December 12, 2005
Star Watching Network is an activity of simultaneous nation-wide star observation by familiar means, such as with naked eyes or binoculars. This project is conducted twice a year (summer and winter) since 1988 aiming at stimulating interests of participants toward clean and clear atmosphere without any light or air pollution.
The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) tries to widely appeal the significance of clean air through this project. The MOE will further promote various policies for fostering favorable outdoor lighting set-ups, global warming prevention and improvement of local atmospheric environment, such as diffusion of lighting apparatus with less light leakage to up in the air and with subdued lighting. Star Watching Network activities are introduced in the MOE webpage for children at http://www.env.go.jp/kids/star.html (in Japanese).
1. | FY 2005 Winter Star Watching |
(1) | Duration Wednesday, January 18 - Tuesday, January 31, 2006 Participants are required to watch stars for more than one day during the period. |
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(2) | Observation method
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(3) | How to participate Apply to the authorities in charge of air quality management in prefectural, ordinance designated cities, or core city governments. Conduct the observation based on a Manual for Winter Star Watching Network for FY 2005 and report the results to the authorities. |
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(4) | Fixed point observation The MOE appointed 24 locations at which observation is conducted consecutively by the same method as photographing stars mentioned (2) (c) above to assess brightness of night sky. |
2. | Outline of observation results for FY 2005 Summer Star Watching |
(1) | Observation period 27 July- 9 August, 2005 Participants were required to watch stars for more than one day during the period. |
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(2) | Number of groups and individuals participated While 560 groups applied for participation, 427 groups conducted observation in 437 locations due to bad climatic condition and other causes. Total number of individuals participated in the observation is 7,325 (466 groups and 7,690 individuals participated in FY 2005 Summer Star Watching). |
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(3) | Observation results The stars are difficult to watch in large cities with innumerable artificial lightings making night sky brighter. Although long term observation for almost 20 years shows no major changes in the visibility of stars, it indicates the inclination of decreasing visibility.
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