A Brighter Christmas, A Darker Future?

Even though Christmas has passed, the festive spirit lingers here in Fuerteventura! Our Christmas tree remains proudly displayed, twinkling with lights. And the celebrations continue, as we eagerly await the arrival of the Three Kings on Dia de Reyes.

Christmas lights! They transform our neighborhoods into twinkling wonderlands, casting a festive glow on the season. But as we string up those dazzling displays, it's worth considering the potential impact of our holiday cheer.

The dazzling spectacle of Christmas lights comes at a cost, not just to our wallets (though those energy bills can certainly add up!), but to the environment and even our own health.

The sheer volume of holiday lights creates a blanket of artificial light, washing out the stars and disrupting the natural night sky. This "light pollution" isn't just a nuisance for astronomers and stargazers. It confuses wildlife, disrupts their natural rhythms, and can even harm their delicate ecosystems. Imagine a tiny insect drawn to a brilliant streetlight, circling and circling until it's exhausted and disoriented. Or picture a migrating bird, its natural navigation severely impacted by the city's glow, losing its way and struggling to find its destination.

Furthermore, all that artificial light at night can wreak havoc on our sleep cycles. It becomes harder to fall asleep, sleep quality suffers, and individuals often wake up feeling groggy and unrefreshed. This can lead to mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and even serious health problems down the line.

So, what can we do? Can we still enjoy the magic of the season without sacrificing our environment and our well-being? Absolutely! Here are a few simple steps individuals can take:

• Embrace energy-efficient LEDs: They use less energy and produce less heat, making them a much greener choice.

• Embrace timers: Set timers to automatically turn off lights when individuals are asleep or away from home.

• Shield your lights: Direct the light downwards to minimize light pollution and reduce glare.

• Choose warm-colored lights: They're less disruptive to wildlife and create a more cozy, festive atmosphere.

• Support your local "Dark Sky" initiatives: Join a local organization or participate in community events that raise awareness about the importance of preserving the night sky.

This holiday season, let's make a conscious effort to be more mindful of our lighting choices. By making small adjustments, we can create a brighter Christmas for everyone while ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

....DECEMBER 2018 NIGHT SKY.. DECEMBRE 2018 CIELO NOCTURNO....

….

The month of December is marked by the Winter Solstice, which this year falls on the 21st. This was a very important date in the calendar of the ancient inhabitants of Fuerteventura, the Majos, who – according to the historians – met on the top of their sacred mountain, Tindaya's, in order to witness the sunset, forwarding the return of the rains and of the days with more light hours. And this solstice is also announced in the night sky by the presence of the most significant of the Winter constellations, the giant hunter Orion, which for the Majos was only a part of a bigger asterism called ' the Plough', directly connected to agriculture.

Another very important date of the month, and especially for the ones who love the shooting stars, is around the nights of the 13th and 14th, with the most faithful shower of the year, the Geminids, whose slow meteors can reach the count of 120 per hour in optimal conditions of darkness. The Moon will be in her First Quarter, so will set down early, leaving then a dark sky for the second part of the night.

These days around the center of the month are also the best for the observation of our satellite, which leaves always astonished children of all ages with her seas, her craters and her mountains, which we admire with great detail through a telescope in spite of the great distance.

Clear skies to everybody!

..

El mes de diciembre está marcado por el Solsticio de Invierno, que este año cae el día 21. Esta era una fecha muy importante en el calendario de los antiguos pobladores de Fuerteventura, los Majos, que - según nos relatan los historiadores- se reunían en la cumbre de su montaña sagrada, la montaña de Tindaya, para asistir a la puesta del Sol en este día, que marcaba la vuelta de las lluvias y de la época con más horas de luz. El solsticio está anunciado en el cielo de diciembre por la vuelta de la constelación más emblemática del invierno, el gran cazador Orión, que en la interpretación de los Majos formaba parte de un asterismo que llamaban 'el Arado', claramente conectado con el cultivo de los campos.

Otra cita muy señalada de este mes, y especialmente para los apasionados de estrellas fugaces, está en las noches del 13 y 14 de diciembre, con la lluvia más fiable del año, las Gemínidas, con meteoros lentos que sin embargo pueden superar el número de 120 por hora en las mejores condiciones de oscuridad. La Luna estará en el Cuarto Creciente, así que se pondrá pronto dejando el cielo muy oscuro en la segunda parte de la noche. Las fechas centrales del mes serán también las mejores para la observación de nuestro satélite, que siempre deja asombrados a los niños de todas las edades con sus cráteres, sus mares y sus montañas, que admiramos con gran detalle a través del telescopio a pesar de su lejanía.

¡Cielos despejados para todos!

….

....DECEMBER 2017 NIGHT SKY.. DECEMBRE 2017 CIELO NOCTURNO....

....The Moon, reaching her full phase on day 3rd, enlightens the first nights of December, inviting unforgettable walks through the dunes or along the shoreline of the sea; however, if you would like to enjoy the best observing moments of our satellite - with her incredible craters and mountains - it is recommendable to wait for the next cycle, beginning in the last week of this month.

An important date around the middle of December uses to be the maximum of the Geminids, the most reliable shooting star shower of the last years. With up to 120 meteors per hour expected during the nights of the 13th and 14th. A good suggestion is to dedicate a few hours to the observation of this fantastic phenomenon from a dark spot, if the meteorology is favorable. A beautiful opportunity to admire also some typical winter constellations which are rising from the eastern horizon, as the unmistakable Orion, rich in celestial treasures such as its famous nebula - the closest star nursery - or the brilliant Gemini, with its fantastic open cluster.

Clear skies to everybody!  ..

La Luna, que llega a su plenitud el día 3, ilumina las primera noches de diciembre, invitando a inolvidables paseos por las dunas o a orillas del mar; en cambio, para gozar de los mejores momentos de observación de nuestro satélite -con su increíbles cráteres y montañas- es recomendable esperar hasta la siguiente fase creciente, que se da en la última semana del mes.

Un cita importante a mediados de diciembre es sin duda la fecha del máximo de las Gemínidas, la lluvia de estrellas más fiable en estos últimos años. Con hasta 120 meteoros por hora en las noches del 13 y del 14, vale la pena sin duda dedicar algunas horas a la observación de este fantástico fenómeno celeste desde un sitio oscuro, esperando que la meteorología acompañe. Aprovecharemos de paso para admirar las constelaciones del invierno que ya se alzan desde el horizonte Este, como el inconfundible Orión, rico en tesoros celestes como su famosa nebulosa -el más cercano criadero de estrellas- o el brillante Gémini, con su riquísimo cúmulo abierto. 

¡Cielos despejados para todo! ....