STARLIGHT: A COMMON HERITAGE (brochure) (4 MB)

CONFERENCE POSTER(1.8 MB)
 

The scientific dimension.
A dark sky for the development of astrophysics.

• The importance and scope of astrophysics research.

• The parameters of night sky quality for astrophysical observation.

• Effects of light pollution.

• Effects of radio-electric pollution.

• Effects of air pollution.

• Characterisation of “sky reserves” for astrophysical research.
   

Benefits that go beyond the frontiers of astrophysics.

• Benefits for industrial and technological development.

• Astrophysics, technological innovation and social benefits.

• Opening up new frontiers for science, economy, culture and cooperation for peace.

Climate change, Kyoto Protocol, renewables and quality of the sky.

• Energy efficiency and intelligent lighting.

• For a lighting culture that does not mask the starlight.

• Emissions and quality of the sky.

• New technologies for clean skies.

• Best practices in lighting techniques and emission reduction.

• Clean energy and transport for a star-studded sky.

The environmental dimension

• Benefits and risks for the environment.

• Starlight and the conservation of biological diversity.

• Nocturnal landscapes.

• Ecology of the night.

The cultural and educational dimension.

• Enhancing the value of the world astronomic cultural heritage.

• The importance of astronomy in the history of science.

• Astronomy, cultural diversity and a culture of peace.

• The benefits of acquiring knowledge of the Universe.

The night sky, source of inspiration.

• The night skies in painting and photography.

• Music of the stars.

• The influence in the literature.

• Stars in the scenic arts.

• Oral and intangible heritage.

The right to starlight.

• Legislative and regulatory initiatives: codes, regulations and laws.

• International agreements and conventions. Framework and possibilities.

• The quality of the skies and the energy directives.

• The right to the nocturnal landscapes.

• Consolidating the “windows on the universe” as a right of mankind.

Star tourism.

• The astronomic cultural heritage as a tourist resource.

• Astrophysics observatories and knowledge tourism.

• Sustainable tourist destinations and clean skies.

• Silence and starlight: tourism in the deserts.

• Star routes.

Starlight Reserves.

• Identification and promotion of an international network of Starlight Reserves.

• Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites as Starlight Reserve laboratories.