Light Pollution..... is there any org out there trying to fight it?

Question

With all of these green causes out there making noise, I wonder if there's anyone out there rattling any sabers for the cause of preserving the beauty of the night sky. I think it's a Go_ dam__d travesty how little of the night sky we can see anymore, and people put up more lights every year. You could read a book on my parents' back porch now, yet see the Milky Way from that very yard when I was a kid.

If there are any light pollution awareness groups out there, are they even taken seriously?

Answer 1

I haven't heard of any major, nationwide organizations, but I'm sure there is at least one out there.  I know I have been tempted to take matters into my own hands with a BB gun, if it's not bad enough living on the outskirts of a major city, my a*****e neighbor has high power halogen floodlight he refuses to turn off.  At least I have access to moderately dark sky site that is only a half an hour drive from me and a proper dark sky site another 40 minutes from there.

Answer 2

Yeah, I saw one awhile back. I'll try to find it.  I believe they were in England and fairly local.  I may have found one in the US, too, but I'll get back to you on this.

Edit: I got a bunch by googling "light pollution protest."  I saw my own county near the top of the list. Cool!

Answer 3

Internationally:

http://www.darksky.org/mc/page.do

In addition there are many national and local astronomy clubs with light pollution abatement committees. Dark sky preserves are being established in many parts of the world.

Answer 4

IDA's the only one I know of. They've named Flagstaff, Arizona, as the world's first Dark Skies Community - the lighting policy there is fantastic! It limits the amount of lighting that can be used outdoors, and it also uses different types of lighting to avoid any leaking upwards. It's great for stargazing - unfortunately, the week I was there was completely overcast!

Answer 5

As you mentioned, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is the key organization in this fight.

I was a member for a few years, but eventually stopped contributing -- not because I don't support their cause, but because I have doubts about their effectiveness.  They occasionally achieve victories in one community or another, but overall the problem grows worse year by year, and there are only isolated islands of truly dark sky left in the lower 48 states.  To view these, see the sky-brightness map of North America available here:

http://www.lightpollution.it/worldatlas/...

Light pollution is even a problem in places where there is absolutely no excuse for it.  Some years ago, I camped in a walk-in campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California.  Mounted on the outside of the bathroom was a hideously bright unshielded light that gave the place the look of a prison camp, and it was unpleasantly bright even inside my tent.  I wrote a letter to the park superintendent asking that the light be shielded.  She wrote back that people like lights!  So much for experiencing nature in the parks.

-- edit

The 2008 Observer's Handbook mentions the IDA, and also says this:

"The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada has an active Light-Pollution Abatement Committee. ... Also, some Centres of the RASC have light-pollution abatement committees and have taken action to address poor lighting practices in their area."

Answer 6

If there is not there should be because this pollution thing is getting out of hand...james the holloe earth man. P.S.The auto is probably worse but most of the protestors drive to their meetings so I don't expect this problem to be resolved soon atleast until we run out of gas I might add I think this is an excellent question because many people only want to do away with others pollution.I like Harvey's answer. I to am blinded by those bright headlights and oftimes the bright ones have four or more.

Answer 7

I actually had a conversation with someone the other day about light pollution and how it really is a travesty.

They just looked as if they weren't really concerned and proceeded to change the subject; but I objected and make a point to tell them that it's really sad that I can't look up and see the milky way and adore it.

Personally, I think most people don't look at it as aesthetic as most of use amatuer astronomers because we see so much more than a band of gas and dust. We visualize the whole galaxy in our minds in a 3D aspect, they only, if they're lucky, see a 2D band of gas and dust that doesn't make much sense to them. It's only after I point out that you actually only see about half the galaxy when viewing it and where the super-massive black hole is that their eyes light up, then I try to reinforce the idea that light pollution is stupid.

It's hard to fight though, there's so much industrial advancement in the world that in due time the Earth will look like a glowing ball... with Africa eventually bringing up the rear. I, like most of us, do hope that something is done to preserve the night sky... at least in locations around the world, kinda like a wild-life reserve. Hmm, we'll see.

Good question.  

Answer 8

I wish there was. It is virtually impossible to see anything in my back yard. There are four street lights surrounding my house... I can barely make out Jupiter.

There was a petition going around in my neighborhood trying to petition to get those lights removed. One of my neighbors who is a major astronomy buff was pushing for their removal.

I checked out darksky.org... its nice to see there is a group out there pushing for less light pollution.

It is getting harder and harder to observe the cosmos. It is turning into more than just an annoyance, it is turning into a problem. I have to drive 50 miles into a secluded location to view the night sky... and there are even some lights out there! I can still clearly view the city glow. I haven't seen the milky way in my back yard in 7 years. The last time I saw it was when I was 5.