Dark skies permit stellar views
— Photo by Ron Barnell
Anne Rhoades, Huyck Preserve director, observes the Great Orion Nebula through a telescope while Helderberg Earth & Sky member Dave Stankavich points out the location in the Orion constellation for visitors to the preserve.
To the Editor:
Last Friday, visitors to the Huyck Preserve were treated to both some delicious holiday baked goods on Earth, and some stellar “eye-candy” views in the dark nighttime skies above the Eldridge Center at Lincoln Pond.
Members of the Helderberg Earth & Sky Observatory group gave a talk on the mission of the proposed new public observatory in the Rensselaerville area, and the importance of controlling all forms of light pollution, thereby preserving the very special dark-sky resource that the Huyck Preserve and the entire Rensselaerville area both share.
Afterwards, visitors came outside to brave the cold and observe selected deep-sky showpiece objects through a telescope that members of the observatory group had set up on the grounds.
Ron Barnell
President
Helderberg Earth & Sky
Observatory / Science Center