Argh, scope has been out cooling for the last 2 hours in anticipation.
Went out to look as there is a gap in the clouds and the western sky is completely white! Seems they have installed MASSIVE floodlights in Pearse stadium, and they don't seem to be particularly directional.

We're 3/4 of a km away and the floods are actually managing to illuminate my house as much as a full moon.

Think I'll need sunshades if I do any observing tonight.

Can't understand how that could have been installed in a residential area. Especially for the people nearer to it :shock:

Hopefully they are only up for the International Rules, but I wonder...
Or hopefully the lights are only going to be on for a few hours.

Trev

Not to worry too much Trev, I too have the same problem with the GAA grounds near me, they usually are on for about 3 hours in the autumn / winter evenings, at least not all night.

Keith..

hmm, yeah that makes sense. I hope they do.

I wonder why they didn't install glare guards as the pitch is surrounded by housing estates.

Very odd.

Trev

Its easy to understand why they dont.

Words like "energy efficiency" , "energy conservation" or "neighbourliness" are Swahili to lighting engineers. (So called engineers).

Telling them that if they aim their lights properly they can halve the wattage,the energy consumption, the running costs and the greenhouse gas production is pointless.

Such concepts are are above their heads if you ask me.

Peter.

Words like "energy efficiency" , "energy conservation" or "neighbourliness" are Swahili to lighting engineers. (So called engineers).

No to mention the GAA. An organisation that seems to have the belief that it can do what it likes and is above the government.

Well, it seems that they must have turned the lights off at about 9pm, which is OK.

Unfortunately had clouded up by then though so no comet last night. :roll:

As for light pollution, the fight goes on :arrow:

But, as Trevor experienced last night, maybe for the first time?? how shocked you are when these first go on, they are amazingly bright, you could read a small print newspaper out in your back garden, you think you will never do astronomy again! Look at the problems that the residents of croke park have to put up with - and 'told' that they have to put up with it!

At least the games are not 10 hours long

Keith..

Trevor youll be happy to know that the lights are only temporary!

Trevor youll be happy to know that the lights are only temporary!

So say the GAA. Which, coming from them, means that they have plans to put them there permanently.

Now here's a funny comment by the guys who put up the lighting.

When asked about it's suitability for hurling they replied

“We just use a higher lighting level,” he explained.

“Percentage-wise, it would be about a minimum of 20% more powerful than football or rugby.

By the way, the system is made up of 60 6KW lights, coming to a 1/3 of a Megawatt of power. Could probably have saved quite a bit of money by pointing them downwards :wink:

They're also going to be removed after today's match according to the article.

“We just use a higher lighting level,” he explained.

“Percentage-wise, it would be about a minimum of 20% more powerful than football or rugby.

hurling and floodlight. What can possible go wrong

Ah! Now I'm a hurling man through and through!! And I can tell you that it is a waste of time playing hurling under floodlights, the umpire would be blinded by their own white coats

Keith..

'MUSCO' - Must Go!!!!!

www.sapca.org.uk/news.asp?id=&ref=10&nid=901

At least they are 'mobile' floodlights, and seemingly are not there to stay!!

Keith..

And I can tell you that it is a waste of time playing hurling under floodlights,

Depends on where you are aiming

www.lighting4sport.com is a good site on floodlights for sport. Abacus are one of the better companies when it comes to taking light pollution into account.

The GAA have got the go ahead for the floodlights in croke park thanks to An Bord Pleanala. Work begins monday. Residents objections overrulled and Nicky Brennan described all concerns as unfounded.

Not that An Bord Pleanala was ever seriously going to stop the GAA doing anything anyway... :roll: