wapd@houxl.UUCP (Bill Dietrich) (07/04/85)
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What follows is a copy of a letter sent to a local
newspaper, the Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park,N.J.),by the
S*T*A*R Astronomy Society. The subject is light pollution
and the letter refers to an article in the Asbury Park Press
about decorative home lighting. The editors of the
newspaper did not publish the letter.
To amateur and professional astronomers alike, light
pollution, is an insidious problem and threatens this
Winter's apparition of Halley's Comet.
I want to ask you to eliminate unnecessary lighting around
your home and workplace so that we may all see the greatest
of natural wonders- the night sky.
Michael L. Fuccio
26-July-84
Dear Sir,
I felt compelled to write after reading you recent
article on outdoor lighting which reflected the general
ignorance of the public on the phenomenon of light
pollution- the pollution of the night sky with artificial
illumination resulting from inefficient and or unnecessary
outdoor lighting.
While the protection of our environment and the control of
pollution are major concerns of many citizens today, most of
the public is totally unaware of the problem of light
pollution, which is nevertheless serious from both
environmental and economic standpoints.
Outdoor lighting is proliferating today as never before, but
not without ill effects. Wasteful and unnecessary forms of
lighting such as spotlighting "to make (a) house look
nicer," along with the glaring stray light of business
advertizements and inefficiently designed street lights,
cast a bright luminous veil over all of our urban and
suburban areas, and even creates an artificial, perpetual
daylight in many places. While no one knows for certain
what the long term effect of this will be on nocturnal plant
and animal life (and therefore on the whole biosphere which
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supports us), it certainly deserves the same careful
consideration given to other more familiar types of
pollution.
The most obvious effect of light pollution, the reduction in
the visibility of celestial object due to the masking
effects of the luminous veil, is hampering the research
performed at almost all of our astronomical observatories-
in many cases severely. All but the brightest stars and
planets are now invisible from most of our populated areas,
and the growth of light pollution is such that it is not
inconceivable that future generations may never see
firsthand the stars which have become so ingrained in our
literature, music, and culture in general. Our own
generation, in fact, may very possibly be the first in the
history of mankind to miss the grand personal sight of
Halley's Comet when it returns in 1985-86 due to the effects
of light pollution. This is such a concern that members of
the Astronomical League have launched a campaign called DARK
SKIES for COMET HALLEY (DSCH) with the goal of educating the
public about the light pollution problem that exists and
organizing the dimming or turning-off of nonessential
outdoor lighting for a while in many locales on the best
nights of Comet Halley's return. If DSCH is unsuccessful,
the bright light of this magnificent comet will be reduced
to a feeble glow that many of us will not see at all.
Another reason, however, that each of us should be concerned
about light pollution is economic waste. Ralph Nader has
identified light pollution as one of the most serious forms
of energy waste in the United States, and a study by Dr.
Arthur Upgren of Wesleyan University reports that if the use
of outdoor lighting continues to increase at the present
rate it will account for over one half of all the electrical
power usage in the country by the year 2000! Additional new
power plants will undoubtedly be required to supply this
power, and their construction will be financed by all of us
with only the power companies standing to gain. Also,
regarless of ones views on nuclear power, a fact stated by
Dr. Upgren is that "if new nuclear power plants become
necessary in the coming years, outdoor lighting will be the
paramount reason for their existence."
Of course a certain amount of outdoor lighting is both
useful and necessary for purposes of safety, etc., but waste
and inefficiency must be controlled. Streetlights, for
example, should be made with shades which direct light
toward the ground where it is required. A very large
portion of the money now spent on "street" lighting actually
ends up being thrown away illuminating the sky with unshaded
lamps that radiate light in all directions. Parking lot
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lights which are presently kept on all night should be
turned off at midnight, and outdoor advertizing and the
illumination of buildings should be similarly restricted.
Such is the case in Tucson, Arizona and the state of
Minnesota where legislation to this effect was enacted in
1972 and 1974 respectively. Many other towns and cities
have also recognized the importance and value of controlling
light pollution, and have enacted legislation for that
purpose.
It should be remembered that lighting can, in fact, be a
form of pollution. A spotlit house as pictured in your
article, for example, is not only totally unnecessary but is
an invasion of the rights of nearby neighbors who might not
wish to have their homes and yards engulfed in 24 hour
daylight. Lighting in this form is pollution no different
than noise pollution, water pollution or air pollution.
People should be made aware of the existence of light
pollution and enlisted to work toward its control. Who
knows, we might even be able to tell our grandchildren that
we saw Halley's Comet in 1986.
Frank Loso, President
S*T*A*R Astronomy Society, Inc.
Keyport, N.J.jerry@oliveb.UUCP (Jerry Aguirre) (07/10/85)
> Another reason, however, that each of us should be concerned > about light pollution is economic waste. Ralph Nader has > identified light pollution as one of the most serious forms > of energy waste in the United States, and a study by Dr. > Arthur Upgren of Wesleyan University reports that if the use > of outdoor lighting continues to increase at the present > rate it will account for over one half of all the electrical > power usage in the country by the year 2000! Additional new > power plants will undoubtedly be required to supply this > power, and their construction will be financed by all of us > with only the power companies standing to gain. Also, > regarless of ones views on nuclear power, a fact stated by > Dr. Upgren is that "if new nuclear power plants become > necessary in the coming years, outdoor lighting will be the > paramount reason for their existence." Garbage! Street lights and other NIGHT lighting do NOT create a need for additional power plants. Power plant capacity is determined by peak power usage which occurs during the DAY. At night power plants idle and many are shut down. We already have capacity to handle night lighting to the year 2000. It is all those air conditioners running in the afternoon that will require more power plants. I agree that many people use excessive or inefficient night lighting. Then there are the ones that leave them on all day as well. In non-hydroelectric areas this does result in pollution and waste. A good argument is weakened by the inclusion of even one erroneous point. Jerry Aguirre @ Olivetti ATC {hplabs|fortune|idi|ihnp4|tolerant|allegra|tymix}!oliveb!jerry
qwerty@drutx.UUCP (Brian Jones) (07/16/85)
I would also suggest looking at the ratio of street lights vs crime.
I have worked for two different Utilities part time. Their consensus
was: the more street lights, the lower the crime rate in the area.
I think I would gladly pay the bill for an extra street light or two,
and I would consider it fairly cheap insurance.
Brian Jones aka {ihnp4,}!drutx!qwerty @ ATT-ISjtb@kitc.UUCP (John Burgess) (07/18/85)
In article <3256@drutx.UUCP> qwerty@drutx.UUCP (Brian Jones) writes: >I would also suggest looking at the ratio of street lights vs crime. ... >I think I would gladly pay the bill for an extra street light or two, >and I would consider it fairly cheap insurance. Good point, Brian. However, I think I'll remain "out in the country" (such as it is in New Jersey) where the sky is black at night. Well, except for the whole eastern horizon! -- John Burgess ATT-IS Labs, So. Plainfield NJ (HP 1C-221) {most Action Central sites}!kitc!jtb (201) 561-7100 x2481 (8-259-2481)
will@anasazi.UUCP (Will Fuller) (07/28/85)
Don't let the darkness of our times out shine the heavens...
Street lights are wonderful things for scarring away the oogies that
haunt our modern society. However, most of the designs I have seen have
lacked a reflector to concentrate the light on the street where it
belongs. I may be wrong, but no one has ever been mugged 600 feet above
the street. Street lights that radiate issotropically or at annoying
wavelengths should be trashed.
P.S.
Might QSO's just be inhabited planets with street lights?
--
William H. Fuller
{decvax|ihnp4|hao}!noao!terak!anasazi!will