Hi all,

i recevied my A&S mag today...reading theres a good article in it about light pollution....but my god that picture of Dublin thats some light going upwards i actually pity anyone living up there....is it as bad as it looks i imagine observing in the city just aint possible

I'd just like to congratulate Albert for his article in this month's issue of Astronomy & Space related to light pollution. The photograph taken of Dublin is positively sickening, looking as it does like a city on Mars.

Albert not only talks about the effects on astronomy, but also on wildlife and the way that it is causing disruption to their lives, sea turtles getting confused by the artificial lights and dying is most distressing.

The before and after photos of the business premises in Bray is eyeopening and the greater reduction in light pollution is cured by simply pointing the lights to the ground, where they belong.

Again, a great article and well worth reading for all who are concerned about the destruction of the night sky.

Here here...that picture is unreal...im presuming that observation is a big no no in the city? great article by the way

dont they hold some observing in phoenix park some nights it must be bad

Thanks for that! Haven't got a chance to get a copy yet myself to see it in print.

\well done albert, don't worry a copy will be in the post to you.

It's a pretty bad view over the city alright. I dont think its as bad as the image in the magazine. I think they added a bit of pollution there for dramatic effect.

Havent read it yet. Gimme 10 mins.

Some excellent reading this month :!:

I think they added a bit of pollution there for dramatic effect.

I can assure you PJ nobody added anything. It's just that photographs show light pollution up more dramatically.

Albert White did the article for the magazine.It's a very good read all right. I gave 3 copes to my neighbors who have 5million watt bulbs in there back garden.don't get me wrong I don't mind people having security but point the damm things down and not lighting up the whole neighborhood.especially when it lights up my whole observatory. Now that I have that off my chest. Well done Albert.

Here here...that picture is unreal...im presuming that observation is a big no no in the city? great article by the way

dont they hold some observing in phoenix park some nights it must be bad

Tony,

There is still a lot of observing that can be done, even in the big city. Clearly, a dark site will be far more rewarding.

The Phoenix park isn't too bad, however the events which run there are generally themed towards brighter solar system objects and events which are just as good in the city as elsewhere.

Well done Al.

Carl.
An interesting stastic...
Security lights actually HELP criminals to SEE what thew are doingf in the
dead of night.
Whenit comes to houshold properties...
how many times have you heard an aloarm and just gone..
''ohh thats annoying!''
I wish it'd just shut off!

Did it make you call the cops!?...NO..
And as for a huge lamp that clicks on when a tomcat walks past...
oooh yeah..
thats woken me up sooooo many times...


security lighting is a joke.

Well done Al.

Carl.
An interesting stastic...
Security lights actually HELP criminals to SEE what thew are doingf in the
dead of night.
Whenit comes to houshold properties...
how many times have you heard an aloarm and just gone..
''ohh thats annoying!''
I wish it'd just shut off!

Did it make you call the cops!?...NO..
And as for a huge lamp that clicks on when a tomcat walks past...
oooh yeah..
thats woken me up sooooo many times...


security lighting is a joke.

I agreee 100% :wink:

Hmmmmmmmmm

I was wondering why it is possible to hear birds singing at all hours of the night.

Now i know.

Anyone know where i can get a pellet gun?

The security light on the house behind me is a real pain in the......

The before and after picture of the place in Bray is amazing to see.

I'm gonna be up Killiney Hill on 29th to watch the lights go out in Dublin.

I think a before and after image is called for.

It's a pretty bad view over the city alright. I dont think its as bad as the image in the magazine. I think they added a bit of pollution there for dramatic effect.

30s f/4 70mm ISO100. It's accurate to what you would see with dark adapted eyes. ie if you are in the forest on Dalkey hill and then step out and look at the city its that bright.

The point is that you should not be able to see any of those lights directly!

The Phoenix park isn't too bad, however the events which run there are generally themed towards brighter solar system objects and events which are just as good in the city as elsewhere.

Brightish objects, especially overhead will be ok in the park. You'll still have skyglow around you but the overhead sky will be better.

I was wondering why it is possible to hear birds singing at all hours of the night.

You might find this interesting: www.ilpac.eu/content/view/32/25/

I'm gonna be up Killiney Hill on 29th to watch the lights go out in Dublin.

I think a before and after image is called for.

Well since streetlights probably wont go off don't expect anything too spectacular. Earth Hour gives astronomers a great chance to show how big a problem light pollution is and to raise public awareness.

The state of light pollution, especially in the Dublin region is getting worse year on year. Its depressing to see all the new lights going up on the M50 upgrade with no regard for smarter lighting - apparently Sodium rules .

Well done Al.

Carl.
An interesting stastic...
Security lights actually HELP criminals to SEE what thew are doingf in the
dead of night.
Whenit comes to houshold properties...
how many times have you heard an aloarm and just gone..
''ohh thats annoying!''
I wish it'd just shut off!

Did it make you call the cops!?...NO..
And as for a huge lamp that clicks on when a tomcat walks past...
oooh yeah..
thats woken me up sooooo many times...


security lighting is a joke.

If it clicked on then that would be an improvement in many cases. Most lights do not have a sensor and many that do are not installed correctly - ie they go off when a cat walks by and then illuminate the back of the garden!

Security lighting generally is not thought out - people seem to have this assumption that lighting deters crime. Lighting has a part to play but on its own it doesn't deter crime.

The 'visual task' is what needs to be considered. For the owner that means providing light so that any detected suspicious activity can be illuminated for identification. For the criminal it means having enough light to prepare and carry out a crime.

So you really want lighting that will activate when something out of the ordinary is detected. The light needs to be shining in the right place so that you, a camera, or a guard can see the activity. This will also draw attention of passers by and importantly alert the criminal. By having the lights on full time you are gaining no benefit but are providing a benefit to the criminal - they will have the light to plan and carry out the crime and there will be no change to cause an alert.

I've seen examples of some hilarious security lighting. The best was a motion activated light which was installed to illuminate an area for a CCTV camera. The problem was that when the light came on its glare rendered the camera useless!

Most of the security cameras on the market now (even the lidl ones I notice) use IR to illuminate the target. It may still cause light pollution but I'll take 10 IR led's aimed roughly in the right place over a 500W halogen pointing the wrong way!

The state of light pollution, especially in the Dublin region is getting worse year on year. Its depressing to see all the new lights going up on the M50 upgrade with no regard for smarter lighting - apparently Sodium rules .

Haven't seen what's happening there. The NRA do use FCO's (the only group in the country to commit to using only FCO's on new projects) but things may be different with the upgrade. I assume the NRA are managing the upgrade.

Drop a (polite!) letter to:

Vincent O'Malley,
Environmental Manager,
The National Roads Authority,
St. Martin's House,
Waterloo Road,
Dublin 4,
Ireland

If they are installing _new_ lights and not using FCO's then you may like to mention this www.ilpac.eu/content/view/33/25/

Albert White did the article for the magazine.It's a very good read all right. I gave 3 copes to my neighbors who have 5million watt bulbs in there back garden.don't get me wrong I don't mind people having security but point the damm things down and not lighting up the whole neighborhood.especially when it lights up my whole observatory.

For those in a similar position you might like to give them a copy of the Institute of Lighting Engineers Domestic Security Lighting Leaflet.
www.ile.org.uk/uploads/File/03_securitylighting.pdf

And you can give them a copy of the ILPAC brochure too! www.ilpac.eu/images//ilpac-brochure.pdf

Well since streetlights probably wont go off don't expect anything too spectacular. Earth Hour gives astronomers a great chance to show how big a problem light pollution is and to raise public awareness.

Any noticable change will be worth it. And it will give me a chance to mess with the minds of "courting" couples up there in the car park by letting off a police siren.

Coming from the rural west I often hear even non-astronomer Dubliners exclaim in amazement at star-studded rural skies.

Dubliners are truly deprived.

Very interesting link up there Albert. It's weird reading it because just the other day i was saying to someone that you dont see many sparrows around anymore.

I can even count on one hand the number of spiders i have had in my house this winter.

Update !!!!..My neighbor called in to say he will point the light down. He said he did not realize light pollution would interfered so much with what I do. It Just goes to show people are not aware of the Problem. That light pollution is such a problem for us amateur astronomers. There you go Albert 1 down 4 million to go.