Telescope Reviews: YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shannon

Get your neighbors together now and show them some deep sky objects through a large reflector telescope. Find other astronomers interested in your neighborhood. Explain about the problem of light pollution. Read the International Dark Skies Association web site.

Do not take a hostile approach; instead be benevolent and kind when you approach the authorities. Shooting one light out will not solve the problem not to mention it may get you labeled as criminal.

When I built my home 20 years ago at the edge of Portland Oregon twenty miles east of the city, I noticed the proverbial orange sodium vapor streetlights. My wife thought I was nuts when I called the local lighting authorities and asked that the street-lights be shielded because some of those lights were shining into our homes windows. The local lighting authorities know that there are health issues with "Light Trespass". It can inhibit you from healthy deep sleep. This is widely known for decades by doctors and scientists and now the lighting authorities must comply by law to shield lights upon your immediate request as it is your health inflicted. The local astronomy club in Portland, one of the largest in the nation could not figure out how quickly I got the lights shielded by the lighting authorities, within a few days. Other club members were asked to pay the lighting company to perform the shielding in their neighborhoods or some received no response. I never paid a penny. Perhaps I should go to work for the DSA?

[Get a copy and read Jerry Mander's - Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television c1978 - *do not be deceived by the copyright year.] You will be thoroughly shocked at what you read. Mander performed five years of research with doctors and patients, average people watching TV and studies of light pollution [TV is a source of artificial light pollution.] Read the chapter on The Ingestion of Artificial Light; even daylight coming through a window is distorted and plants will grow mutated through window light rather that straight daylight outside, as the daylight passing through window glass is ever so slightly mutated. Imagine that it has subtle effects on us and our health too. Fascinating what you will learn in this book. I used to revere Edison's inventions but electric light? I wonder now.

We as astronomers are obligated to teach the world what they may be missing in the cosmos as a whole. The cosmic light is much more than simple artificial light.

Good luck and keep us posted,

Mark

Edited by markseibold (07/03/09 12:54 PM)