EEK! - Light Pollution Read this story to find out about light pollution. Don t lose your view of thenight sky. Wisconsin winter stargazing. light pollution? Have you lost it? http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/air/lightpollution.htm
Extractions: Have you lost it? Your view of the nighttime sky that is. If you live in a large city, you may have lost most of your view of the night sky and the rest of the universe for that matter. Light pollution is caused by our ever expanding cities as people build and install lots of outdoor lighting in their communities. Safety at night is important, however, this "urban sky glow" is light that is being wasted, above and beyond safety and security. It prevents us from seeing the Milky Way and some places are now limited to seeing only Polaris, the north star, and a few other select bright stars. Luckily comet Hale-Bopp was bright enough to see from our homes, but you may miss other spectacular celestial events like meteor showers. Most amateur urban stargazers must travel far from the big city to see constellations or planets. This human-caused glare from earth actually causes problems for professional astronomers as light traveling to earth from remote parts of other galaxies is lost even to high powered ground-based telescopes. Light pollution is a wasteful use of energy and money. You can prevent this pollution by getting involved in your community. Most people dont even know about this problem and education will be an important factor in changing peoples habits. Theres a lot that can be done without cutting down on safety, security, or utility. Here are a few examples:
Dark Sky Czech Republic Gives information, letters and press releases about the Czech light pollution law, parts of the law, images of various lighting fixtures, lightpollution software and contact details for members. http://www.astro.cz/darksky/
Extractions: The main principle is simple, don't use artificial lighting outdoors when and where it's not necessary let the light go just the right direction: down (and steep enough). Lighting fixtures with no curved belly (a flat glass instead) do the job, (if lighting is really needed) like these in central Europe: eco-settlement in Kassel Strasse der Solarenergie in Gleisdorf in front of Brno railway station parking lot in front of the museum in Gleisdorf Most information is in Czech only (see http://svetlo.astro.cz , or, as a novelty, a huge research report within http://amper.ped.muni.cz/noc ), just a couple of things is in English as well (a non-local one is on lighting and crime Czech Republic included light pollution in its newly coined Clean Air Act in 2002, a step much appreciated throughout the world. However, the Act contained a declaration only, the government had to issue the very rules. It had never happened, due to efforts of ... and unconcern of ... (you can guess, I have to be diplomatic). However, our effort to formulate simple and still effective set of such rules led to a draft submitted to the House of Representatives (it has not been accepted, as e.g. there was no support from the Ministry of Environment, unlike in 2001), which may be of interest to everybody. I'd appreciate any advice what should be changed in this set to fit legislation of most countries. I have to stress that the
Shedding Light On Light Pollution Itinerary Maryland Section. Shedding Light on light pollution Schedule. 645, Planetarium Showlight pollution Overview. Following Presentations will be held in SpaceLink. http://www.westminsterastro.org/ida_md/nov12.htm
London Borough Of Redbridge Light Pollution An overview of the legal position in relation to lighting and explanation of how problems can be solved in the borough published by the local authority. http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/environment/light.cfm
Planning And Compulsory Purchase Bill In Standing Committee A New Clause 32 Regu Details of a failed attempt to add a clause to the 2003 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill to allow the regulation of lighting fixtures by local planning authorities. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmstand/a/st031021/pm/31021s04
Extractions: Mr. Clifton-Brown: For the first time the Minister is getting us into real politics. We know very well that the increased resources that the Government provide for planning go straight to the regions, not to local planning authorities. If local authorities had sufficient resources, there would not be a problem with enforcement. It is not a question of the resources being ring-fenced; councils do not have sufficient resources for planning, full stop. My authority does not have enough, and I am sure that other hon. Members could say the same. Councils cannot undertake enforcement on a discretionary basis. We want to legislate with a light touch, and we are in favour of discretion; if that were enshrined in the Bill, the Government would have to provide the resources. If they were to stop giving resources to the regions and put them back into the local authorities, we would take the new clause away like a shot. The Chairman: Order. Let us not go too wide; we must keep to new clause 31.
Extractions: Light pollution suppression (LPS) filters are designed to suppress the common emission lines generated by artificial lighting, yet allow the important nebula emission lines to pass, thus enhancing the contrast of astronomical objects, particularly emission nebulae (see filter plots Unlike other light pollution suppression filters, IDAS (formerly Tokai) filters are specifically designed for balanced color transmission using the IDAS unique Multi-Bandpass Technology (MBT) process. The balanced transmission allows color photographs to be taken with minimal color cast to broadband emission objects such as stars, galaxies and globular clusters. The comparison photos at right demonstrate (qualitatively) that the IDAS filter maintains better color balance than other filters which have been designed for visual use. See also comparison film astrophotos ( Set 1 and Set 2 ) which demonstrate the actual effect of the LPS filter.
Light Pollution Copies of correspondence with the local planning authority in South Holland, Lincolnshire. http://mysite.freeserve.com/nebula1/light_pollution_shdc.htm
Extractions: Below is a copy of a letter i sent to the local council. Underneath it is their reply. Ms Margaret Straite Environmental Health Dept South Holland District Council Priory Road Spalding Dear Ms Straite. I am writing to you on a matter that is causing myself, and my friends, some concern regarding severe light pollution in the Spalding Area. I and my friends are Amateur Astronomers, and whilst this is only a hobby to us, our view and enjoyment of the sky at night is severely hindered by what we consider to be unnecessary light emitting from 3 particular places in the close area. 1. Wardentree Lane Industrial site. Specifically the lorry park behind the new power station which has extremely bright lights that seen to shine upwards as well as over the site. 2. Keith Butters Group on the B1165 Weston Hills road. (same Problem) 3. A T Goodyears lorry park on the same road but on the outskirts of Weston Hills. I realise that, in this time of vandalism and theft, that good security lighting is essential but feel that these firms have not given due consideration to the pollution that is caused. I was going to write or visit the above firms but on reflection I think I would either be fobbed off with excuses or my letters would be filed under B I N.
Ashmolean Museum: Conservation - Prevention (0) Methods for preventing artifact deterioration, including controlling the environment, light levels, pollution monitoring, insect infestation monitoring, handling, storage, and treatment when needed. http://www.ashmol.ox.ac.uk/ash/conservation/p00.html
Extractions: Prevention One of the objectives of conservation is to reduce any factors which could result in the deterioration of the collections. Included in the University of Oxford's Mission Statement is the aim "To conserve...its special resources including its libraries, museums, and scientific collections." As a University museum holding collections of international importance the Ashmolean Museum takes this aim very seriously. Although the clock cannot be turned back to restore objects to their original condition, the museum takes measures to ensure the stabilisation and preservation of its collections for the enjoyment and education of museum visitors and scholars in generations to come. Control of the Environment Control of Light Levels Pollution Monitoring Insect Infestation Monitoring ... Next Page
Wescast Intro Manufactures and supplies exhaust manifolds for passenger cars and light trucks and manufactures steel pump equipment parts for the petrochemical, pollution control and food processing industries. (Nasdaq WCST). http://www.wescast.com/
Croydon Astronomical Society - Home Page Introduction to the society which covers South London, Surrey, North Sussex and West Kent; as well as a lecture programme, local lightpollution information and weather forecasts, club news, links, and information about the observatory which is open to the public. http://www.croydonastro.org.uk
Extractions: Croydon Astronomical Society Welcome to the website of The Croydon Astronomical Society. This front page has been redesigned to make access to the other pages on the site easier - most are now directly accessible from here. You should get a pop-up with more information if you move your mouse over a link - if you do not it may be your web browser does not support JavaScript or you have it disabled. A few pages have not yet been written - if you find one come back again soon to see if we have written it yet ! Clicking on the CAS logo on other pages should return you to this home page About Us Introduction Programme Lecture Support Materials Previous Lectures ... History Communication Altair About The Web Site Site Index News Event Diary Annual General Meeting 2004 CAS Transit of Venus (New) CAS Astronomy Observing Kenley Observatory (moved site) Light Pollution Education ... Just Starting ?
City Of Independence, Missouri - Utilities Lists cityowned Water, Power light and Water pollution Control and links to privately owned Missouri Gas Energy, Southwestern Bell, Comcast and Time Warner. http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/utilities.stm
Extractions: CNN (CNN) It's possible that future generations of children will know the Milky Way only as a candy bar, instead of a wondrous canopy of stars that has guided travelers and inspired poets, philosophers and dreamers for centuries. That possibility is supported by a new global satellite survey which concludes that artificial lights are increasingly obscuring Earth's view of the Milky Way galaxy. The study says a truly dark, starry sky is unavailable to two-thirds of the world's population, including 99 percent of people in the continental United States and Western Europe. The survey, conducted by scientists at the University of Padua, Italy, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, measured for the first time how light degrades the view of the stars in specific places around the globe. RESOURCES Message Board: Space exploration The report describes regions of the world where true night never occurs because it is blocked by lights from neighboring cities and towns.
Caring For Works Of Art On Paper Guidelines for the care of paper based works of art, including proper storage and handling, essentials of proper framing, protection from light, protection from unsafe temperature and relative humidity conditions, protection from pollution, and disasters. http://aic.stanford.edu/treasure/paper.html
Caring For Textiles Effects of environmental factors, including light, temperature and humidity, and pollution, and proper storage and housekeeping of textiles. From the AIC. http://aic.stanford.edu/treasure/textiles.html
Florida Marine Research Institute Comprehensive report by the Florida Marine Research Institute into the effects on turtles with relevant lighting specifications to be implemented near nesting sites. http://www.floridamarine.org/publications/publication_info.asp?id=39080
DarkSky Locator Use this site to find a lightpollution-free location. View conditions from various cities around the world. http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/Night/darksky.htm
