Vatican astronomer praises NZ dark sky sanctuaries

Br Guy Consolmagno SJ was in New Zealand this month for a series of lectures, public engagements and astronomy work. His tour concluded on August 14.

In an interview with TVNZ’s Q+A programme, Br Guy said dark sky sanctuaries are “incredibly important”.

The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, which ranges across the lower South Island, is one of five dark sky sanctuaries in this country. When it was designated as an official dark sky sanctuary in 2012, it was the largest in the world. Br Guy visited such a sanctuary near Lake Tekapo during his stay.

On Q+A, he referenced a comment from a homily by Pope Benedict XVI, who said “we humans can create light that blinds us to God’s light”.

“And that’s what light pollution does. It robs everyone around you from being able to see the glorious sky around you, the sky that can give you a sense of perspective, that can be consoling, or a little bit frightening, depending on where you are or what you’re doing,” he said.

“It’s glorious, it’s remarkable and it’s something that everybody should be able to do. I’m reminded of the old song – they took all the trees and put them in a tree museum. It’s a shame they had to take all the stars and put them in a star museum.”

Br Guy said there was “no reason” why truly dark skies would not be possible in Auckland and Wellington as well. It could be achieved, he suggested, “if you just had sensible lighting that puts the light down where you’re walking, and stops putting the light up in the sky where it’s not doing any good.”

This was Br Guy’s fourth visit to Aotearoa New Zealand, and he told the Sunday Star-Times that “frankly, I invited myself”.

“I just think this is the most beautiful place in the world, and . . . I have this magic memory the first time I saw the stars in Tekapo. That was in 1997. I had just come back from Antarctica, where we were collecting meteorites – and I wanted some dark sky, and it was unforgettable and breathtaking. And I just have a special place in my heart for that place.”

FULL STORY

Vatican astronomer praises NZ’s dark sky sanctuaries (Q+A/1 News)

How the ‘Pope’s Astronomer’ balances faith and science | The Post (Sunday Star-Times)