you know it’s been a long time since I was there but it’s dark in the womb at
was there but it’s dark in the womb at
was there but it’s dark in the womb at least so I’ve been told
least so I’ve been told
least so I’ve been told and so in darkness were all born and yet
and so in darkness were all born and yet
and so in darkness were all born and yet most of us seem to spend the rest of our
most of us seem to spend the rest of our
most of us seem to spend the rest of our lives trying to avoid the dark we seek
lives trying to avoid the dark we seek
lives trying to avoid the dark we seek out the light and we banish the darkness
out the light and we banish the darkness
out the light and we banish the darkness to the closets and the cellars of our
to the closets and the cellars of our
to the closets and the cellars of our emotional and our physical life I’m in a
emotional and our physical life I’m in a
emotional and our physical life I’m in a dark space right now we might tell a
dark space right now we might tell a
dark space right now we might tell a friend if we’re feeling kind of low kind
friend if we’re feeling kind of low kind
friend if we’re feeling kind of low kind of in a dark place I wouldn’t want to
of in a dark place I wouldn’t want to
of in a dark place I wouldn’t want to meet up with him in a dark alley conveys
meet up with him in a dark alley conveys
meet up with him in a dark alley conveys a threat and not a promise we fear the
a threat and not a promise we fear the
a threat and not a promise we fear the darkness for those unseen things that go
darkness for those unseen things that go
darkness for those unseen things that go bump we fear the darkness for what it
bump we fear the darkness for what it
bump we fear the darkness for what it hides from our sight and yet when we
hides from our sight and yet when we
hides from our sight and yet when we turn out the lights when we turn out the
turn out the lights when we turn out the
turn out the lights when we turn out the lights something wonderful happens we
lights something wonderful happens we
lights something wonderful happens we can often see things that we haven’t
can often see things that we haven’t
can often see things that we haven’t seen before look around you as your eyes
seen before look around you as your eyes
seen before look around you as your eyes get used to the darkness and as they
get used to the darkness and as they
get used to the darkness and as they adjust what can you see that you didn’t
adjust what can you see that you didn’t
adjust what can you see that you didn’t see before maybe you see the glow from
see before maybe you see the glow from
see before maybe you see the glow from the door over here I’m really quite
the door over here I’m really quite
the door over here I’m really quite impressed I was expecting that I’d see
impressed I was expecting that I’d see
impressed I was expecting that I’d see the glow of a few cellphones in the
the glow of a few cellphones in the
the glow of a few cellphones in the audience but I don’t see nary a one and
audience but I don’t see nary a one and
audience but I don’t see nary a one and the magical thing is the longer we stay
the magical thing is the longer we stay
the magical thing is the longer we stay here in the dark the more our eyes adapt
here in the dark the more our eyes adapt
here in the dark the more our eyes adapt and the more that we can see and the
and the more that we can see and the
and the more that we can see and the really neat thing is that when we go
really neat thing is that when we go
really neat thing is that when we go outside into the wilderness and we let
outside into the wilderness and we let
outside into the wilderness and we let we go out on a clear moonless night
we go out on a clear moonless night
we go out on a clear moonless night something similar happens in the dark
something similar happens in the dark
something similar happens in the dark except they’re much more wonderful
unfortunately for most of us we really
unfortunately for most of us we really don’t get views they’re that spectacular
don’t get views they’re that spectacular
don’t get views they’re that spectacular satellite surveys of the night sky
satellite surveys of the night sky
satellite surveys of the night sky indicate that about 80% of the people
indicate that about 80% of the people
indicate that about 80% of the people living in the United States can’t see
living in the United States can’t see
living in the United States can’t see the Milky Way at night
the Milky Way at night
the Milky Way at night where they live light pollution has soul
where they live light pollution has soul
where they live light pollution has soul in the night from us and made it
in the night from us and made it
in the night from us and made it impossible to see those faint objects
impossible to see those faint objects
impossible to see those faint objects that once we’re a part of everyone’s
that once we’re a part of everyone’s
that once we’re a part of everyone’s experience and it doesn’t take very much
experience and it doesn’t take very much
experience and it doesn’t take very much light drive 40 miles from the tri-cities
light drive 40 miles from the tri-cities
light drive 40 miles from the tri-cities you will still see the glow of the
you will still see the glow of the
you will still see the glow of the tri-cities on the horizon but let’s
tri-cities on the horizon but let’s
tri-cities on the horizon but let’s imagine for a moment that we could go
imagine for a moment that we could go
imagine for a moment that we could go out into the wheat fields and on a clear
out into the wheat fields and on a clear
out into the wheat fields and on a clear moonless night what would we see out
moonless night what would we see out
moonless night what would we see out there well the first thing we might
there well the first thing we might
there well the first thing we might notice is that we see a lot more stars
notice is that we see a lot more stars
notice is that we see a lot more stars than we imagine there were when I take
than we imagine there were when I take
than we imagine there were when I take my dog Maddie out for our nightly walk
my dog Maddie out for our nightly walk
my dog Maddie out for our nightly walk just a couple blocks from this theater
just a couple blocks from this theater
just a couple blocks from this theater we’re in town and and I might see
we’re in town and and I might see
we’re in town and and I might see perhaps two dozen stars on a moonless
perhaps two dozen stars on a moonless
perhaps two dozen stars on a moonless night if I’ve been looking at my cell
night if I’ve been looking at my cell
night if I’ve been looking at my cell phone then I’ll probably see a couple
phone then I’ll probably see a couple
phone then I’ll probably see a couple fewer I’m standing in the shadows of a
fewer I’m standing in the shadows of a
fewer I’m standing in the shadows of a maple tree or Sycamore under and and
maple tree or Sycamore under and and
maple tree or Sycamore under and and away from the streetlight I might see a
away from the streetlight I might see a
away from the streetlight I might see a couple dozen more if I go out into the
couple dozen more if I go out into the
couple dozen more if I go out into the suburbs away from the city lights way
suburbs away from the city lights way
suburbs away from the city lights way from commercial buildings and stoplights
from commercial buildings and stoplights
from commercial buildings and stoplights and street lights I might see perhaps
and street lights I might see perhaps
and street lights I might see perhaps two hundred stars in the night sky if I
two hundred stars in the night sky if I
two hundred stars in the night sky if I go out into the wheat fields forty miles
go out into the wheat fields forty miles
go out into the wheat fields forty miles from town away from almost all lights on
from town away from almost all lights on
from town away from almost all lights on a clear moonless night I can see as many
a clear moonless night I can see as many
a clear moonless night I can see as many as forty five hundred stars these are
as forty five hundred stars these are
as forty five hundred stars these are what astronomers call the local
what astronomers call the local
what astronomers call the local neighborhood a turn the only astronomers
neighborhood a turn the only astronomers
neighborhood a turn the only astronomers could get away with using four stars
could get away with using four stars
could get away with using four stars that are still tens to thousands of
that are still tens to thousands of
that are still tens to thousands of light-years away that means the light
light-years away that means the light
light-years away that means the light that left those stars isn’t isn’t what
that left those stars isn’t isn’t what
that left those stars isn’t isn’t what we’re seeing isn’t the light that left
we’re seeing isn’t the light that left
we’re seeing isn’t the light that left those stars right now that’s the light
those stars right now that’s the light
those stars right now that’s the light that left years and years ago in the
that left years and years ago in the
that left years and years ago in the case of our Sun that was eight and a
case of our Sun that was eight and a
case of our Sun that was eight and a half minutes ago in the case of the
half minutes ago in the case of the
half minutes ago in the case of the bright star Sirius which is the dog star
bright star Sirius which is the dog star
bright star Sirius which is the dog star the brightest star we can see in the in
the brightest star we can see in the in
the brightest star we can see in the in the sky that light left eight and a half
the sky that light left eight and a half
the sky that light left eight and a half years ago about the time of the fir
years ago about the time of the fir
years ago about the time of the fir tedtalk actually and if we look at the
tedtalk actually and if we look at the
tedtalk actually and if we look at the star Deneb in the constellation the Swan
star Deneb in the constellation the Swan
star Deneb in the constellation the Swan that light left 1700 years ago when
that light left 1700 years ago when
that light left 1700 years ago when Attila the Hun was still roaming around
Attila the Hun was still roaming around
Attila the Hun was still roaming around Asia but what if we let our eyes adapt
Asia but what if we let our eyes adapt
Asia but what if we let our eyes adapt even further how far can we see well if
even further how far can we see well if
even further how far can we see well if you are out on a summer night in
you are out on a summer night in
you are out on a summer night in particular and you look up to the sky
particular and you look up to the sky
particular and you look up to the sky after your eyes have adapted you’ll see
after your eyes have adapted you’ll see
after your eyes have adapted you’ll see the Milky Way milky way’s of this river
the Milky Way milky way’s of this river
the Milky Way milky way’s of this river of light that crosses the sky roughly
of light that crosses the sky roughly
of light that crosses the sky roughly north to south and the neat thing about
north to south and the neat thing about
north to south and the neat thing about looking at the Milky Way is that we’re
looking at the Milky Way is that we’re
looking at the Milky Way is that we’re looking at the edge of our universe
looking at the edge of our universe
looking at the edge of our universe we’re looking sort of edge on right
we’re looking sort of edge on right
we’re looking sort of edge on right through our universe we’re seeing not
through our universe we’re seeing not
through our universe we’re seeing not tens of stars not hundreds of stars not
tens of stars not hundreds of stars not
tens of stars not hundreds of stars not even millions of stars but hundreds of
even millions of stars but hundreds of
even millions of stars but hundreds of billions of stars and we’re looking very
billions of stars and we’re looking very
billions of stars and we’re looking very far back in time in fact when we look to
far back in time in fact when we look to
far back in time in fact when we look to the southern part of the Milky Way the
the southern part of the Milky Way the
the southern part of the Milky Way the bright part of the Milky Way in the
bright part of the Milky Way in the
bright part of the Milky Way in the summertime we’re seeing light that left
summertime we’re seeing light that left
summertime we’re seeing light that left over 20,000 years ago think about that
over 20,000 years ago think about that
over 20,000 years ago think about that when the light that this picture was
when the light that this picture was
when the light that this picture was taken with let first left the the stars
taken with let first left the the stars
taken with let first left the the stars that originated from this theater and
that originated from this theater and
that originated from this theater and everyone in it would have been under
everyone in it would have been under
everyone in it would have been under about six hundred feet of water because
about six hundred feet of water because
about six hundred feet of water because it would been during the Ice Age floods
it would been during the Ice Age floods
it would been during the Ice Age floods but let’s keep watching for a while what
but let’s keep watching for a while what
but let’s keep watching for a while what else do we see well eventually we’re
else do we see well eventually we’re
else do we see well eventually we’re going to see some shooting stars we’ll
going to see some shooting stars we’ll
going to see some shooting stars we’ll see them streak across the sky and every
see them streak across the sky and every
see them streak across the sky and every one of them is a fiery reminder that
one of them is a fiery reminder that
one of them is a fiery reminder that Joni Mitchell was right when she said
Joni Mitchell was right when she said
Joni Mitchell was right when she said that we are Stardust we were golden
that we are Stardust we were golden
that we are Stardust we were golden because these are the ashes of dead
because these are the ashes of dead
because these are the ashes of dead stars falling to earth to become part of
stars falling to earth to become part of
stars falling to earth to become part of our living planet
let’s look up to the north part of the
let’s look up to the north part of the sky if you look to the north and if
sky if you look to the north and if
sky if you look to the north and if you’re lucky enough and if you’re
you’re lucky enough and if you’re
you’re lucky enough and if you’re patient enough and it’s dark enough you
patient enough and it’s dark enough you
patient enough and it’s dark enough you may just see a great green fog along the
may just see a great green fog along the
may just see a great green fog along the horizon you may even imagine that you
horizon you may even imagine that you
horizon you may even imagine that you see it moving but that’s not your
see it moving but that’s not your
see it moving but that’s not your imagination those are the Northern
imagination those are the Northern
imagination those are the Northern Lights and believe it or not even down
Lights and believe it or not even down
Lights and believe it or not even down here at 47 degrees latitude
here at 47 degrees latitude
here at 47 degrees latitude we still get the Northern Light several
we still get the Northern Light several
we still get the Northern Light several times a year well what does all this
times a year well what does all this
times a year well what does all this matter well I suppose I could tell you
matter well I suppose I could tell you
matter well I suppose I could tell you that this is important because being
that this is important because being
that this is important because being able to see the night sky will inspire
able to see the night sky will inspire
able to see the night sky will inspire our kids to want to be part of these
our kids to want to be part of these
our kids to want to be part of these STEM careers they’re so vaunted it’ll
STEM careers they’re so vaunted it’ll
STEM careers they’re so vaunted it’ll spark their love of science and they’ll
spark their love of science and they’ll
spark their love of science and they’ll want to all grow up to be scientists but
want to all grow up to be scientists but
want to all grow up to be scientists but you know Neil deGrasse Tyson grew up in
you know Neil deGrasse Tyson grew up in
you know Neil deGrasse Tyson grew up in Brooklyn he could see maybe a dozen
Brooklyn he could see maybe a dozen
Brooklyn he could see maybe a dozen stars at night at best and he seems to
stars at night at best and he seems to
stars at night at best and he seems to have done pretty well so I could tell
have done pretty well so I could tell
have done pretty well so I could tell you instead that you know the universe
you instead that you know the universe
you instead that you know the universe and the stars the night sky is inspired
and the stars the night sky is inspired
and the stars the night sky is inspired artists from the ancients through van
artists from the ancients through van
artists from the ancients through van Gogh to Paul Simon and and and even
Gogh to Paul Simon and and and even
Gogh to Paul Simon and and and even contemporary artists and I wouldn’t be
contemporary artists and I wouldn’t be
contemporary artists and I wouldn’t be lying if I said that but I don’t think
lying if I said that but I don’t think
lying if I said that but I don’t think it’s the most important thing and it’s
it’s the most important thing and it’s
it’s the most important thing and it’s certainly not the only thing I could
certainly not the only thing I could
certainly not the only thing I could tell you instead that you have to
tell you instead that you have to
tell you instead that you have to experience it if you lay out on a
experience it if you lay out on a
experience it if you lay out on a blanket at night in the summer that
blanket at night in the summer that
blanket at night in the summer that sense of awe is what’s important that’s
sense of awe is what’s important that’s
sense of awe is what’s important that’s why it’s important but if you’ve done
why it’s important but if you’ve done
why it’s important but if you’ve done that you already understand that and if
that you already understand that and if
that you already understand that and if you haven’t you probably can’t be
you haven’t you probably can’t be
you haven’t you probably can’t be convinced so I’m going to suggest
convinced so I’m going to suggest
convinced so I’m going to suggest instead that what’s important about the
instead that what’s important about the
instead that what’s important about the night sky and our ability to see it is
night sky and our ability to see it is
night sky and our ability to see it is all of these things and more I’m going
all of these things and more I’m going
all of these things and more I’m going to suggest the night sky instead is is a
to suggest the night sky instead is is a
to suggest the night sky instead is is a thread that links us across cultures and
thread that links us across cultures and
thread that links us across cultures and across the ages because it’s the one
across the ages because it’s the one
across the ages because it’s the one thing that hasn’t changed about our
thing that hasn’t changed about our
thing that hasn’t changed about our human experience
human experience
human experience it’s a thread that weaves throughout the
it’s a thread that weaves throughout the
it’s a thread that weaves throughout the human the entire fabric of what it means
human the entire fabric of what it means
human the entire fabric of what it means to be human you know it’s not like the
to be human you know it’s not like the
to be human you know it’s not like the night sky doesn’t change ever but it
night sky doesn’t change ever but it
night sky doesn’t change ever but it changes very slowly across the millennia
changes very slowly across the millennia
changes very slowly across the millennia supernovae here slow drifting a part of
supernovae here slow drifting a part of
supernovae here slow drifting a part of stars over there but for the most part
stars over there but for the most part
stars over there but for the most part things stay pretty constant up in space
things stay pretty constant up in space
things stay pretty constant up in space fact if we were to be standing here with
fact if we were to be standing here with
fact if we were to be standing here with Kennewick Man and walk him down to the
Kennewick Man and walk him down to the
Kennewick Man and walk him down to the river he probably wouldn’t recognize the
river he probably wouldn’t recognize the
river he probably wouldn’t recognize the river not after 6,000 years
river not after 6,000 years
river not after 6,000 years I think the Columbia’s changed a bit
I think the Columbia’s changed a bit
I think the Columbia’s changed a bit since his time he could look up into the
since his time he could look up into the
since his time he could look up into the hills and he would be totally confused
hills and he would be totally confused
hills and he would be totally confused by all these buildings and man-made
by all these buildings and man-made
by all these buildings and man-made structures up there he’d certainly be a
structures up there he’d certainly be a
structures up there he’d certainly be a gasps I think the roar of cars and
gasps I think the roar of cars and
gasps I think the roar of cars and airplanes flying past in every direction
airplanes flying past in every direction
airplanes flying past in every direction but we could take him out into the night
but we could take him out into the night
but we could take him out into the night sky and have him look up and then take
sky and have him look up and then take
sky and have him look up and then take comfort and seeing the arc of the Milky
comfort and seeing the arc of the Milky
comfort and seeing the arc of the Milky Way he could foretell the coming of the
Way he could foretell the coming of the
Way he could foretell the coming of the winter from the three bright stars of
winter from the three bright stars of
winter from the three bright stars of Orion’s belt although he’d know it by a
Orion’s belt although he’d know it by a
Orion’s belt although he’d know it by a different name he would know those stars
different name he would know those stars
different name he would know those stars and he would know that that means when
and he would know that that means when
and he would know that that means when he sees that in the early morning hours
he sees that in the early morning hours
he sees that in the early morning hours that winter’s coming even before the
that winter’s coming even before the
that winter’s coming even before the first frost those stars tell what’s
first frost those stars tell what’s
first frost those stars tell what’s happening he would foresee his fate and
happening he would foresee his fate and
happening he would foresee his fate and ours written in the stars so what can we
ours written in the stars so what can we
ours written in the stars so what can we do about it
do about it
do about it well these talks are supposed to be
well these talks are supposed to be
well these talks are supposed to be about big ideas and so here’s mine I
about big ideas and so here’s mine I
about big ideas and so here’s mine I want to propose that we have a unique
want to propose that we have a unique
want to propose that we have a unique opportunity here in our community
opportunity here in our community
opportunity here in our community something that very community and very
something that very community and very
something that very community and very few communities have in fact and that is
few communities have in fact and that is
few communities have in fact and that is the opportunity to take back some of the
the opportunity to take back some of the
the opportunity to take back some of the night sky these are pictures of the
night sky these are pictures of the
night sky these are pictures of the Hanford reservation at night the first
Hanford reservation at night the first
Hanford reservation at night the first couple were pictures looking south
couple were pictures looking south
couple were pictures looking south towards rattlesnake mountain from the
towards rattlesnake mountain from the
towards rattlesnake mountain from the highway as you notice the mountain has
highway as you notice the mountain has
highway as you notice the mountain has no lights on it from the highway all the
no lights on it from the highway all the
no lights on it from the highway all the way to the top of the mountain looking
way to the top of the mountain looking
way to the top of the mountain looking north the views not quite as as rosy we
north the views not quite as as rosy we
north the views not quite as as rosy we see light spreading from the end reactor
see light spreading from the end reactor
see light spreading from the end reactor to the north to the tri-cities off to
to the north to the tri-cities off to
to the north to the tri-cities off to the east and these islands of light
the east and these islands of light
the east and these islands of light basically obscure the the night sky all
basically obscure the the night sky all
basically obscure the the night sky all along the horizon looking further beyond
along the horizon looking further beyond
along the horizon looking further beyond Hanford though we see very few lights
Hanford though we see very few lights
Hanford though we see very few lights between the river and the town of a
between the river and the town of a
between the river and the town of a thilo just a few scattered farms so we
thilo just a few scattered farms so we
thilo just a few scattered farms so we have a stretch of about 35 miles from
have a stretch of about 35 miles from
have a stretch of about 35 miles from north to south
north to south
north to south and yes right now they’re obscured by
and yes right now they’re obscured by
and yes right now they’re obscured by lights from the construction projects
lights from the construction projects
lights from the construction projects and the end the cleanup projects but
and the end the cleanup projects but
and the end the cleanup projects but what if we were to set about deciding
what if we were to set about deciding
what if we were to set about deciding that we were going to clean up not only
that we were going to clean up not only
that we were going to clean up not only the soil and the water at Hanford but
the soil and the water at Hanford but
the soil and the water at Hanford but the night sky as well call me naive or
the night sky as well call me naive or
the night sky as well call me naive or call me an optimist I like to prefer an
call me an optimist I like to prefer an
call me an optimist I like to prefer an optimist but I think at some point that
optimist but I think at some point that
optimist but I think at some point that cleanup project will be done and the
cleanup project will be done and the
cleanup project will be done and the need for those lights will slowly fade
need for those lights will slowly fade
need for those lights will slowly fade away what if we could bring back that
away what if we could bring back that
away what if we could bring back that that ability to go out into the Hanford
that ability to go out into the Hanford
that ability to go out into the Hanford Site and see the night sky in its
Site and see the night sky in its
Site and see the night sky in its richness it can be done
richness it can be done
richness it can be done communities all around the United States
communities all around the United States
communities all around the United States have especially here in the West where
have especially here in the West where
have especially here in the West where where it’s not too late
where it’s not too late
where it’s not too late have elected to try to save some of the
have elected to try to save some of the
have elected to try to save some of the night sky there’s an organization called
night sky there’s an organization called
night sky there’s an organization called the International dark-sky Association
the International dark-sky Association
the International dark-sky Association that actually has put together a model
that actually has put together a model
that actually has put together a model ordinance that helps to protect both
ordinance that helps to protect both
ordinance that helps to protect both personal property and personal safety
personal property and personal safety
personal property and personal safety while still preserving the night by
while still preserving the night by
while still preserving the night by minimizing the amount of light that
minimizing the amount of light that
minimizing the amount of light that spills over from lighting fixtures and
spills over from lighting fixtures and
spills over from lighting fixtures and homes and businesses communities like
homes and businesses communities like
homes and businesses communities like Malibu California and Sedona Arizona and
Malibu California and Sedona Arizona and
Malibu California and Sedona Arizona and Moab Utah have all adopted these
Moab Utah have all adopted these
Moab Utah have all adopted these standards and found ways to preserve the
standards and found ways to preserve the
standards and found ways to preserve the night sky in fact what they found is
night sky in fact what they found is
night sky in fact what they found is that it actually increases the amount of
that it actually increases the amount of
that it actually increases the amount of time that tourists spend in their
time that tourists spend in their
time that tourists spend in their communities we already know that people
communities we already know that people
communities we already know that people come to the tri-cities for our abundant
come to the tri-cities for our abundant
come to the tri-cities for our abundant sunshine what if we could offer them
sunshine what if we could offer them
sunshine what if we could offer them starlight as well that would be pretty
starlight as well that would be pretty
starlight as well that would be pretty cool so if you share that vision if you
cool so if you share that vision if you
cool so if you share that vision if you believe that something that’s worthwhile
believe that something that’s worthwhile
believe that something that’s worthwhile I encourage you to do at least one thing
I encourage you to do at least one thing
I encourage you to do at least one thing tonight today and that is to go to the
tonight today and that is to go to the
tonight today and that is to go to the Facebook page in defense of darkness
Facebook page in defense of darkness
Facebook page in defense of darkness that’s the site that we’ve set up
that’s the site that we’ve set up
that’s the site that we’ve set up specifically as a rallying point for
specifically as a rallying point for
specifically as a rallying point for people who believe as I do that the
people who believe as I do that the
people who believe as I do that the night sky ties us across time and across
night sky ties us across time and across
night sky ties us across time and across space to the rest of the universe and
space to the rest of the universe and
space to the rest of the universe and who want to try to find a way to
who want to try to find a way to
who want to try to find a way to preserve that
preserve that
preserve that we have a choice we can preserve that
we have a choice we can preserve that
we have a choice we can preserve that darkness we can reclaim the night for
darkness we can reclaim the night for
darkness we can reclaim the night for our children and for ourselves or we can
our children and for ourselves or we can
our children and for ourselves or we can let it vanish into a bright glow it’s up
let it vanish into a bright glow it’s up
let it vanish into a bright glow it’s up to us thank you very much
”
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