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Have you
had a problem with light pollution? Of course. When you realize that the term
"Light Pollution" covers a very broad subject area you soon realize we have all
have a problem with light pollution. From the smallest organism to the largest
telescope, light pollution plays a part in degrading our nighttime environment.
Here are a few quotes relating to Light Pollution from
our
Information Sheets
Theft of the Night
."Most Americans are growing up unable to see the stars their
grandparents knew so well. They see the night sky only in pictures
or at planetariums. This is true not only in cities, but also in
many suburbs where street lamps and other sources of "light
pollution" have obscured our view of constellations, meteor showers,
and planets. Light pollution is not a matter of life and death. Yet
it is important nonetheless, profoundly so. We human beings lose
something of ourselves when we can no longer look up and see our
place in the universe. It is like never again hearing the laughter
of children; we give up part of what we are. Such a loss might be
acceptable if light pollution were the inevitable price of progress,
but it's not. Most sky glow, as scientists call it is unnecessary.
The light that obscures our view of the night sky comes mainly from
inefficient lighting sources that do little to increase nighttime
safety, utility, or security. It produces only glare and clutter,
costing more than $1 billion annually in wasted energy in the United
States alone. Reducing light pollution is not difficult, but it does
require that public officials and ordinary citizens be aware of the
problem and act to counter it. ... Curing light pollution saves
money while reducing glare. Unlike other issues involving pollution,
it presents us with a rare case where we should strive to be kept in
the dark. The stars above us are a priceless heritage, not only for
scientific knowledge, but also for our identity as human beings. ...
Another fairly painless way to reduce light pollution is with
outdoor lighting control ordinances, ...
An outdoor light system recently
installed at a prison in Arizona, for example, improved security and
reduced light pollution while cutting energy costs by 50 percent. "
The American Astronomical Society's Position on Light Pollution
"This is a one-page summary of the position of the American
Astronomical Society's Committee on Light Pollution, Radio
Interference, and Space Debris on the light pollution issue. It has
been endorsed by the Society's Board of Directors, and can be used
by anyone to state astronomers' concern and position on this
problem. ... These sites need protection from light pollution
(adverse sky glow from electric lights). ... Light pollution is a
serious problem. There are solutions to the problem. ... Control the
emitted light by fixture choice, by shielding, by placement, etc.
Use well designed task-oriented lighting, to minimize wasted light,
light trespass, and light pollution. ... All of this says, really:
"Use the best possible professional lighting design and installation
for the task, including all relevant factors, of which light
pollution is one."
An Introduction to Light Pollution
"have you ever heard of Light Pollution? Maybe not. But it is a
growing threat to the nighttime environment. Components of light
pollution include: Glare, blinding us and harming visibility. Glare
is never good.
Light Trespass, someone's outdoor lights offending us, "trespassing"
on our land. Clutter, trashing the nighttime environment, causing
confusion as well. Energy waste, costing us over One Billion Dollars
a year in the U.S.A. alone. Urban sky glow, which is destroying
mankind's view of the universe. ...
Ontario Hydro Leaflet on Light Pollution
What is Light Pollution? - Light pollution refers to the glow of
light we see at night above cities and towns. What Causes Light
Pollution? - This urban glow comes from improperly designed street
and parking lot lighting which spills the light to the side and
upwards to the sky. Additional light pollution is caused by lit
signs, commercial building lights, sports facilities, and outdoor
residential lights. Light pollution was noticed first by
astronomers. ... In a broader context, light pollution deprives
everyone of the joys of seeing a sparkling night sky." ... How does
Light Pollution Affect Us? - Glare ... Unwelcome Light "Trespass"
... What Is The Cost of Light Pollution? - Light pollution is also a
sign of waste. There is no benefit from lighting up the sky.
Light Pollution - Theft of the Night
"have you looked up at night lately? The universe is going away,
gone already for many. The universe is an important part of the
environment, to astronomy and to the general public. For most people
on earth, the dark skies our ancestors had have disappeared. The
problem is urban sky glow, due mostly to too much bad lighting. With
good lighting, we all win. ...
The Return of the Night" by Harrell Guy Graham
"Imagine a night sky where there are so many twinkling stars you can
hardly begin to count them. Then imagine that same night sky lit,
not by starlight, but by light pollution from thousands upon
thousands of unshielded high intensity outdoor lights. Where there
were once countless stars, you can now see an unnatural glow
smearing the night sky with a haze of extraordinarily bright
artificial light. " ..."Because of light pollution, no stars
whatsoever are visible any where nth horizon in most American
communities."
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Impressions of a Night Sky Unaffected by Light Pollution
Words can scarcely describe what it is like to see a night sky that
is unaffected by light pollution. For many, it is a spiritual
experience. Many of us dream of walking out our back door and being
engulfed by a night sky so beautiful, so splendid, so overwhelming,
that a telescope is not even required to appreciate it. Our
ancestors knew such a sky. Without our vigilance, our children and
their children will not. It is up to our generation to bring back
the night. ... It is good for all of us who are active in the fight
against light pollution to occasionally experience a night sky
unaffected by light pollution at least once each year to energize
and inspire us to continue our diligent efforts to curtail light
pollution. ... Here, now, are some general impressions of a night
sky that is unaffected by light pollution.
Light Pollution and Limiting Magnitude
How faint a star can be seven with the unaided eye? This depends on
the ability and experience of the observer, the state of dark
adaptation of the observer, the sky brightness due to light
pollution from electric lights and natural sources such as the Moon,
and the clarity of the sky. ... There are about 14,000 stars
brighter than magnitude +7.0, so under ideal conditions an observer
could see somewhat under half of them(~7,000) due to only half the
sky being visible and atmospheric extinction. A magnitude +6.0 sky
is still a reasonably good sky, with ~2,400 stars visible to the
unaided eye. There is some light pollution, and it is usually enough
to illuminate clouds so that they no longer appear utterly black
against the sky as with a magnitude +7.0 sky. The brighter parts of
the Milky Way are still readily seven. ...
Less than 250 stars are visible in a magnitude +4.0 sky, and the
milky Way is never visible. Light pollution is a serious problem. A
magnitude +3.0 sky will show fewer than 50 stars, and light
pollution is severe. This is the typical sky encountered inside a
major city
New Jersey Light Pollution Study Commission Recommendations
The New Jersey Light Pollution Study Commission, after meeting for
almost ten months, has completed and submitted its report to the
Governor and Legislature. The commission has determined that "the
causes of light pollution are many and the effect can be glare,
energy waste, light trespass nuisance, and sky glow." Clearly, light
pollution affects everyone. The twelve recommendations in the report
are intended to reduce light pollution and its adverse effects.
These recommendations will result in improved lighting conditions
for safety and for reduced energy consumption, and will also sere
as a means to help preserve the environment. ...
Light Pollution: Are You a Culprit?
Abstract: Many electrical engineers and contractors, architects, and
lighting engineers cause light pollution simply because they do not
think about it. This article examines the problem, possible future
limitations, and some solutions. ... There has been increasing
worldwide awareness of light pollution since the early 1980s. ...
The Australians decided in 1981 to produce a National Standard to
limit light pollution. ...
Why Should a City Government Be Concerned
About Light Pollution
The public's loss of the stars from the nighttime sky is a real
tragedy that every city government should be aware of and not allow.
This loss is a testament to our myopia and to our growing insulation
from the natural world. Like the canary in the mine shafts of old,
astronomers are warning us of the unnecessary loss
of a dark nighttime sky in almost every urban area. ... Light
pollution represents a waste of a magnitude that almost no homeowner
would allow inside their homes.
more...
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