The Story of that damned light – During last year’s star party, electronics contractors arrived on the mountain and added a red beacon to the tower at the Kobau summit. By astronomers’ standards, this is the sort of red light we’d rather do without. Investigating the installation during the off-season, we found out the RCMP are behind it (they have a repeater on the tower), and the light is a requirement for aviation safety. No matter that the antenna was beacon-less for many years, our RCMP contact insisted the light must stay. We tried to convince them that a shield would be all that’s needed so light wouldn’t shine down on our observers – no luck.

We regret the unwanted illumination, and the effect it may have on your choice of camping site.