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The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it

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Re: The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it

#11

Post by CyberDildonics »

mgcunha wrote: post #8
CyberDildonics wrote: post #4

[flagged]

I can't decide if you understand the impact of light pollution and don't believe it matters, or if you don't know the impact of light pollution and so don't understand why it matters. If you understand the problem and don't believe it matters then I have nothing else to add. I respect your choice of belief. Otherwise: light pollution disrupts wildlife, impacts human health, wastes money and energy, contributes to cli…

First, this is about astronomers.

Second, both of these sites just make claims and use stock images but have no evidence at all. Some of them are just ridiculous extremist opinions like

"It destroys a precious heritage of natural beauty that for millennia has inspired us and expanded our understanding."

Cities have lights on at night. If that really bothers someone they can move outside a city or a small town. This is not going to change.

These sites are one step removed from flat earther claims. "It destroys the natural darkness that is essential to human health and well being." Good thing I have walls and curtains and can close my eyes.

Re: The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it

#12

Post by CyberDildonics »

out-of-ideas wrote: post #6
CyberDildonics wrote: post #4

[flagged]

every issue is made up; just as all words are - by us wee humans

Do you think disease, war, climate change, and pandemics are 'made up' or do you think there are real consequences to not dealing with them?

Re: The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it

#13

Post by entropicgravity »

mecha_ghidorah wrote: post #9

I do think it is kind of crazy when I am out late in the city and still see lots of lights on in office towers everywhere. I refuse to believe that many of them are actually occupied at that time and it seems like a waste of electricity and also damaging to the ability to see stars.

The advent of LED lights being so cheap to keep on I imagine some places just decide to leave them in all night. As for the astronomers my view is they miss the convenience of having a telescope close to their homes and universities whereas the best terrestrial telescopes have been on desert mountains.

These days they can probably log into those remotely.

Re: The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it

#15

Post by fy20 »

entropicgravity wrote: post #13
mecha_ghidorah wrote: post #9

I do think it is kind of crazy when I am out late in the city and still see lots of lights on in office towers everywhere. I refuse to believe that many of them are actually occupied at that time and it seems like a waste of electricity and also damaging to the ability to see stars.

The advent of LED lights being so cheap to keep on I imagine some places just decide to leave them in all night. As for the astronomers my view is they miss the convenience of having a telescope close to their homes and universities whereas the best terrestrial telescopes have been on desert mountains. These days they can probably log into those remotely.

Personally I think seeing dark skies is important for regular folks too. I was fortunate to grow up in a place where you could easily see the Milky Way at night.

It's truly awe inspiring to lay down at night looking at the stars, and really makes your problems seem insignificant in the grand scale of the universe.

Re: The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it

#16

Post by mecha_ghidorah »

entropicgravity wrote: post #13
mecha_ghidorah wrote: post #9

I do think it is kind of crazy when I am out late in the city and still see lots of lights on in office towers everywhere. I refuse to believe that many of them are actually occupied at that time and it seems like a waste of electricity and also damaging to the ability to see stars.

The advent of LED lights being so cheap to keep on I imagine some places just decide to leave them in all night. As for the astronomers my view is they miss the convenience of having a telescope close to their homes and universities whereas the best terrestrial telescopes have been on desert mountains. These days they can probably log into those remotely.

Oh I don't just mean for astronomers, I definitely feel like all those lit up towers must be contributing for less visible night sky stars for the rest of us

Re: The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it

#17

Post by vosper »

> Along with our propensity for polluting air and water and the massive amounts of carbon we're dumping into the atmosphere to trigger climate change, we have created another kind of pollution: light pollution.

Ahh yes, light pollution, killing millions annually like air pollution and choking seas and rivers like water pollution. Threatening the existence of nations and making swathes of the world unlivable, like climate change.

Come on, light “pollution” is not remotely equivalent to the others.

Re: The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it

#20

Post by foxyv »

Another casualty of car dependent urban sprawl. It used to be you could travel 10-20 miles and be at a dark site. But now it's all single family homes as far as the eye can see. 100 foot wide roads connect them to big box stores with endless street and parking lot lights that turn the night sky into and orange/white haze.
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