Some helpful links: Talking to your neighbors: www.darkskiesnorthwest.org/home/how-to-talk-about-light-pollution/ Dark Sky Brochures: darksky.org/resources/public-outreach-materials/ Effects of Light Pollution: darksky.org/resources/what-is-light-pollution/effects/ FAQ: darksky.org/resources/faq/
Thank you for addressing this issue, Peter. Light pollution isn't just an astrophotography thing, but it is an issue that negatively affects environmental and human health. And don't forget the wasted costs. All that light going up, illuminating birds bellies, requires electricity which isn't free. As an delegate to Dark Sky International, I always tell people that I'm not trying to eliminate outdoor lighting but rather trying them to employ intelligent outdoor lighting practices.
I am fortunate to live in a dark skies community. It was a huge amount of effort to get it established but so worth it. I live 15 miles out of town in a Bortle 2 zone. In town it is more Bortle 3 but still much better than the big cities.
very nice we have a good house and moving has crossed my mind so many times and not just for photography, just to go out side at night and see at least a few stars. Our neighbors want light light light, and i just don't understand it.
Hi Peter, I live under bortle 8 in North End of Tacoma. I started astro winter of 2018 and pollution has gotten worse every year since. I've had the city which bills me for electricity install shields on four street lights that reached my backyard. That is exactly what I told them and that it was interfering with my hobby. That being bad enough they moved the elementary school that was around the corner to directly across the street, complete with new lighting for the "safety of the school". It was daylight 24/7 in front of the house. It took a year of constant e-mails and complaints to the city to get them to actually have someone come out and look at the issue and only then did they determine that some of the lights had to be shut off. Now I am down to two parking lot lights that they refuse to budge on. The pollution level is such that the 3 stars in Orion's belt are barely visible. Because of them I created a Facebook Group called "Light Pollution, The End" and have populated it with every video and article that I could find on the internet... yours will be going on there tonight. :)
There are no numbers on street lights where I live. Also: everybody wants MORE LIGHTS, except me of course. But in general, I HATE THIS. When I was little it was so nice, it was dark everywhere (I live in a village). Nowadays, although it is a village, and a lot of hills you cannot even take a piss ffs, because you are being lit on all sides.
As some mentioned I also live in a high crime area. Yah, I need an ally light shielded badly. Then there's a neighbor 4 hoses down, who has a motion light aimed straight at my imaging rig. I feel uncomfortable and too intimidated to approach them to re-aim it. Crime causes intimidation. Plus these people aren't very smart! If I invited my neighbors over, and they saw my imaging rig, they'd probably try to steal it.
Thanks for this video! I’ve been wanting to try and tackle light pollution in my city but I have no clue where to start. My street’s lights are unnecessarily bright
There's really very scarce excuse for any street lighting in the age of sub-$100 night vision cameras and everyone carrying a powerful flashlight in their pockets.
I’ve moved from a high paying job in North of Boston to New Mexico for this reason. It worked out well and I’m never going back. World class photography and astronomy every week.
Also, in the year 2000, the city of Chicago released a year long study which involved two 8 sq block areas where additional lighting was added to alleys and low/no light streets. The conclusion of the study stated that the overall crime rate increased slightly but the amount and types of crimes had shifted from daytime to night time in those areas where the additional lighting was installed. Basically, the addition of lights in what was a low crime area had an increase due to the addition of those lights.
I talked to a neighbor that had an led floodlight.i mentioned that I am an astronomer and they let me move the light downwards for them.clear skies vic
I also offered my problem neighbors to have an electrician come out and add a motion sensor to their lights to save them some money on electricity- I paid for it. 🙂
This was a great topic, Peter. Thanks. One of the places I image from in my backyard, which is below street level enough so that my telescopes are almost at street level, is directly across the street from some new neighbors who installed outdoor lights that shine pretty bright. I've been putting up a table on the lawn to block the light, but maybe it's best to invite them over as you said. (And maybe I'll leave the table set up... 😁) BTW, what is that great thumbnail image you used for this video? I really love that picture! Almost looks like something from "Polar Express".
lights also need to be placed as low as possible to the ground, the lower the better. Better to put some more small lower lights (that is also cosier) than one giant ball of light way up in the sky. It resembles too much to the sun and messes up your sleeping pattern for good.
Neighbour’s, that’s the real problem, mine are paranoid so even when their out of town, every light in their house is on, even the back patio string lights 🤬
I never really let it bother me too much , what I do is go behind an object like a fence and certain places in the yard. My problem is im scared of the dark and I think someone is going to come running up and rob me. We had a homeowner get shot a few years back when a theif was breaking into his tool shed. So i'm alittle paranoid.
Yeah so last year I tried calling the power company, who referred me to the DPW who referred me to another company who installs the poles who referred me back to the power company…. You get my point. Apparently no one takes responsibility and just points the finger to someone else. So my $5k a year I pay for property tax and can’t get this resolved is quite frustrating. I have 2 problem lights with no shield one in the front and one in the back. BB’s r cheap and takes no time at all to fix the problem. It’s unfortunate that trying to do the right thing doesn’t always work.
The company that bills you for electricity should be the one managing and doing maintenance on the street lights. If you have to call several times do so, sometimes it's a matter of who you get on the other end that will make a difference.
My issue is that neighbours have lights on the back of their home that are directly aimed off their property, which is against our local by-law that nobody enforces. Realistically, I just have to move.
I called my city about a streetlight around a year ago, and they added a shield on my side without much trouble. Now my neighbors are the next issue...
The criminals thank you. They no longer have to carry a flashlight with your floodlights on. Also, if you believe that a criminal who is brave enough to steal from your property and/or break into your house will be scared away by your lights, you're crazy.
Some helpful links:
Talking to your neighbors:
www.darkskiesnorthwest.org/home/how-to-talk-about-light-pollution/
Dark Sky Brochures:
darksky.org/resources/public-outreach-materials/
Effects of Light Pollution:
darksky.org/resources/what-is-light-pollution/effects/
FAQ:
darksky.org/resources/faq/
Thank you for addressing this issue, Peter. Light pollution isn't just an astrophotography thing, but it is an issue that negatively affects environmental and human health. And don't forget the wasted costs. All that light going up, illuminating birds bellies, requires electricity which isn't free. As an delegate to Dark Sky International, I always tell people that I'm not trying to eliminate outdoor lighting but rather trying them to employ intelligent outdoor lighting practices.
Absolutely, they don't even deal with the issue of distracting lights for vehicles in Western Australia. This could be my new project!
I am fortunate to live in a dark skies community. It was a huge amount of effort to get it established but so worth it. I live 15 miles out of town in a Bortle 2 zone. In town it is more Bortle 3 but still much better than the big cities.
very nice we have a good house and moving has crossed my mind so many times and not just for photography, just to go out side at night and see at least a few stars. Our neighbors want light light light, and i just don't understand it.
I wish I lived in a bortle scale that low. I live in a low bortle class 7 18.94 magnitude^2
Hi Peter, I live under bortle 8 in North End of Tacoma. I started astro winter of 2018 and pollution has gotten worse every year since. I've had the city which bills me for electricity install shields on four street lights that reached my backyard. That is exactly what I told them and that it was interfering with my hobby. That being bad enough they moved the elementary school that was around the corner to directly across the street, complete with new lighting for the "safety of the school". It was daylight 24/7 in front of the house. It took a year of constant e-mails and complaints to the city to get them to actually have someone come out and look at the issue and only then did they determine that some of the lights had to be shut off. Now I am down to two parking lot lights that they refuse to budge on. The pollution level is such that the 3 stars in Orion's belt are barely visible.
Because of them I created a Facebook Group called "Light Pollution, The End" and have populated it with every video and article that I could find on the internet... yours will be going on there tonight. :)
There are no numbers on street lights where I live. Also: everybody wants MORE LIGHTS, except me of course. But in general, I HATE THIS. When I was little it was so nice, it was dark everywhere (I live in a village). Nowadays, although it is a village, and a lot of hills you cannot even take a piss ffs, because you are being lit on all sides.
As some mentioned I also live in a high crime area. Yah, I need an ally light shielded badly. Then there's a neighbor 4 hoses down, who has a motion light aimed straight at my imaging rig. I feel uncomfortable and too intimidated to approach them to re-aim it. Crime causes intimidation. Plus these people aren't very smart! If I invited my neighbors over, and they saw my imaging rig, they'd probably try to steal it.
Thanks for this video! I’ve been wanting to try and tackle light pollution in my city but I have no clue where to start. My street’s lights are unnecessarily bright
There's really very scarce excuse for any street lighting in the age of sub-$100 night vision cameras and everyone carrying a powerful flashlight in their pockets.
I’ve moved from a high paying job in North of Boston to New Mexico for this reason. It worked out well and I’m never going back. World class photography and astronomy every week.
Also, in the year 2000, the city of Chicago released a year long study which involved two 8 sq block areas where additional lighting was added to alleys and low/no light streets. The conclusion of the study stated that the overall crime rate increased slightly but the amount and types of crimes had shifted from daytime to night time in those areas where the additional lighting was installed. Basically, the addition of lights in what was a low crime area had an increase due to the addition of those lights.
I talked to a neighbor that had an led floodlight.i mentioned that I am an astronomer and they let me move the light downwards for them.clear skies vic
I also offered my problem neighbors to have an electrician come out and add a motion sensor to their lights to save them some money on electricity- I paid for it. 🙂
This was a great topic, Peter. Thanks. One of the places I image from in my backyard, which is below street level enough so that my telescopes are almost at street level, is directly across the street from some new neighbors who installed outdoor lights that shine pretty bright. I've been putting up a table on the lawn to block the light, but maybe it's best to invite them over as you said. (And maybe I'll leave the table set up... 😁) BTW, what is that great thumbnail image you used for this video? I really love that picture! Almost looks like something from "Polar Express".
Method 1 sounds so much quicker lol I want to call the power company on every lamp in town
lights also need to be placed as low as possible to the ground, the lower the better. Better to put some more small lower lights (that is also cosier) than one giant ball of light way up in the sky. It resembles too much to the sun and messes up your sleeping pattern for good.
Neighbour’s, that’s the real problem, mine are paranoid so even when their out of town, every light in their house is on, even the back patio string lights 🤬
Those back patio string lights are so tacky and ugly anyways I don't get it. I'm dealing with the same thing from multiple people around me.
I never really let it bother me too much , what I do is go behind an object like a fence and certain places in the yard. My problem is im scared of the dark and I think someone is going to come running up and rob me. We had a homeowner get shot a few years back when a theif was breaking into his tool shed. So i'm alittle paranoid.
I wish I lived in a bortle scale that low. I live in a low bortle class 7 18.94 magnitude^2
Yeah so last year I tried calling the power company, who referred me to the DPW who referred me to another company who installs the poles who referred me back to the power company…. You get my point. Apparently no one takes responsibility and just points the finger to someone else. So my $5k a year I pay for property tax and can’t get this resolved is quite frustrating. I have 2 problem lights with no shield one in the front and one in the back. BB’s r cheap and takes no time at all to fix the problem. It’s unfortunate that trying to do the right thing doesn’t always work.
The company that bills you for electricity should be the one managing and doing maintenance on the street lights. If you have to call several times do so, sometimes it's a matter of who you get on the other end that will make a difference.
My issue is that neighbours have lights on the back of their home that are directly aimed off their property, which is against our local by-law that nobody enforces. Realistically, I just have to move.
I called my city about a streetlight around a year ago, and they added a shield on my side without much trouble. Now my neighbors are the next issue...
We have motion sensors in our lights. But some lights are on all night for no reason lol
the deus ex ost starting at 4:42, made me think the streetlights are being controlled by the illuminati.
If nothing works The Old Man Solution Should Do Fine.
What’s that solution?
The city behind you has horrible light pollution. Start there.
Lol in S Africa the Power Co will tell you to take a Hike and Suck it up 3rd World vs 1st World USA
HOA? is this a normal street? HOA must be an American thing
acronym for Home Owners Association: generally a housing development which has a governing body largely comprised of residents.
Sorry, too many criminals. Flood lights are stayin' on!
Studies show criminals/thiefs prefer better-lit areas cause they feel safer lol
Lmfao!
❤❤❤
The criminals thank you. They no longer have to carry a flashlight with your floodlights on. Also, if you believe that a criminal who is brave enough to steal from your property and/or break into your house will be scared away by your lights, you're crazy.
Maybe try motion detector lights?
Doesn't seem like you regard your neighbors very much. I'm good friends with mine. If I had an issue, I'd just ask and it would be taken care of.