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Light Pollution
How do you feel about light pollution?Some arguments against it:
- Waste of energy
- Ruins view of the night sky
- Can interfere with natural habitats and other aspects of the environment
What measures would you be willing to take to reduce it? Allocating tax money for new street lights? Passing laws/guidelines for private residences and businesses? Other?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8621302.stm
"Never get so attached to a poem, you forget truth that lacks lyricism" --Joanna Newsom
Originally posted by parkerjm:
What measures would you be willing to take to reduce it?
I always cut all of the lights off whenever I leave. I even cut the satellite box's power off.
I don't reckon I can do much more?
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." - J.R.R. Tolkien
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"Americans should not go abroad to slay dragons they do not understand in the name of spreading democracy." -President John Quincy Adams
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"Americans should not go abroad to slay dragons they do not understand in the name of spreading democracy." -President John Quincy Adams
Originally posted by Museatlantis:
Would be nice to see the night stars more often
That's the difference between romantic and pragmatic individuals: romantic people want darkness to see stars in the night sky while pragmatic ones want light to see dog shit under their feet before they step into it
15. April 2010, 15:36:57 (edited)
Originally posted by Museatlantis:
Would be nice to see the night stars more often
You should have seen the sky last night...it was crazy!
"Drink wine. This is life eternal; this is all that youth will give you. It is the season for wine, roses, and drunken friends. Be happy for this moment! This moment is your life." -Omar Khayyam
"If you want. I am a poem, or I am a pattern, or a race of people whose world was swallowed by the sea." -Neil Gaiman
"The well-bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves." -Oscar Wilde
University of Michigan - Class of 2012 - GO BLUE!!!
"If you want. I am a poem, or I am a pattern, or a race of people whose world was swallowed by the sea." -Neil Gaiman
"The well-bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves." -Oscar Wilde
University of Michigan - Class of 2012 - GO BLUE!!!
I've always wanted to go to a place with a very dark sky to check it out.. I've always lived around Atlanta, but even going to my parent's house from here, an hour drive, the sky is more than twice as dark and you can see a lot of stars... I would love to see the pure night sky, I bet it's amazing. I read an article a while back hypothesizing that more kids would go into science if they grew up with a better view of the night sky to inspire them toward it, but I don't know how true that is.
I definitely looked at the sky a lot when I was a kid, and read every book about astronomy I could find. It was good stuff.
Alas, I didn't go into science (unless you count computer "science", which you shouldn't), but I do have a fondness for physics in my heart.
I definitely looked at the sky a lot when I was a kid, and read every book about astronomy I could find. It was good stuff.
Alas, I didn't go into science (unless you count computer "science", which you shouldn't), but I do have a fondness for physics in my heart.
"Never get so attached to a poem, you forget truth that lacks lyricism" --Joanna Newsom
I like the dark. When I was a teenager my friends and I would spend our evenings and nights in the pitch blackness of the woods getting thoroughly sozzled. On some nights there would be so little light that you couldn't make out your hand in front of your face, yet no one ever got hurt (except if we were fighting )
There are, in my opinion, too many street lights. I'm not saying they're all unecessary (cities especially need them) but in rural England there are far more than are needed - considering how few pedestrians there seem to be nowadays, do we really need to light all the pavements all the time? Cars and bicycles get around the aid their lighting by using headlights, why can't pedestrians be expected to carry a torch round if they're afraid of encountering dog muck and other hazards of the footpath? Is it really such a chore? I've heard talk before of making lights that only come on when there's someone in the vicinty, but it seems to be far simpler to request that such a person has a light of their own.
from Calls to reduce light pollution 'backed by CPRE survey'
"I'm angry that we are no longer able to enjoy a dark garden or clearly see the night sky. It's like having to inhale a smoker's cigarette smoke"
-- Emma Marrington, CPRE who clearly doesn't appreciate the difference in the health risks associated with light pollution and smoke inhilation.
)There are, in my opinion, too many street lights. I'm not saying they're all unecessary (cities especially need them) but in rural England there are far more than are needed - considering how few pedestrians there seem to be nowadays, do we really need to light all the pavements all the time? Cars and bicycles get around the aid their lighting by using headlights, why can't pedestrians be expected to carry a torch round if they're afraid of encountering dog muck and other hazards of the footpath? Is it really such a chore? I've heard talk before of making lights that only come on when there's someone in the vicinty, but it seems to be far simpler to request that such a person has a light of their own.
from Calls to reduce light pollution 'backed by CPRE survey'
"I'm angry that we are no longer able to enjoy a dark garden or clearly see the night sky. It's like having to inhale a smoker's cigarette smoke"
-- Emma Marrington, CPRE who clearly doesn't appreciate the difference in the health risks associated with light pollution and smoke inhilation.
“When you're young it's your duty to catch up with the things that are longstanding and worthwhile; and old people are the ones who can most help you.”
- Josie Long
- Josie Long
Originally posted by parkerjm:
How do you feel about light pollution?
Jesus, parkerjm! One more thing to worry about. Thanks a lot!
"Don't blame me...the sun did it!"
"Yes, I used the lamp, but I swept up the unused lumens when I was done."
"Light pollution!? WTF!"
A thimbleful of neutron star material would weigh more than 500 million tons. How long is that in Earth years?
22. April 2010, 18:39:00 (edited)
Originally posted by Jaybro:
Does anybody here own a decent telescope? Thinking of getting one.
Anybody grind their own lens?
I have a Mead scope that wasn't to expensive 8" refractor I get good views of Saturn and Jupiter.
I read somewhere that you pour a mirror the size you desire then build your scope around it... You first need sterile work place and accuracy.
Some times in the middle of what ever Ocean I'm sailing through I'll blackout the exterior lighting and stare into the heavens and I think... Damn some thing has to exist out there.
The deserts around Bonneville Salts or west of Phoenix are good places to to see the Stars.
As far as light pollution... Hong Kong does it well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHGYK2devzA
I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange,
I am ungrateful to those teachers.
Kahlil Gibran
"The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-distrust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciple."
Amos Bronson Alcott
I am ungrateful to those teachers.
Kahlil Gibran
"The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-distrust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciple."
Amos Bronson Alcott
23. April 2010, 02:20:02 (edited)
Here is my scope.. http://www.telescope.com/control/telescopes/dobsonian-telescopes/orion-skyquest-xt8-classic-dobsonian-telescope
Not electronic, so you have to find stuff yourself, but other than that, it's a wonderful scope. Very recommended.
Of course, if you're looking for something just a little bigger, may I suggest... http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=tbdt/~product_id=09162
Not electronic, so you have to find stuff yourself, but other than that, it's a wonderful scope. Very recommended.
Of course, if you're looking for something just a little bigger, may I suggest... http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=tbdt/~product_id=09162
"Never get so attached to a poem, you forget truth that lacks lyricism" --Joanna Newsom
Originally posted by grysmn:
You have that right. This is actually an easily fixed issue, relatively speaking, and it wouldn't really cost too much. In the long run, replacing existing lights with more efficient ones and limiting the amount of light private businesses can put out into the sky at night would probably save us all money on the electricity. It seems like a win-win to me... but maybe I am over-simplifying it.It does not take much effort
"Never get so attached to a poem, you forget truth that lacks lyricism" --Joanna Newsom
http://www.flixxy.com/hubble-ultra-deep-field-3d.htm
I love light. it is the answer to all our problems...if there is a answer.
I love light. it is the answer to all our problems...if there is a answer.
"If there were no God, there would be no atheists."
Originally posted by parkerjm:
What are all of our problems?
You could start with energy.
Desecrating the landscape has little to do with light.
"If there were no God, there would be no atheists."
How do you feel about light pollution?
theres not enough of it some parts of where i live. i mean lighting.
i'd rather see the muggers coming.
I don't tell as many lies as the magic moose that lives in my toaster.
If you want to see the muggers coming, carry a flashlight. Or wear night vision gear. Or pay for more foot patrols. Lighting up crap just in case something bad might happen... well, considering how often bad stuff happens compared to "100% of the time lighting", lighting it up is a worse evil.
It's pathetic how municipalities try to turn night into day. It's bad in more ways than one.
It's pathetic how municipalities try to turn night into day. It's bad in more ways than one.