The Vihorlat Observatory, as the main beneficiary of the Carpathian Star Ways project, provided the media with a press release on the implementation of the project along with brief information on the topic of light pollution. The Press Agency of the Slovak Republic amended and published the report on 8 February 2022. The original version of the text is available here.
On September 30 – October 2, the initial conference of the “Carpathian Star Way” project (HUSKROUA / 1901 / 6.1 / 0044) took place within the framework of Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine ENI Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2014-2020.
The conference was organized by Beneficiary 2 – NGO “Institute of Development of Carpathian Region”. The first part of the conference was held in the Hall of the Academic Council of Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod, Sq. Narodna, 3. The field part of the conference was organized in the mountain tourist shelter “Yavirnyk”, Velyky Berezny.
Continue readingThe inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light – known as light pollution – can have serious environmental consequences for humans, wildlife, and our climate. Components of light pollution include:
Light pollution is a side effect of industrial civilization. Its sources include building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated sporting venues.
The fact is that much outdoor lighting used at night is inefficient, overly bright, poorly targeted, improperly shielded, and, in many cases, completely unnecessary. This light, and the electricity used to create it, is being wasted by spilling it into the sky, rather than focusing it on to the actual objects and areas that people want illuminated.
There will be two similar information pavilions build as the infrastructural component of the project. They will be constructed with the same technical concept. The only difference is the diameter of the main dome. In Slovakia it will be 12 m, in Ukraine 9m. The bearing structure of the building is designed as a hemisphere with a circle ground plan. It is made of pine glued wood. In the interior of the dome will be installed furniture (12 tables, 50 chairs, 2 bookcase), presentation and information technology (computer, data projector, audio system, projective screen). In addition to dome, the second part of the pavilion will be the infrastructure: Sanitary facility, water distribution, well, cesspool, sewerage, paved areas and fencing, terrace. Previously planned third pavilion was replaced by major maintenance in the existing building of Uzhhorod National University. Beneficiary 1 will construct its information centre this way – more suitable for the centre of the city. At the Hungarian site no infrastructural component is needed. The House of Nature already serve there as an information centre.
The first working meeting of the project took place at the initiative of the lead beneficiary in the facility of the Vihorlat Observatory on Kolonické sedlo. It was attended by representatives of three beneficiaries: the Vihorlat Observatory, the Institute of Development of the Carpathian Region and Uzhhorod National University. Representatives of the remaining two recipients were present online on the zoom platform.
Main topics of the meeting:
