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.

….With the arrival of May, the glorious constellations which marked the astronomical winter, as Orion and the Great Dog, are leaving the protagonism to their rivals of the summer, Scorpius and Sagittarius, bringing back to us the most brilliantpart of the Milky Way. But this month is also the epoch of the great and farthest galaxies, spread inside the great constellations of Leo, Virgo and Coma, now close to the zenith of the night sky. In order to locate and admire them, we shall need the help of a telescope with wide aperture and the guide of an expert. May is also a good month to approach us to the double stars, which offer a variety of objects and colors, from the yellow components of Algieba in Leo, to the blue and orange of Albireo, in the Swan, showing a beautiful contrast with the background of a rich region of the Milky Way.

And finally we can welcome back the giant of the Solar System, the planet Jupiter, offering us the great view of his 4 satellites moving eternally around his bands and zones, so characteristic of his external layers. The Moon will leave us astonished too, with her big craters, high ranges of mountains and enormous lava seas. The best epoch to observe her is around the First Quarter, which this month is on day 11th.

Clear skies to everybody!

Con la llegada del mes de mayo, las gloriosas constelaciones que marcaron el invierno astronómico, como Orión y el Can Mayor, ya dejan definitivamente el paso a sus rivales del verano, Escorpio y Sagitario, que nos traen de vuelta la zona más brillante de la Vía Láctea. Pero este mes es también la temporada de las grandes y lejanísimas galaxias, que poblan las grandes constelaciones de Leo, Virgo y Coma, ya bien cerca del cenit del cielo nocturno. Para localizarlas y admirarlas, necesitaremos de un telescopio con una abertura generosa y la guía de un experto. Mayo es también un buen mes para acercarnos a las estrellas dobles, que nos ofrecen un variedad de objetos y colores, desde el amarillo de las componentes de Algieba en el León, hasta el azul y naranja de Albireo, en el Cisne, que nos presenta una magnífico contraste con el trasfondo de un riquísimo campo de la Vía Láctea.

Y por fin damos la bienvenida al gigante del Sistema Solar, el planeta Júpiter, que nos brinda el espectáculo de sus 4 satélites en eterno movimiento alrededor de sus bandas y zonas que hacen tan características su capa más externa. La Luna tampoco nos dejará indiferentes con sus grandes cráteres, sus cordilleras de altas montañas, sus inmensos mares de lava. La época mejor para su observación es alrededor del cuarto creciente, que este mes toca el día 11.

¡Cielos despejados para todos!….

A Brighter Christmas, A Darker Future?

....MAY NIGHT SKY 2019..MAYO 2019 Cielo Nocturno….