donate to fr
Posted on 08/22/2009 5:08:24 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
The public's "right to starlight" is steadily being eroded by urban illumination that is the bane of astronomers everywhere, the International Astronomical Union said on Friday.
The body, which wrapped up an 11-day general assembly in Rio de Janeiro that attracted galaxy-gazers from around the world, argued that authorities should use more unobtrusive lighting in cities and towns.
Such moves would not only free up the night skies to make for easier viewing but also promote environmental protection, energy savings and tourism, it said in a resolution.
"The progressive degradation of the night sky should be regarded as a fundamental loss," the union said.
It asserted that being able to see the stars "should be considered a fundamental socio-cultural and environmental right."
One Brazilian astronomer, Augusto Daminelli, told the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper that in Rio, "it should be possible to see up to 5,000 stars with the naked eye -- but because of light pollution we can only see 150."
He noted that nearly a third of electric lighting is directed to the heavens, and thus wasted.
Possible solutions include putting aluminum covers on street lighting to direct the illumination downwards, and using weaker, more energy-efficient lamps, he said.
"More than two billion people in the world are unable to see the Milky Way. For us, the sky is a heritage site for mankind," he said.
gag me
If these eggheads can’t afford to surround themselves with a million acres of undeveloped and undevelopable land, they should just STFU.
I’m all for unobtrusive lighting as long as I don’t have to pay extra for it.
There are things that communities can do that don’t infringe on privacy but do reduce the amount of diffused starlight; let’s try them first. I’d rather not see astronomy reduced only to space only telescopes. Medium and small observatories by cities do face light pollution problems.
Wow, another newly discovered “right.” Maybe we should outlaw all outdoor lighting at night...criminals would love that.
I was at a friend’s house earlier this year, and saw an issue of National Geographic, which had a story on this,
Unbelievably, they used the famous picture of the world at night as an example of this “problem.” North Korea, of course, which is pitch black at night, was an example of what we should strive for.
North Korea...an astronomer’s delight.
Last summer I remembered what I was missing while I sat on a dune over the lake superior shoreline. I live in the country but still see far less stars than I would like.
The Sun is obscuring my view of the stars!
I'll have to blow it up!
Actually, he has a point. There are a large number of kooks out there that who want to “abolish night”, with as much illumination as possible. Sometimes they achieve “light pollution”, in which neighbors have to have window shades at night.
It is similar to those who cannot abide quiet. Who will go out to the countryside, and bring a “boom box” with them, or at least an iPod, because they cannot deal with a lack of noise.
And there is a comfortable middle ground. In the southwest, there has been an effort to use both less harsh lighting, and street lighting that only illuminates the roadway beneath it. This provides the element of safety without ruining some beautiful night vistas.
Is right up there with the right to a healthy body.
Both are determined by God, not a politician with a God like attitude toward himself.
Beat me to it!
North Korea...an astronomer’s delight.
They would be much better off taking advantage of the view from Antarctica. They could get about 6 full months of star ridden bliss then.
I have no freakin right to freakin stars.
“should be considered a fundamental socio-cultural and environmental right”
“Socio-cultural”? Uh, what?
That such a sentence could be formulated by an educated person without hint of satire I consider a fundamental failure of Western Civilization. Yes, civilization itself; the degradation goes that far.
One star I’d like to have a right to is Sandra Bullock.
“Actually, he has a point. There are a large number of kooks out there that who want to ‘abolish night’, with as much illumination as possible. Sometimes they achieve ‘light pollution’, in which neighbors have to have window shades at night...”
Why can’t astronomers talk like this, instead of invoking socio-cultures and environmental rights?
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