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Friends of Goldendale Observatory is dedicated to upholding the purposes and efforts of the amateur astronomers and community college who built the Observatory's historic 24 inch telescope. It honors their intent that the telescope be located where a dark night sky is valued and protected from the damaging effects of light pollution in order to best serve the the public, educators and students, amateur astronomers, and future generations wanting to experience the inspiring beauty of our night sky natural heritage.
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Klickitat County and Goldendale adopted lighting codes to protect the Observatory in 1979. Decades of failing to promote and realistically enforce them have demonstrated that protecting the night sky of the public's Observatory is not a priority. Prohibited lighting is even found on city and county properties. The International Dark-Sky Association noted this apparent lack of support for night sky conservation, which contributed to the loss of the Observatory’s prestigious International Dark Sky Park designation - the first in the world Dark Sky Place certification ever to be revoked.
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MASON TRINCA/Yakima Herald-Republic
Light pollution from Goldendale as seen at the Observatory
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The reality of 40 years worth of unrestrained light pollution - visible as the illumination of the south side of the Goldendale Observatory on a clear moonless night - coming directly from the City of Goldendale and surrounding Klickitat County.
Satellite measurements of light pollution
Downtown Goldendale: Klickitat Co. Courthouse with prohibited lighting
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Actions speak louder than words
While promoting the Goldendale Observatory as a "marketing tool" for "economic and commercial gain," the failure to educate the public about or promote the lighting codes demonstrates that local business and political interests don't really care about astronomy or the Observatory's purpose, the majestic beauty of the its star-filled night sky, or the Washington State taxpayers' substantial investment in their community. Until this situation changes, taxpayers, students, educators, amateur astronomers, and those coming from around the world, should consider whether they wish to patronize and support local businesses whose only desire is to exploit the Observatory as a tourist attraction, yet fail to demonstrate they have any obligation to protect its essential dark night sky quality.
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