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Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

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Re: Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

#121

Post by namuol »

calamari4065 wrote: post #87
galdosdi wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure I'd be so quick to dismiss the feasability, at least not based on your reasoning so far. FM Radio stations have managed to accomplish getting the speaker in your car radio to "blink synchronously" according to a complex signal pattern in the exact same way as millions of other radios simultaneously.... for about a century now. As long as all streetlights are in locations with good radio reception (which,…

Okay, let's do some math. Very rough napkin numbers, but it'll get us close. A 150Hz blink rate means a period of 1/150s, or ~6.7ms. The speed of radio signals through air near the surface is a bit lower than c, let's call it 299,250 km/s. [0] When you multiply those numbers you get ~1500km. That means each 'on' and 'off' signal is 1500km long, moving near c. More specifically, the signals are concentric rings around…

There’s engineering feasibility, and then there’s feasibility. Is it any less feasible to operate fewer or dimmer street lights? How about directing light more efficiently? This is a problem of bureaucratic and societal engineering.

Re: Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

#122

Post by fakedang »

pneumic wrote: post #109

Seeking advice on how to lobby my city to disable a streetlight. We are on a rural road next to conservation land, and it blasts our house with light through the night, distracting our son with autism. Considering getting an instrument to measure the light's intensity and gathering data. Any tips on how to lobby a city government with such an unusual request would be greatly appreciated.

Nothing much to add but you have three options as suggested by others:-

1.) the subservient: Get a good sleeping mask and blinds for your son 2.) the cooperative: work with the utility to put on a light shield 3.) the libertarian: shoot it

Human nature, encompassed in one thread. Beautiful, I love this site.

Re: Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

#123

Post by bombcar »

nickhalfasleep wrote: post #111
pneumic wrote: post #109

Seeking advice on how to lobby my city to disable a streetlight. We are on a rural road next to conservation land, and it blasts our house with light through the night, distracting our son with autism. Considering getting an instrument to measure the light's intensity and gathering data. Any tips on how to lobby a city government with such an unusual request would be greatly appreciated.

You can usually ask the utility to add a light shield. Just about every model can take one to reduce glaring sideways light.

They may also be willing to put it on a timer.

Or, depending how rural it is and how daring you are, you could put it on a timer yourself.

Re: Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

#124

Post by anon_cow1111 »

esaym wrote: post #110
pneumic wrote: post #109

Seeking advice on how to lobby my city to disable a streetlight. We are on a rural road next to conservation land, and it blasts our house with light through the night, distracting our son with autism. Considering getting an instrument to measure the light's intensity and gathering data. Any tips on how to lobby a city government with such an unusual request would be greatly appreciated.

Just shoot it. It'll never get noticed.

I'm not going to advocate for illegal activities but unfortunately this is the most practical solution in most of the US.

That said, do NOT shoot anything with a real firearm. Even small caliber bullets travel for miles. Walking out at 2am with a red ryder BB gun and plinking it would work just fine.

Re: Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

#125

Post by ygra »

bradley13 wrote: post #5

Right. They're going to get all the streetlights in an entire city to blink in unison. Sure they are. Anyway, in most cases the LEDs don't run at 100%. In our area a, I happen to know that they are between 29% and 40%. That dimming is accomplished by blinking. Which would conflict with the idea of having them blink synchronously. Much simpler solution: ensure the LEDs ghts are directed exclusively downward, and have…

Where I live they installed street lights that are a lot dimmer by default, but they are connected and have motion detectors. Whenever someone comes near, the light gets brighter and so do the others in direction of travel. You kind of get a light wave traveling with you and afterwards they dim again.

The mayor then got complaints that the street lights are not as bright as mandated by some regulation (when measured with an empty road in their dimmed state ...).

Re: Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

#127

Post by okramcivokram »

my12parsecs wrote: post #104

I wonder where the most dark, least light polluted location on earth is. I guess it's out on the ocean somewhere and not optimal for stargazing.

There are maps online [1],[2] that you can use. Oceans and deserts are the darkest, but national parks and sparsly populated areas are also a good choice. Of course, most of the time there’s nothing ‘nearby’ as population centers are always well lit.

[1] https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/

[2] https://djlorenz.github.io/astronomy/lp2020/

Re: Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

#128

Post by Zardoz84 »

Obscurity4340 wrote: post #120
petee wrote: post #2

In my area I've noticed the problem isn't so much that they are brighter, but that our new bulbs just emit light near 180 degrees (sideways) with no control over direction. It causes light to flood into homes, and more than half isn't even illuminating the road. They also have no diffusion, so its harsh on the eyes. A bad design all around

Its often the most offensive shade of bright white fluorescent-like LED. Why can't they do the orange one that lets everyone be ok seeing light at night and sleeping to tell the tale

LED it's more power efficiencient . However, there are LED light bulbs that have some kind of filter that makes it more ambient and astronomy friendly. Normal white LEDs are a nightmare for astronomy, because his light spectrum it's hard to block with any kind of "anti light pollution" filters.

Re: Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

#129

Post by perilunar »

anon_cow1111 wrote: post #124
esaym wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just shoot it. It'll never get noticed.

I'm not going to advocate for illegal activities but unfortunately this is the most practical solution in most of the US. That said, do NOT shoot anything with a real firearm. Even small caliber bullets travel for miles. Walking out at 2am with a red ryder BB gun and plinking it would work just fine.

> Even small caliber bullets travel for miles

only if you miss

Re: Simple streetlight hack could protect astronomy from urban light pollution

#130

Post by hinkley »

anon_cow1111 wrote: post #124
esaym wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just shoot it. It'll never get noticed.

I'm not going to advocate for illegal activities but unfortunately this is the most practical solution in most of the US. That said, do NOT shoot anything with a real firearm. Even small caliber bullets travel for miles. Walking out at 2am with a red ryder BB gun and plinking it would work just fine.

You’ll shoot your eye out.
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