"Star Watching Network"- Result of FY 2005 Winter Star Watching

The "Star Watching Network" is an activity of simultaneous nation-wide star observation using simple means, such as with naked eyes or binoculars. This project has been conducted twice a year (summer and winter) since 1988, with the aim of stimulating people's interest in clean and clear atmosphere without any light or air pollution.

Through this project, the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) tries to help people recognize the significance of clean air. The MOE will foster favorable outdoor lighting set-ups through diffusion of lighting equipment with less upward light leakage and with subdued lighting, eventually improving local air quality and preventing global warming. Further information on the Star Watching Network activities is available through the MOE webpage for children (in Japanese) (https://www.env.go.jp/kids/star.html).

Results of FY 2005 Winter Star Watching are as follows:

(1) Observation period
From Wednesday, January 18 to Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Participants were encouraged to watch stars on more than one day during the period.

(2) Number of groups and individuals participating
Although 526 groups applied for participation, only 352 groups conducted observation in 374 locations due to bad weather conditions. The total number of individuals participating in observation activities was 3,107 (359 groups and 3,788 individuals participated in FY 2004 Winter Star Watching).

For Japanese