Once upon a time, in the hidden land of Silvexter, there lived a young girl named Eliza. This enchanted land was filled with magical creatures and extraordinary beings. And in Silvexter, legends spoke of a magical pebble that granted any wish to its possessor. Eliza had grown up hearing stories about the power of the magic pebble. She was fascinated and dreamt of having her own wish granted. Every day, she would venture into the forest, hoping to find this mystical pebble.
He later shared that footage to Reddit and said the experience left him "mesmerized and nervous as heck," Newsweek reported. "This was one of the strongest [geomagnetic storms] in years," he said.
Shortly after midnight on March 24, however, the storm hit G4 a level that can cause widespread voltage control problems, orientation problems for spacecraft operations and navigation issues. The website also has a link to a downloadable handout that property owners can use to learn about the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting agreed on by the International Dark Sky Association darksky.
Every day, she would venture into the forest, hoping to find this mystical pebble. She went through countless adventures, meeting talking animals, wise old trees, and discovering secret realms. On one sunny morning, as Eliza was exploring a meadow, she stumbled upon a shimmering stone.
Magic of Dark Skies
My first summer on Nantucket, in 1998 as a Maria Mitchell Association intern, was a magical experience for many reasons. Not the least of which was my first time to the beach at night. I will never forget the excitement of riding my bike in the dark with the other interns to catch a glimpse of the Perseid Meteor Shower one August summer night. Before I even saw one shooting star, I remember the awe-inspiring moment of looking up and seeing a sky full of bright twinkly stars. In a place like Nantucket, on this tiny island in the sea, the sky seems to go on forever into the ocean. Forget the sunsets that people “oooh and awe” about. The night sky of Nantucket is where the real show is!
Photo By Tom Griswold Yesterday’s Island Photo Contest entry
People often remark that the island seems to have more stars than anywhere else. In reality, you can often see more stars and planets here than anywhere else. And have you ever seen the Milky Way from the beach or from the top of Altar Rock? Its a sight not soon forgotten. The reason for all of this celestial magic? Dark skies. Nantuckets isolation, vast amounts of undeveloped open space, and historic restrictions have made it an ideal sport for those seeking dark skies.
In recent years, however, dark skies are diminishing as we see a rise in light pollution locally. Primarily, light pollution has been seen in cities and towns where street lights, neon signs, and other bright lights blur the dark skies. That may have seemed like something far away from Nantucket, 30 miles out to sea, but now light pollution on Nantucket has increased 2.4% each year since 2012 (according to satellite data). That means that there is about 22% more light pol- lution today than just nine years ago.
A new citizen advocacy group called Nantucket Lights aims to do something about that. With a diverse steering committee that includes year-round as well as seasonal residents, its mission is to preserve and protect Nantuckets nighttime environment and heritage of dark skies by raising awareness about light pollution on the island and advocating for environmentally responsible outdoor lighting.
Photo by Jonah Elkowitz Yesterday’s Island Photo Contest Entry
Its recently launched website — nantucketlights.org — is intended to serve as a resource for the community. It includes information about light pollution specific to the island, including information about Nantucket’s Outdoor Lighting Bylaw. Adopted in 2005, that bylaw contains a number of provisions to help preserve Nantucket’s dark skies that Nantucket Lights suspects many property owners aren’t aware of.
“Call me an optimist, but I truly believe that if there were more awareness about the harm of light pollution and how easy it is to switch to outdoor lighting that is darksky friendly we will be able to preserve our starry nights, which is one of the things that makes Nantucket so special,” says the founder of Nantucket Lights Gail Walker.
The website also has a link to a downloadable handout that property owners can use to learn about the “Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting” agreed on by the International Dark Sky Association ( darksky.org ) and the Illuminating Engineering Society.
Using an interactive light pollution map ( lightpollutionmap.info ) you can check out where on island has the highest amount of light pollution. Not surprisingly, currently the Nan- tucket airport and the area around the schools as well as downtown have the highest rates of light.
So why should we care about dark skies? It’s more than just the beauty and magic of the full view of the night sky. The Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is one of the organizations that have signed on as a Nantucket Lights supporter. The MMA astronomy program produces nationally recognized astronomy research from our tiny island, educating the next generation of astrophysicists and astronomy educators in the process. “Nantucket’s dark skies are one of its most precious natural resources. Every summer, I hear the excited exclamations of hundreds of visitors who come out to a public Open Night at the Maria Mitchell’s Loines Observatory and see the Milky Way for the first time in their lives. This unique experience wouldn’t be possible without the concerted, island-wide efforts to preserve our dark skies,” said Dr. Regina Jorgenson, Maria Mitchell Asssociation Director of Astronomy.
Light pollution has also been shown to greatly affect wildlife. All animals, in- cluding humans, need darkness at night to thrive. Many animals eat, mate, and/or migrate at night. These patterns can be disrupted harming populations. In addition to disrupting circadian rhythms, excessive artificial light at night can also disorient birds during migration. Studies have shown that some bird species will cluster around brightly lit structures, much like insects flying around a porch light at night.
Photo by Bill Hoenk Photography
Sea turtle hatchlings, migrating insects, amphibian calls, and even coral reefs are affected by light pollution. Excessive light at night has also been shown to interfere with fireflies who use visual light cues (as well as pheromones) during mating season. More lights equal fewer fireflies.
As development increases around the island, so do concerns about furthering the light pollution issue. “I see this as one more thing that people need to be ed- ucated on to either put lights on timers, or motion sensors, use lighting with lower emissions, or just shut them off entirely, “says Danielle O’Dell, Nantucket Lights steering committee member. “We all have to really start implementing changes to our habits to lessen our impact on the planet. Every little change counts.”
One item of upcoming concern for Nantucket Lights is balancing the need for efficient energy consumption and dark skies. If the streetlights on Nantucket are converted to LED to save energy and cut the Town’s electricity costs, will they be dark-sky friendly? Nantucket Lights hopes to be an advocacy group to help ensure that best practices are followed.
Nantucket Lights, which is entirely non-profit and volunteer-run, hopes many more like-minded people will join them to show their support for its mis- sion and help it achieve its goals. For more information about joining this initiative, how to make sure your home and business is dark-sky friendly, and other ways to help, go to nantucketlights.org.
Right now, there are still places free of light pollution on-island. Working together, educating ourselves and each other about light pollution, and changing our everyday habits will help ensure our dark future.
As development increases around the island, so do concerns about furthering the light pollution issue. “I see this as one more thing that people need to be ed- ucated on to either put lights on timers, or motion sensors, use lighting with lower emissions, or just shut them off entirely, “says Danielle O’Dell, Nantucket Lights steering committee member. “We all have to really start implementing changes to our habits to lessen our impact on the planet. Every little change counts.”
Excitement rushed through her veins as she realized that this could be the magic pebble she was searching for. As she held it in her hands, she could feel a magical energy emanating from it. Eliza closed her eyes and made her wish with all her heart. "I wish for peace and harmony in Silvexter," she whispered, hoping her wish would come true. Suddenly, a gentle breeze surrounded her, filling the air with a calming presence. When she opened her eyes, the land seemed brighter, and the animals were frolicking in celebration. It was a true moment of magic. Word of Eliza's wish spread throughout Silvexter, and the inhabitants were in awe of her bravery and selflessness. The once divided land began to unite, creatures from different realms harmoniously coexisted, and Silvexter became a place of peace and tranquility. It was as if the magic of the pebble had touched the hearts of all who resided there. As the years passed, Eliza became known as the Peacemaker, and her legend grew. People from all over Silvexter sought her guidance and learned the power of compassion and unity in creating a harmonious society. The magic pebble had not only granted Eliza's wish but had also transformed her into a symbol of hope and inspiration for generations to come. In the end, it was not the magical pebble alone that brought about change, but Eliza's pure intentions and her belief in the power of unity. The true magic lay within her heart. From that day forward, Silvexter continued to thrive, and the magic of the pebble remained in the hearts of its people, forever reminding them of the power of love and compassion..
Reviews for "Enter a world of fantasy and adventure with Silvexter and the magic pebble"
- John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed in "Silvexter and the magic pebble." The plot was extremely predictable and lacked originality. The characters were flat and one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with or care about their outcomes. Additionally, the writing style was mediocre at best, with choppy dialogue and awkward descriptions. Overall, it felt like a poorly executed attempt at a fantasy novel and I would not recommend it.
- Sarah - 1/5 stars - "Silvexter and the magic pebble" was by far one of the worst books I've ever read. The storytelling was confusing and hard to follow, with a jumble of unnecessary details that added nothing to the plot. The pacing was also incredibly slow, making it a struggle to stay engaged throughout the book. Furthermore, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the relationships between the characters lacked depth or development. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
- Michael - 2/5 stars - I found "Silvexter and the magic pebble" to be a rather dull and uninteresting read. The world-building was weak and lacked any sense of originality or creativity. The magic system felt underdeveloped and poorly explained, leading to inconsistencies and confusion. Additionally, the characters were forgettable and lacked any depth or complexity. Overall, this book failed to captivate my interest and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging fantasy read.
- Emily - 3/5 stars - While "Silvexter and the magic pebble" was not the worst book I've read, it certainly left much to be desired. The story had potential, but it felt rushed and lacked proper development. The plot twists were predictable, and the ending was unsatisfying. Additionally, the writing style was average, with a lack of descriptive language that made it hard to visualize the scenes. Overall, it was an okay read, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you have nothing else on your reading list.