Turn those bloody lights off

**Ixion** · 12th November 2009, 14:03

This is a really worthwhile initiative that should be supported by everyone who is not so old that they've lost the ability to marvel.

Light pollution sucks

**dipshit** · 12th November 2009, 20:29

Couldn't agree more!

I used to give classes at an observatory in Dunedin a couple of years ago and always tried to talk about light pollution.

I've also helped the Dark Sky Association with getting Earth Hour going.

Have been spending some time up at Tekapo lately for a photography project. Love the place.

BTW, did you see the Simpsons on TV today? It was about light pollution. Lisa was trying to take up astronomy.

**R6_kid:Me** · 12th November 2009, 21:02

You get really good sense for the term 'light pollution' when you travel up and down the coast of New Zealand. I can vividly remember being 15km off the East Coast of the North Island on a stormy night and being able to see where Wellington, Palmerston North and Napier were - just from their light reflecting off the clouds at 11pm at night as I chundered over the side of the Spirit of Adventure after having an eating competition before entering Cook Straight and 4m swells.

**pzkpfw** · 12th November 2009, 21:04

Great pic.
Our "technology".
The Earth. The Universe.
Our attempt to look at and "understand" the Universe.
Awesome.

**dipshit** · 12th November 2009, 21:51

This is one of my best dark sky locations i travel to for doing astrophotography. Absolutely nothing - not even any farm houses for miles.

Stars down to the horizon. It almost feels like being on the moon.

Great for seeing and photographing the Milky Way...

**Trumpess** · 12th November 2009, 22:08

Originally Posted by Ixion

This is a really worthwhile initiative that should be supported by everyone who is not so old that they've lost the ability to marvel.

Light pollution sucks

Wow ... thats a real worthwhile cause and one this country should cherish!
Get rid of the light and it is mind blowing what you see!
I haven't been to that Observitory, I may just have to make it a mission i think!

**The Pastor** · 13th November 2009, 10:53

sorry ixion, its law now to have your lights on all the time

**Pixie** · 13th November 2009, 11:11

I never saw the Milky Way till I moved to Bugtussle

**EgliHonda** · 13th November 2009, 11:57

Fantastic pics, cheers...
I live in a semi-rural area, and get tremendous night-sky vista's. Sadly, the trend at the moment is to hang energy sucking lights all over your house frontage, which in my opinion is retarded...

(hypocrite alert)
I do have an elm tree in the front yard I want to light from underneath for barbecues however, but this will only be used on balmy southern nights so lights will be turned on probably about 3 times per year...

pic of tree attached...

**george formby** · 13th November 2009, 12:30

Good call! I used to live oop north on the Karikari peninsula & spent many a happy & inebriated evening in the bath on the deck marveling at the milky way in all it's glory & feeling awfully small in the scheme of things.

**EgliHonda** · 13th November 2009, 12:32

Originally Posted by george formby

I spent many a happy evening in the bath on the deck feeling awfully small in the scheme of things.

Was the water too cold...?

**Flatcap** · 13th November 2009, 15:24

Originally Posted by Ixion

Light pollution sucks

I reckon Dark Pollution is worse

Thats when zombies and the bogie man come

**Winston001** · 13th November 2009, 21:52

Good call Ixion and thanks for raising this public issue. As a country with a small population and open spaces we have a good chance of limiting our light pollution. However that requires a community will and acceptance by local authorities. At the moment its an unknown problem.

In NZ the Ports of Auckland have shown excellent leadership with a huge reduction in the amount of light emitted during the night.

Internationally France rather surprisingly leads the world. They have rules regarding the design and emission of public lighting.