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The Dark-Sky Movement
Buzz Log ^ | January 31, 2011 | Mike Krumboltz

Posted on 01/31/2011 9:15:12 PM PST by americanophile

Stargazers now have their Graceland. The Channel Island of Sark, located 80 miles south of England, has been designated as the world's first dark-sky island.

Dark-sky communities are places with very little to no light pollution. As a result, the stars are far easier to see and more fun to look at. According to a buzzy article from SPACE.com, Sark is just 4.5 square miles and has "no public street lighting, no paved roads, and no cars." In other words, save for the occasional flashlight or matchstick, there aren't a lot of things to interfere with the nighttime display, which includes "meteors streaking overhead and countless stars on display."

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) makes the call on whether or not a community deserves to join their movement. And plenty would like to. The Burlington Free Press explains that dark-sky legislation "has been embraced by about 300 countries, cities, and towns." At first this might sound like something only nature enthusiasts would really care about, that's not so. The United States military is also getting behind the legislation. Too much light can interfere with drills at military bases.

And while they don't exactly get a say in the matter, it's worth noting that creatures big and small would likely also be in favor of more dark-sky rules. Again, according to the Burlington Free Press, there is evidence that "nighttime lights disturb animals and ecosystems."

(Excerpt) Read more at buzz.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: lightpollution; night; sky; star
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To: crz
You should use that “scope” to look up your rectum to see if you have any brains.

Must be hard to speak out of an asshole as big as yours.

Hmmm....I don't think I've ever posted to you. Why the anger, attacks and name calling?

101 posted on 02/02/2011 8:55:42 AM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: GOPJ
Stars are thousands of light years away - why aren’t they blurry?

Anyone?

They are when you get to my age. And isn't twinkling a symptom of blur?

102 posted on 02/02/2011 9:18:52 AM PST by Winniesboy
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To: wku man

I lived on a farm there and speak from experience.


103 posted on 02/02/2011 4:20:34 PM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: Straight Vermonter
In the late 1980's, I was already selling HID fixtures that allowed the user to "cut" the emmitted light right at his property line. They were more expensive, but between the savings on electricity-use and labor (they didn't need to be replaced as often) they paid for themselves.

I just thought of something else: maybe the adjoining land-owner intends to light up the property past his property-line. In which case he's a prick.

104 posted on 02/02/2011 6:12:57 PM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: Kirkwood
Yeah...that's why you trotted out those pretty maps first. Forgive me if I don't believe you.

Scouts out! Cavalry Ho!

105 posted on 02/02/2011 7:13:43 PM PST by wku man (Still holding my breath, but exhaling a bit after Nov. 2...)
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To: wku man

A picture is worth a thousand words and that is why I showed you the pictures. I didn’t realize you had night vision problems.


106 posted on 02/02/2011 8:43:42 PM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: GOPJ

“Stars are thousands of light years away - why aren’t they blurry?”

Blurriness, wavering or twinkling in star-light is caused by atmospheric movement of the air.

Since space is a vacuum, light can travel vast distances without being interrupted and blurred—and only gets dispersed when it hits our atmosphere.

Apparently in the space shuttle or on the moon, the star look only like still points of light...unblurred, and untwinkling.

Remember that starlight too comes from the immense energy of distant suns, many of them 100 times or more bigger than our own sun, and a few smaller, but all emitting huge amounts of energy—ie. very intense, very bright lights.


107 posted on 02/02/2011 9:29:37 PM PST by AnalogReigns
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To: hoosierham

You’re an anti-american.

Solve your problem with your neighbor.

When you use the force of government for something that isn’t in the county code.......you’re probably a Stalinist.


108 posted on 02/03/2011 10:31:33 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: TheBattman; dragnet2

One look at how the ‘dark sky’ movement is being funded should be enough to scare any American away from it.


109 posted on 02/03/2011 10:33:18 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: Tainan

Whose side are YOU on?


110 posted on 02/03/2011 10:34:03 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: Southack; hedgetrimmer; dragnet2
I was about to blast hedgetrimmer as a nutbag, but I have respect for your opinions, Southack.

Political Judo, then: We insist on dark sky stuff ourselves, but it is voluntary only, and other areas are designated bright sky so as to forestall the opposition.

111 posted on 02/03/2011 10:39:12 PM PST by Lazamataz (If Illegal Aliens are Undocumented Workers, then Thieves are Undocumented Shoppers.)
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To: hedgetrimmer; TheBattman
One look at how the ‘dark sky’ movement is being funded should be enough to scare any American away from it.

Ya know, your comments here are some of the most ignorant comments I have ever read on this forum, or anywhere else for that matter...

Direct your attention to TheBattman #83, response to me...

Get a grip on yourself man!

112 posted on 02/03/2011 10:40:14 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: hedgetrimmer; Tainan
Whose side are YOU on?

He's on the evil dark side, one of us Communist and Socialist that want to leave you in the dark....

BEWAHAHAHAHAAHAHA...

113 posted on 02/03/2011 10:42:33 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2

Dude. You’ve always been cool before, but it’s as if you are changing. These are indeed important concerns, and they don’t need to be ridiculed like that. Believe me, the left is so rabid, they look at ANY issue as a way to mess with Capitalism, free markets, and free ideas. They really are that bad, bro. Check it out for yourself before razzing people for opining on serious issues.


114 posted on 02/03/2011 10:42:50 PM PST by Lazamataz (If Illegal Aliens are Undocumented Workers, then Thieves are Undocumented Shoppers.)
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To: dragnet2

Who is ignorant?

I’ve known about the dark sky movement for at least a decade. and in a very detrimental way for private property rights.

You post like the movement was created solely for your own benefit. You surely can’t be so ignorant. The movement is anti-property rights and anti-individual liberty. Please go educate yourself.

Stalin-ism is widespread. Starting with an anti-american tack to quell discussion with ridicule. “political correctness” is indeed a Stalinist tool.


115 posted on 02/03/2011 10:55:11 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: 1rudeboy

Hey, I thought you were a ‘free trader’ not a stalinist dark sky-er. Or wait! May they are both the same thing!

in other words, globalist!


116 posted on 02/03/2011 11:00:12 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: dragnet2

That is clear from the original posts on this thread.


117 posted on 02/03/2011 11:01:32 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: hedgetrimmer
Excuse me, but I'm am not wasting any more of my time on this bull sh*t...

See ya!

118 posted on 02/03/2011 11:05:05 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: hedgetrimmer

The technology exists. Most of the problem can be solved at no additional cost. Capitalism is a wonderful thing, you should try it sometime.


119 posted on 02/04/2011 6:02:51 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

Stalinist anti property movements have NOTHING to do with free enterprise and individual rights.


120 posted on 02/04/2011 6:06:38 AM PST by hedgetrimmer
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