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ForgottenMObject
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/04
Posts: 3585
Loc: Maryland, US
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For years, the parking lot in the front of my area of the local apartment comlex has been illuminated with about a half-dozen lamps of modest brightness, each pointing downwards and fitted with what I think is a sodium bulb of some sort (the light cast is orange in color.)
Well, I come home late in the evening this past week and find that they have "improved" the situation. Now, we have a half-dozen "security" lights, each blazing away with blinding, blue-white glory, and each angled at 45-degrees to waste as much light as possible and probably cast excess light into the windows of the people who live on the side of the buildings facing the parking lot. Brilliant... just brilliant. I ran into one guy outside and he was praising the wonderful light of the new lights... yeah, great. Couple that with a few other unneeded lights they added, and the place is lit up like a circus show. The final irony is that the stupid zillion Watt security lights cast such deep shadows that one could probably hide in those shadows and still cause all sorts of mischief.
I could talk to the people who run the place, but it is a lost cause: they have failed to understand so many basic concepts that something like this is way beyond them. That, and the uneducated locals still fear the night and believe that all problems can be solved with more light. Nevermind that there is no connection at all between illumination and crime levels (if light prevented crime, cities would be free of it.)
*Sigh* I suppose it doesn't matter since the light pollution is already horrible in this overpopulated corner of Maryland, but it is sad to see people still going out of their way to make the situation worse.
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Matthew
IDA member
XT8i, 10x50 binoculars, lots of eyepieces
Edited by csa/montana (09/14/08 10:57 AM)
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 23976
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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That's a sad situation. 
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Tom (Pegster)
DSH-8 (GSO Dob)
15x70 Oberwerks
SVP 100 f/6 achro
WO 66 Petzval
Sears Discoverer EQ 60/900
8x42 Regals
History is Philosophy teaching by examples.
Thucydides
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Siderea
Astronomess
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 1652
Loc: Novato
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Hubby and I are managers in a small apartment building. We have lowered the wattage of the security lights, most of them poised over or near staircases. The ones in back have receives sheilds to deflect up-welling photons. The back patio below our balcony has a red bulb in it ,but is usually unscrewed to keep it off.
I can turn off the frontlights for an hour or so once in a while to stargaze on the lawn to the north, if the place is quiet, and no one even notices.
Now if I can just convince the condo's behind us to sheild the globe lights on the back patios. Two of them shine all night long.
.....
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Clear skies and pumpkin pies!
lc Carol
60mm Telescope Club
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ForgottenMObject
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/04
Posts: 3585
Loc: Maryland, US
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The frustrating part, aside from the obvious increase in light pollution, is how this is such a clear example of how not to install lighting: too much light, the wrong type (so harsh shadows are cast), bad angles (so the light goes into people's windows), etc.
I keep hoping that high energy costs will end this wasteful behavior, but I guess not... The maddening part is no doubt some of my rent money went to installing this unwanted lights!
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Matthew
IDA member
XT8i, 10x50 binoculars, lots of eyepieces
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28681
Loc: montana
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LC Carol, Good for you! It's a shame more don't do this.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28681
Loc: montana
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Matthew, can you take a photo of this, & post it here.
Such a shame & such a waste; it's a lose-lose situation for everyong.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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StacyJo
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 639
Loc: Oakland, CA
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You might want to write the owners of the complex and explain how their current lighting is eating up their operating costs and suggests better and cheaper alternatives.
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Stacy
"Why yes, there is a difference between photon deprivation and PMS"
AKA Konstellation Kitty
M42Gal
Stellarvue Nighthawk II
Orion Starblast 6" Newtonian - newest addition to the family!!!
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panhard
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 2574
Loc: Markham Ont.
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Check out the local light pollution laws if there are any.
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Orion xt10i
8 & 17mm Hyperion eye pieces
koning 32mm 25mm skywatcher eyepieces
lumicon 0111 & antares variable polarizing filters
12x50 binos
A love for this hobby
"What goes around comes around."
"She who must be obeyed."
Herb c
cloudy nights my # 1 site
43.53°n 79.17°w
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