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Man somehow always separates himself from nature when men and all of his activities are very natural. The tendency of man to "artificially illuminate" stems from his fear of the activities of some of the darker members of his species. These activities most often occur under the cover of darkness. Also productivity is far easier in illumination than in darkness and man's quest for increased productivity drives this trend for 24 hour illumination. I also do not see organic life shutting down in the land of the midnight sun. My wife an avid gardener utilizes grow lights on a timer to achieve 24 hour illumination and her plants have a substantially higher growth rate. Life tends to gravitate towards light and is stimulated in its radiance. What better way to dazzle, intoxicate, and lure your prey than the gigawatt light show that is Las Vegas?

Don't get me wrong I adore the blackness of night and yearn for clear transparent nights of new moon. However we are the exception and not the norm. Men on the whole far prefer a brightly lit environment. And as can be clearly seen that is the "natural" trend.

I would be the first to donate to a fund for an occulting satellite that would track and block dear old Luna from our view for evermore. No offense to the Luna tics.

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First, you wife's garden is not near the complete picture in flora...far from it. I'm talking the natural environment and the stress put on it in a very very short term.

Two, much of this stress (too much light) is and has been under study for some time.

Three, the land of the midnight sun is a completely different environment, then the vast majority of the light polluted areas of the planet.

Four, there is studies that do point to health, and too much light on people, from cancer to sleep disorders. The cancer is a continuing study, but the sleep disorder and such is pretty much right on.

Five, you also need to understand light pollution is something that can be and should be fought.

Do you realize that around 75% of outdoor lighting is wasted? Now think if that 75% was corrected.

Our skies would be much darker for one.

Energy savings would be HUGE.

Pollution from the electric generation would be less.

Much less stress on the environment.

Better lighting equals better visability, and a safer one.

Winning on light pollution is a win-win for everybody, and not just astronomers.



Karl
E.O.H. and POLC founder


Chesmont Astronomical Society
Telekit (Swayze optics) 22" F/4.5 Dob
Homemade (Parks Optics) 12.5" F/4.8 Dob
TMB 8" F/9 Refractor(The Beast)
Astrozap 6" f/8 Refractor
Orion 4" f/6 Refractor

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So many galaxies, so little time!

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