Tom Fudge : Southern California is a hot spot for astronomy. That's a fact that's sensible and ironic at the same time. It makes sense since your dry, cloudless climate means there's usually nothing obstructing you view of the stars. It's ironic, though, because so much of Southern California is urban and suburban, awash in light pollution that makes the stars dim to nearly invisible. When was the last time you were able to find Ursa Major while standing in your front yard?
Borrego Springs has the advantage of being out in the desert. The people there are quite proud of their night-time panorama. Now some folks who live there are trying to get Borrego Springs named an official Dark Sky Community.
Guest
- Dennis Mammana, astronomer and night-sky photographer who lives in Borrego Springs. Mammana also writes the weekly Stargazer column in the San Diego Union-Tribune .
