anna Stone from
50:50
Facebook. Hi, Anna? Is asking if there are
50:53
any star party presentations that can be shared.
50:57
Me so in terms of, like, upcoming events
51:00
here in the park, if you visit our,
51:04
upcoming night skies events webpage
51:08
on the National Park with Grand canyon National
51:10
Park
51:11
website.
51:12
That's where we have all our events listed.
51:16
We also so,
51:17
on our web and our Youtube channel have
51:20
tons of,
51:22
online night sky presentations, things like... That we've
51:25
given,
51:26
and then and then Grand Canyon cons conservative
51:29
on on on their on their webpage page
51:32
often,
51:34
posts about
51:35
the astronomer residents program, things like that. You
51:37
can learn more about that there.
51:40
Yep And also mention, Anna,
51:42
depending on where you live and if you're
51:44
just looking for a virtual or not,
51:46
low observatory,
51:47
which is just down the road.
51:49
We have essentially star parties every clear night.
51:52
And even when it's not clear, we have
51:54
astronomers educators. Under so much great activity going
51:57
on, We also do a lot of virtual
52:00
programs. Mh. If you go to Lowell Youtube
52:02
page, there's just a lovely,
52:06
collection going back several years now, of of
52:09
live
52:10
podcasts. Several different series we did and continue
52:13
to do. So there's a lot of options
52:15
out there. In. Monthly, we do 2 video
52:18
programs in collaboration with Grand Canyon Consultancy and
52:21
Grand Canyon National Park on we can find
52:24
that on any of our social media platforms.
52:26
Right. If they can hear me through the
52:27
mind. Could. Yep. And the second question was
52:30
a bit earlier on. So this might been
52:32
cleared up. I don't know if you wanna
52:33
have... Of course... It was is was
52:36
lowell Observatory At Grand Canyon. They were excited.
52:39
So maybe clear up Was respiratory at grand
52:43
care. Yeah. Right now,
52:45
infrequently, but... Yeah. So so... Questioned is is
52:48
Lo observatory trading Grand Canyon. We're setting up
52:50
a house here. We're trying to do and
52:52
they permanently.
52:54
Well, there's such a great collaboration with Grand
52:56
Canyon
52:57
conservative Grand Canyon National Park. And we're all
52:59
trying to do the same thing. Right. Of
53:01
inspiring people and sharing the wonders of the
53:03
universe. And so we've been developing these partnerships,
53:06
thanks to our half luna
53:08
marketing person Cody Hoffman,
53:11
which is your real name? Yes.
53:13
But but these partnerships where
53:15
where we,
53:17
loyal staff educators, scientists,
53:20
come up here for star parties,
53:22
to give talks. And that that effort is
53:25
is just growing.
53:26
Well, I think the idea is to
53:28
maybe even make a regular thing where on
53:30
different scientists come up your regular basis,
53:34
joining in with with the programs you already
53:36
have going. Right. And I I can say
53:38
these are great because
53:40
because generally, you know, you know, an in
53:42
the seats 400 or whatever this. And then
53:45
afterwards, you go outside, and there's even more
53:47
people waiting, Yeah Said to The Telescope.
53:51
Right. And it's... And to me, it's it's
53:53
inspiring to see that every every night you
53:55
see that
53:56
because people are hungry
53:58
to explore. Well, and there's no...
54:01
I was just... There's no better place, I
54:03
think,
54:05
than came. There there's very few places on
54:07
the plan, I should say
54:08
that
54:10
have 2 things going for at the same
54:11
time. 1,
54:13
the infrastructure to support people.
54:16
And the pristine next guys to go with
54:17
it. I mean, usually, you have 1 or
54:19
the other. Right? You have all the hotels,
54:20
but you're in Las Vegas, and you can
54:22
see 4 farms. Right? 2 of Airplanes.
54:24
And
54:25
or you're in Big Bend National Park. It's
54:29
pristine, but it's very hard to get to
54:30
you. Right. Yeah. Right? Here, we have both.
54:33
We have... We can accommodate 6000000 people
54:36
plus per year with all the hotels and
54:38
campground. Yet, we're also at the same time,
54:40
1 of the darkest night guys of the
54:42
United States, And that is just a potent
54:44
combination Mh. For
54:46
making this 1 of worldwide hubs of dark
54:49
skies outreach, and, you know, just having low
54:52
observatory. Right? They're 1 of the most
54:54
significant and and,
54:56
important ob.
54:58
Now and in the in in in the
55:00
nation's history is is incredibly,
55:05
fort 2. Yep. You know, And and so
55:07
it's been just a an excellent
55:09
collaboration of partnership. Well, it's a partnership that
55:11
we all appreciate and we continue to see
55:14
it grow and really enjoy that. And and
55:17
reaching more and more people. It's really inspiring
55:19
to do that. So with that, we'll, we'll
55:21
wrap up our program, Brandon Lane
55:23
Clover morale. Great to have you. Go chat
55:26
there. Come
55:37
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55:39
and donors. If you enjoyed this episode and
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