Dear International Dark-Sky Association Members,

The holiday season is rapidly approaching and its time to start thinking about gift giving. We would like to encourage you to
consider saving yourself time and money at the malls and give your friends and family a gift membership to IDA. Its quick and
easy to give a gift memberships through the IDA website at www.darksky.org/membership/membership.html. While you're
there don't forget to renew your membership! And Ida memberships are tax deductible.

IDA "George and Edythe Taylor" Student Award
The award is given in honor of George and Edythe Taylor. George was a career lighting engineer who won honors from the
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) for his contributions to the field. He was the IESNA's 54th President
(1958-59) and was always interested in and supported education. The award encourages students to explore the worldwide
problem of light pollution through science, technology, society, and the environment.

Deadline: February 18, 2004 (for receipt of Hard Copy submissions)
Deadline: March 1, 2004 (for receipt of Electronic submissions)
Submissions must be RECEIVED BY the IDA office by the deadline.
For more information and the award submission form visit: www.darksky.org/education/edaward.html
______________________________________________________________________________
Visit the website for the following new or updated information sheets:
178. Overview of IESNA RP-28-98 Lighting and the Visual Environment for Senior Living
179. Too Much Outdoor Lighting Pollutes the Sky, Wastes Energy, and Creates Safety Hazards
180. How To Get State Legislation Passed
181. Getting Started with an Outdoor Lighting Ordinance.
182. Artificial Lighting and Wildlife -A Moth to a Flame, by Ted Schaar
183. Czech Republic Controls Light Pollution, by Ted Schaar
184. Preserving the Common Heritage of All Humanity (Radio Astronomy and Interference)
185. Sports and Recreational Area Lighting
186. Good Lighting Makes Good Neighbors
187. Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Wildlife
188. The Universe in the Classroom Activities # 1
189. The Universe in the Classroom Activities # 2
190. The Universe in the Classroom Activities # 3
191. Streetlight Retrofit Helps City of Calgary Save Energy
192. The Urban Nightscape - Our Next Frontier, by Chris Walker
193. Bright Lights, Big Ocean, by Dr. Richard Podolsky

Download these and all of the other IDA Information sheets at: www.darksky.org/infoshts/isnumerc.html
____________________________________________________________________________

There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars
If you're looking for a unique children's bedtime story with an astronomical theme, pick up There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars.
This beautifully illustrated book helps children discover the magic of the night sky, the growing problem of light pollution, and
what can be done to save the vanishing stars. (A portion of the proceeds goes to the International Dark-Sky Association.
tinyurl.com/nliy

We would like to thank you for your continued support of IDA.

have you seen the cover picture on the December 2003 issue of "Astronomy and Space" Al? It is of the October 28th aurora over the new bridge on the Drogheda bypass with the span illuminated by apparently high-intensity beams of artificial light. It'd be worth going up there some clear night to see how bad these upward directed "searchlights" affect the sky. A severe rap on the knuckles for the lighting engineers on this one.

John F.
SDAS

Yep, I'm using that image an an intoruduction to an article I'm (slowly) writing to give to A&S... if they will publish it.

Perhaps ILPAC should have a bad lighting award we give to designers like that?

Cheers,
~Al

Yep, I'm using that image an an intoruduction to an article I'm (slowly) writing to give to A&S... if they will publish it.

Perhaps ILPAC should have a bad lighting award we give to designers like that?

Cheers,
~Al

THAT is a brilliant idea Al! How about it gang? Those wanting to help in the 'fight' against light pollution, keep an eye out for eyesores out there! Take a picture, post it on your website. Maybe even have a new section for that here Bart? Make it like a parody, like the Golden Raspberries of the Movie Industry for the worst of every category the Oscar's have...

Feedback/idea's?
8)

Seanie.

Got to agree with Sean, that is a great idea. It would be nice to see the looks on the faces of those self-important hoteliers, business-people, and so on when they get the notification of their award. On the other side though, it's not exactly going to get them on side, is it? How about doing this in conjunction with an Taisce or Duchas?

How about making some sort of contact with the National Roads Authority (maybe Mick O'Connell could point the right direction) and finding out their policy on lighting up every interchange in the country with energy wasteful, poorly directed and glare producing lights which dazzle drivers, let alone honk off astronomers!

Ya know.... it would probably be easier to give out an award for GOOD lighting

I've moved to the countryside from Dublin recently and I thought I would be safe from the evil lights. But it seems that country homeowners have caught some sort of lighting addiction desease. More and more of them are adding floodlights and ornamental lighting to their gardens. It's obnoxious, useless and a waste of energy. Most are not on timers and are just left on all night.

- John

yea, the plan for a good lighting award is the way to go.

Cheers,
~Al

How about making some sort of contact with the National Roads Authority (maybe Mick O'Connell could point the right direction) and finding out their policy on lighting up every interchange in the country with energy wasteful, poorly directed and glare producing lights which dazzle drivers, let alone honk off astronomers!

You had to drag my name into it didn't you
Seriously though, it's something I'm examining at the moment actually with a couple of junctions on on a particular road project i'm currently working on where lighting design has become a bit of an issue. Unfortunately I can't go into the details here for contractural/litigation reasons but will let e-mail albert and forward on whatever contacts i have.
Michael

Missed this post earlier...

Got to agree with Sean, that is a great idea. It would be nice to see the looks on the faces of those self-important hoteliers, business-people, and so on when they get the notification of their award. On the other side though, it's not exactly going to get them on side, is it? How about doing this in conjunction with an Taisce or Duchas?

An Taisce are already on board to some extent. And no pissing off people wont get them on side.

There are a couple of problems, most people dont know anything about light pollution and see nothing wrong with pointing a 500W halogen lamp upwards to show off their building. Something ILPAC has to address.

Also, though there is nothing that we can actually do since they are not breaking any guidelines or laws buy using bad lighting. Thats where the emphasis has been directed so far. To get local authorities aware of the problem, and to get them to introduce some guidelines about lighting, and to allow people to object to planning that has bad lighting. Currently you can object to noise pollution but theres nothing wrong with me shining a halogen lamp directly into my neighbours window! Getting LP on the same level as noise plooution will take work, and will need legislation introduced, Colm is working out how best to go about approaching that.

Also there are local elections next year, so please pester your candidates about this issue. Simply put, we know there are more important issues than light pollution in the country, however tackling this problem can be done without any extra expenditure, will save money by using less energy, and provide a better wnvironment.

How about making some sort of contact with the National Roads Authority (maybe Mick O'Connell could point the right direction) and finding out their policy on lighting up every interchange in the country with energy wasteful, poorly directed and glare producing lights which dazzle drivers, let alone honk off astronomers!

Havent been in touch with the NRA, though they are on my list of peole to meet. From what I've seen on motorways they are using very powerful, but full cut off lights to illuminate motorways in many areas. Though any information you can give us Michael would be most appreciated!

Cheers,
~Al

Missed this post earlier...

Havent been in touch with the NRA, though they are on my list of peole to meet. From what I've seen on motorways they are using very powerful, but full cut off lights to illuminate motorways in many areas. Though any information you can give us Michael would be most appreciated!

Cheers,
~Al

And if the Irish NRA can't help maybe the American NRA can.