Debate: Light pollution

[Tuffdisc]

Birkenhead Lake, which is 2 hours north of Whistler, BC, is excellent for star gazing. It's in the middle of nowhere. The mountains get in the way a bit, though.

Mountains can add to a photographic scenery

 

[MoonOwl]

*rummages around*

I came across this a while ago. Awesome picture out of Utah:

 

[Tim]

The first time I took Alicia to the Adirondacks, we had a perfectly clear sky. I didn't say anything to her, but we went out and let our eyes adjust for 30 minutes or so, we were under the tree canopy. Then I walked her out into the open and told her to look up. She was completely amazed, she asked what that bright streak was in the middle of the sky... That's the Milky way I said...
The sky is so black and clear up there, it's amazing.
It's the most remote location on the East coast, there is zero light pollution up there

 

[MoonOwl]

That was an awesome way to introduce Alicia to stars

 

[Tim]

That was an awesome way to introduce Alicia to stars

It was that, or smack her in the head with a baseball bat

 

[MoonOwl]

It was that, or smack her in the head with a baseball bat

:24: But you wouldn't want to mar her now would you?

 

[Zorak]

There will always be places you can view the night sky.

I'd rather people in urban areas felt safe.

 

[Tuffdisc]

A bit of an update on this:
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/9372018.Watford_s_street_lamps_to_be_turned_off_to_save_money/

Drastic council cost-cutting will see Watford neighbourhoods plunged into darkness at night as street lights are switched off from midnight to 6am.

However politicians behind the plan have come under fire for implementing the controversial measures while continuing to splash more than £100,000 a year on a glossy magazine.

Opposition councillors have branded the blackout plan “bonkers” and fear it could lead to rise in crime and road accidents in the town. Hertfordshire County Council has defended the scheme, saying it will save the taxpayer £1m a year and reduce the area’s carbon footprint.

 

[freakofnature]

Mountains can add to a photographic scenery

Not in the middle of the night when you're trying to look at stars.

 

[Tuffdisc]

I guess we all have differences in taste in photography

 

[freakofnature]

I guess we all have differences in taste in photography

I'm talking about star gazing not photography.

 

[BornReady]

I don't consider light to be pollution. Although it is costly to produce. So we would be better off if we could get by with less. I do like to look at the stars. I live far enough outside the city that clouds and haze probably affect my view more than light.

 

[Tuffdisc]

I don't consider light to be pollution. Although it is costly to produce. So we would be better off if we could get by with less. I do like to look at the stars. I live far enough outside the city that clouds and haze probably affect my view more than light.

I would prefer less, I don't see why my council has to have double the amount of street lamps (one for the roads, the second for the pavement) when a) hardly anyone is out at night, and b) you could already see the pavement without the need for double street lamps :dunno

 

[Johnfromokc]

I don't debate, but I just wanted to comment on this thread b/c you are the only other person I know who knows about light pollution!!! Everytime I would mention it before, people would laugh at me.

Light pollution is a real concern. I've had the good fortune to see the night sky in places with little lighting nearby. The Mojave Desert is amazing, as is the Texas Hill country, although you can see San Antonio's lights off in the distance. Oklahoma still has some remote locales with minimal light pollution.

Probably the most amazing sky I have ever seen was in the outback of South Australia. The Southern Cross is something everyone should see in their lifetimes.

You do not realize what light pollution really is until you get far enough away from it.

 

[Accountable]

True. I never really thought about it until I took Astronomy in college. Seeing the difference when you go out to the country to look at the stars vs. trying to find somewhere decent to star gaze in the city will open your eyes.

The most beautiful sky I ever saw was when I was stationed in southern England, driving down a curvey B-road (are there C-roads? This was practically a path) in the country. I stopped because it was pitch-black out. I got out and sat on my car & waited for my eyes to adjust. The winter stars were so bright, and so many! The next night I brought my beloved to see. We felt blessed.

 

[zen]

Living where I do, you forget about how the night sky looks because of all the lights. I need to go some place where I can see the stars at night again.

 

[Johnfromokc]

Living where I do, you forget about how the night sky looks because of all the lights. I need to go some place where I can see the stars at night again.

Head north young man! California is an awesome state. They have kept much of the Pacific coast pristine. Saw some awesome night skys at Goat Rock summer before last. Amazing night skies on the northern coast. Don't have any night shots, but you can imagine what it is like from these - Check out these happy California cows:

And the view off the vacation house deck

 

[zen]

I know what you mean. I took a solo ride up around Big Sur a few years ago. North up the coast, south through Central Ca. Camped along the Kern river that trip.

 

[Joshsaysrelax]

I was watching an interesting program here recently about stargazing and it really highlighted just how much the urban landscape ruins the view for people. So much light disturbing the view. Of course we need the light for practical reasons, but I would love to see the sky in the dark more, which is hard for me since I don't have a car to take me out there. It is so difficult to switch off all the lights too, not just to get everyone doing it, but the street lights are now all on sensors so you can't switch them all off even if you wanted too.

 

[freakofnature]

Sure you can. It's called a massive power outage. :ninja