Light Pollution Authority Hortze Page - www.darksky.org
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<br />Light Po�lution
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<br />Have yau had a problem with [ight pollution? �f course. When you realize that the ferm "Light Pollution" covers
<br />a �ery broad subjeci area you soon realize we have all have a problem vuith light pallution. From the smaliest
<br />arganism tn the largesi telescope, lighi pollution plays a part in degrading our nighttime en�ironment.
<br />This website contains many Information 5heets and tn#ernet �.inks reiating to Light Pallution.
<br />Here are a few quotes r�iating to Ligh# Pollution from our infarmation 5heets -
<br />[5-01�, Theft ofthe Night..
<br />."Most Arneric.�ns are growing up urtable to see the stars their grandparents �Cr�ew so wall. They see the night sky on]y in pictures or
<br />at ptanetariums.This €s true nnt nnly in cities, buf aESO in many suburbs wher� street kamps and ather sourees of "light poHution" have
<br />abscured aur view n# ennsteltations, meieor showers, and planets. Light pollution is noi a matter of life and death. Yet ii is impo�tani
<br />noneiheless, pro%undly so. We hurr�an beings lose someihing of ¢urselves when w$ can no longer loulc up and see our place in ihe
<br />universe. if is like r�ever again hearing the {aughter of children; we gi�e up part af what we ara. 5uch a loss might be acceptable if
<br />Iight poEfution were Fha ine�itatile price of progress, huf it's not. Ntosk sky glow, as seierttists call iE,is unnecessaryr. The Aght #hat
<br />obscures our view of ti�e nigh# sky comes mainly from inefftcient lightfng sources fhat do little to increase nighttime safety, utiiiky, or
<br />security. It pruduces only g[are and clutter, costing mare than $1 6illian annually in wasted �nergy in ihe United StateS alor�e.
<br />Reducing light pollution is r�of dif6cult, 6ut i! daes require that pub]ic o�cials and nrdinary citizens be aware of ihe problem and act to
<br />counter if. ... Curing light pailution saves money while reducing glare. lJnlike other issues invalving polluFion, it presents us with a
<br />rere �ase where we should strive ta be kept in ihe dark. 7he stars above us are a peiceless heritage,noi anly for scienGfic knawledge,
<br />but also #or our identiiy as human heings. ... Another fairly painless way to reduce light pollution is wiih outdoor lighting control
<br />ordinances, ...
<br />An ou#door [ight system recentiy installed at a prisnn in Arizona, for example, improved security and reduced lighi pollution whike
<br />cutting ertergy eosts by 5d percent. "
<br />I.S.-Q'�9, The American Astrnnamical 5ocieiy's Positiort on Light Pollutian
<br />"This is a ane-page summary of the position of lhe Arneriean Astronomical Society's Commiiter� an Lighf Poliut[an, Radio
<br />InterFerence, and Space Debris on fhe light pollu#ian issue. It has been endorsed hy ihe Society's Board oi Directars, and can be
<br />used by anyone to skate astronomers' concem and position on #his prohiem. ... These sites need protecEian from light polluEion
<br />(adverse sicy gEow irom electric lighis). ,.. LigM pollution is a serious prnblem. There are solufions to the problem. ... Confroi the
<br />emitted fight by fixture choice, 6y shielding, by placement,etc. Use weEl designed task-arientec! lighting, to minimize wasted light, Gght
<br />trespass, and light polEukian. ... AIE of this says, really: "EJse the best passihie professionai lighting design and installat[on fnr the task,
<br />including all relevant factors, of which fighi potluGon is one."
<br />fS..-t3.2.8., An In#roduCtion fo Light PolEuiion
<br />"Have yau ever heard of Ligh�t F'oilution? Maybe not. But it is a growing threat ta the nighttime env{ronment. CorrEponents of light
<br />pollution fncEude: Glara, qlinding us and harming �isibifi#y. Glare is ne�er good.
<br />Light 7respass, someone's outdoor IighEs of(ending us, "trespassing"on our land. Clutter, trashing fhe nighttim�; env�ronrnent,
<br />causing confusion as well. Energy waste, cosiing us over One Billion Dollars a year in the U.S.A. alone. lJrban sky glow, which is
<br />destroying manKind`s view of the universe. ...
<br />ES-€865, Oniario Hydro Leaflet on Light Pollution
<br />What is Light Pollutinn7 - Light popution refers to ti�e glow of €ight we see ai night ahove cities and tnwns. Vilhat Causes Light
<br />Polir�tion? - This urhan glow comes from imprope�ly designed street and parking lot lighting which spills the light fo fhe side and
<br />upwards !o the sky.Additional light poilution is causad by lit signs, commercial b�ild9ng lighls, sporis facilities, and outdoor residenfial
<br />lights. Light ppllutipn was noticecf firsi 6y asfronomers. ... In a broader context, tight pn3lution depri�es e�aryone of the jays nf seeing
<br />a sparkling night sky." ... Ffnw does Light Poll�tior� AtFeCt Us? - Glare .., tlnwelcome Ligh! "7respass" ... What is The Cost of Light
<br />Pollution? - Light palluiion is also a sign of waste. There is no bertefif from [ighting up #he sky.
<br />1�-094, Light PoE[ution -- Theft of the Night (A Handout Sheet)
<br />"Have you looked up at night lately? The uni�erse is going away, gone aiready far many. Tl�e universe is an impnrtant part of fhe
<br />environmen#,to astrnnomy and ta fhe genera! public. Far mosf people on earth, the dark skiss our ancestors had have
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