By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Night sky in  Borrego Springs, by Dennis Mammana

November 18, 2020 (San Diego) – San Diego Supervisors today voted to approve amendments to the county’s Light Pollution ordinance which will provide “Dark Sky Community” designation to both the Julian and Borrego Springs community planning areas.  The action aims to prevent light pollution, enhancing astronomy viewing and related tourism.

The action comes after the Julian Dark Sky Network asked Supervisors in 2018 to create a way for Julian to meet International Dark Sky Association recognition. Borrego Springs was the first California community to receive that designation in 2009.

​"Our community is part of the 1% of the U.S. that can still see the Milky Way. Our distance from the urban glow of San Diego's skies and the surrounding mountains help with our sky quality, but preservation must be intentional," the Julian Dark Sky Network's website states.

October 4, 2014 (Mission Trails) – Artworks by over 43 award-winning artists depicting nature will be on display at Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation’s annual Art in the Park event on October 11^th from 6-9 p.m., including 125 works for sale.  Art aficionados can also savor craft beers and premium wines, as well as hors d’hoeuvres, Rita’s Italian Ice and Xocai chocolates. In addition, guests can enjoy  San Diego Native American flute music and Circa and Musa’s vibrational tones,.as well as astronomy viewing with telescopes provided by the San Diego Astronomy Association.

January 12, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – View the planet Jupiter, star constellations, and the Andromeda Galaxy at a stargazing party this Saturday, January 14 at Mission Trails Regional Park from 5-8 p.m. Join trail guide and resident stargazer George Varga for this star-studded free event.

By East County News Service

June 21, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – In the early morning hours on Saturday, June 26, sky watchers in our region can see a partial eclipse of the moon, which is visible across much of North America, South America and Asia.