She walks in beauty, like the night

So dark the night sky. Did you get outside tonight to see the thin crescent moon? I hope so. How beautiful she is.

   She walks in beauty, like the night

     Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

   And all that's best of dark and bright

     Meet in her aspect and her eyes ...

   Lord Byron

I used to share a house with an elderly Afghan woman who would always throw a sprinkle of water over her shoulder when seeing the first of the New Moon. I still feel the essence of water whenever I see it myself, thanks to Bibi.

In the sidebar on this page is the current lunar phase. Locals will notice that it is in reverse to what we can actually see tonight; this is because it is a live link from the US Naval Observatory in that other hemisphere.

Also in tonight's sky, dark because of the slight light of the moon, is the radiant Southern Cross, hanging upside down as I write, and as it begins its passage through the magic tapestry.

These and other celestial wonders are still quite bright at Sandy by night, but we do have a problem with unnecessary lighting from nearby Woolgoolga. Although Woopi's only a small town, it emits a lot of light. Some of the people in charge of some businesses, clubs and sports grounds, well-meaning though I'm sure they are, are a bit behind the times and a friendly, polite mention next time you meet them would help bring them up to date. Business people can be particularly sensitive to community attitudes.

They probably haven't thought about it much, if at all. Consider: only two or three decades ago probably the majority of people thought it perfectly normal to throw litter on the ground and dump garbage in the bush. Those obsolescent practices eventually required porcine "Oink! Oink!" advertising campaigns, but I feel the gentle reminder will work as well.

Light pollution robs us of much human spirituality (and most would agree we need more, not less of that), as our species evolved with clear skies and a close connection with the natural lights. They inform our myths, our poetry, our religions and our very souls, even today. Sadly and surprisingly, I've met and had correspondence from people in the Northern Hemisphere who have told me that they have never seen the Milky Way. To the rest of us, that sounds like saying they've never seen a bird or a mammal.

Don't Californicate Australia! The International Dark-Sky Association has info and ideas that will help us keep our Milky Way above Sandy Beach, just as we would keep the very sand itself.

See There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars (children's book).