[RightWhale]

The aurora was out this morning, but was barely visible in the glare of city lights. The glare is unnecessary and can be nearly eliminated while improving security.

[SunStar]

Oh good grief.

[Physicist]

Bump for a dark sky. Most people don't know what their own galaxy looks like.

[GOPcapitalist]

These people need to find something better to do with themselves.

[My2Cents]

Ad admirable and worthy goal. Provided they can encourage cities to use techniques and lights that reduce light pollution as they phase-out the older lights, and as an astronomy hobbiest, I wish them good luck.

[Atlas Sneezed]

This is a great pro-property rights concept. People do not have the right to emit nuisances onto the property of others.

Shining lights directly onto neighbors' property, or up into the airspace near other properties is a nuisance, and is the legitimate province of government to protect the rights of others against this incursion.

You can't emit unlimited noise from your property if it affects others.

Why would anyone object to being stopped from installing light fixtures that needlessly waste light for no rational purpose?

[Eska]

With ya on this one. I enjoy the green night skies too. Believe it or not, some people think urban America is the way nature planned it. Been living there so long they can't comtemplate anything else. Pavement, wall-to-wall people, and McDonalds becomes reality. I feel sorry for them. I'll take the moonlight over the white mountains, stars, green night skies, and wolves howling any night.

Had a neighbor in sutton once start a petition to have the prison reduce light pollution. I thought he was crazy then, but now I see what he is talking about.

[chimera]

This is actually a pretty good group. I don't think they're Luddites or out to promote a radical eco-agenda, but just want to use artificial lighting more efficiently. When I got my first good-sized scope a few years ago (10" Dob) it came with some info on the IDSA. It may be worth a look for those who have an interest in astronomy and a good view of the heavens.

[gridlock]

What bothers me about this is that the group is a bunch of astronomers who really care about being able to see the stars without interference from human generated light. But instead of saying that they want to be able to see the stars better, they talk about other things:

-- the glare and energy waste associated with poor-quality lighting
-- the effects of light at night on humans and wildlife
-- community and commercial efforts to improve lighting practices

While these may be reasonable issues for public discussion, that is not what this group is interested in. They realize that the public doesn't really care whether or not they can see the sky, so they cloak their crusade in a lot of ersatz environmentalism and energy conservation.

I just don't like liars, I guess.

[Consort]

Nobody knows what the galaxy looks like; the light's too old.

[taxcontrol]

The foolish man builds a 10' bonfire and stands 10' away. The wise man builds a 1' fire and stand 1' away.

[ScholarWarrior]

But it makes such a good indicator of civilization.

Ever seen the night picture of the world from space?
The U.S., Europe, and Japan are reasonably well lit.
The rest of the world is in the dark. And is likely to stay that way.

[LBGA]

Countries that allow citizens to earn enough money to light their homes is a beautiful thing.

[gcruse]

Around San Jose, and for the benefit of the Lick Observatory, the street lighting is down-directed,
amber, and just what you are describing. On a clear
night, I could see maybe twenty stars. Not much improvement, really, but the observatory seemed happy.
Here in Texas, the difference is notable. But if you
really want to see a night sky, drive through Blythe
or Needles, Arizona and get out of the car at one or
two in the morning. It'll make you dizzy.

[clamper1797]

I'm completely in the dark about this subject

[CWRWinger]

Without the glare of lights, how are illegal aliens going to make there way across the border at night? (sarcasm)

[Musket]

Oh please. You wanna see the stars? Drive out to the country. Really, these folks need hobbies. How ridiculous.