Light pollution

[LiberalArkie]

http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/astronomy-topics/light-pollution.html

(When a massive power outage struck southern California in the 1990s, Los Angeles residents reportedly called 911 to express alarm about strange clouds hovering overhead; they were seeing the Milky Way for the first time.)




Light pollution—the needless shining of bright lights into the night sky—has robbed whole generations of the chance to see nature on its largest scale. It is estimated that as many as eighty percent of all the people alive today have never even glimpsed the Milky Way. (When a massive power outage struck southern California in the 1990s, Los Angeles residents reportedly called 911 to express alarm about strange clouds hovering overhead; they were seeing the Milky Way for the first time.) The problem is not lighting in itself, but the billions of dollars worth of energy wasted each year by spilling light into the sky rather than confining it to the ground where it is needed.



Light pollution has driven professional astronomers to site their observatories on remote islands and mountaintops, while robbing amateur astronomers—and their children—of faint stars and galaxies lost in the glare.
Fortunately, there are solutions that save money and preserve the dark night sky. The most important step is to shield outdoor lighting so it is cast downward. Other measures include putting motion sensors on the security lights that, in so many cases, flood private yards all night; this actually increases security while saving on energy bills. It also helps to limit the specific wavelengths in which the light is emitted.

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[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. One of the things I hate most about living in town.

Being outside, far from a town or city on a clear night is astonishing. Oh, we can see the brightest stars on most nights, even here in town, but it's nothing like seeing what feels like the entire galaxy when you're out in the middle of nowhere.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. 1994 earthquake a night. we all ran outside. what were those twinkling things in the sky?

[hardluck]

6. had the same experience

Lived in Burbank at the time. I was struck by how clear the night sky was. I've never seen a night like that in Los Angeles. Probably never will again.

[logosoco]

3. If I was in charge of things...

I would have a national holiday (perhaps in August that has no holidays) where for one night every town only used the most basic lighting needed (and how much could that really be, when we survived as a species for VERY long without electricity).
Every year for Earth Hour, I post something about this on Facebook. No one even replies. No one even seems to know it is Earth Hour.

We moved to a semi-rural area about 28years ago. It is now much more developed and I have noticed how our sight of the stars has changed. I remember how the stars looked when I was a kid in the late 60s, early 70s. My kids have not seen that. Well, until my son moved to Tanzania a year ago with the Peace Corps.

We could so do this! And so much more! But so many fools still don't understand how our life style impacts this planet we are on.

[Wilms]

4. ^

[Octafish]

5. Northern Michigan has Headlands International Dark Sky Park

Place was made for stargazers.

http://www.midarkskypark.org

Great OP, LiberalArkie! Astronomers know how truly special our little blue sphere is.

[Duppers]

7. 80% of U.S. citizens have never seen the Milky Way?

Would 80% of the U.S. citizenry have even heard of the Milky Way?
More likely, they'll think of the candy bar first. And do they even care about light pollution? They'll think Vegas is far more exciting than anything nature's sky has to offer.

[KamaAina]

8. San Jose streetlights are amber

to protect Lick Observatory up on Mt. Hamilton.

[Snobblevitch]

9. Not only do we see stars from our cabin,

we frequently see the aurora borealis.