I have been an avid stargazer since I was a boy. I learned the constellations, observed the Moon and Jupiter in my little telescope, and enjoyed the Milky Way (our galaxy) arcing overhead, with the occasional meteor shower to liven things up. But something has changed over 50 years: the Moon and planets seem OK, but the visible stars and meteors are fewer, the constellations more difficult to trace out, and the Milky Way is now lost in the milky grey of the urban sky—all because of light pollution. I am one of several Halifax sidewalk astronomers who sets up telescopes outdoors in front of coffee shops or along the waterfront boardwalk, to share views of the moon or Saturn’s rings or the Galilean moons of Jupiter. Sometimes people ask “please show me the Big Dipper,” or “I am a Gemini, can you show me my constellation?” Sadly, it has become almost impossible to pick out these details in city skies around the world.
Light pollution is a catch-all term for sky glow, glare and light trespass, all caused by irresponsible artificial lighting. Sky glow comes from overly bright and unshielded light fixtures that cast light upwards, which is then reflected back by particles in the air. Artificial sky glow is irresponsible, because that “uplight” does no good, is a waste and is costly.
Glare is bright light that leaves a light source and directly enters your eye without shedding light on anything en route. (if you can see the bulb, that is glare). Glare is irresponsible for the above reasons, plus it is unsafe: glare desensitizes the eye to natural ambient lighting, and hazards hide in the shadows. This is one of the hardest aspects of light pollution to convey, as the general (erroneous) view is “more light = better security.” Anyone who has encountered an oncoming vehicle at night with those ultra-bright, blue-white headlights knows exactly what I am talking about.
Light trespass is casting light beyond reasonable boundaries. Sure, Car Dealer, cast light on your valuable cars all night long, but keep your photons to yourself, don’t shine them into my bedroom window! Light trespass is irresponsible for the usual reasons, plus it is unhealthy: there is a growing body of scientific evidence that humans (not to mention animals) evolved in an environment with natural cycles of light and dark; moreover, we need these dark cycles to promote restful sleep for the minor healing and regular maintenance the body requires.
The remedy for light pollution is simple: turn off the lights when not needed, shield them properly and lower the level. Unlike most forms of pollution, which linger for years and may require costly cleanups, light pollution simply vanishes once the source is removed, and it saves money, not to mention the environmental benefit. It’s that easy.
HRM residents are fortunate in one respect, as they live only two hours’ drive from a world-class dark-sky preserve in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. The skies there are magnificent, you must go there at night (that is, when it opens Victoria Day weekend—don’t get me started!). I was just one of the team of Parks Canada staff and Royal Astronomical Society of Canada volunteers that set up the DSP nearly three years ago. We did good work in establishing that natural resource as a dark-sky destination, a legacy for following generations.
But we can go further: my dream is to find an area in HRM for an urban star park (the RASC has guidelines for such places, and there is already one in Saint John and one in Victoria). HRM skies may never be as dark as Keji’s, but they could be darker, and we could definitely reduce glare and light trespass. If we could find just one accessible, open place in HRM, in a community open to responsible lighting practices, I could someday show you the Big Dipper from the city, and maybe your personal constellation. We just need to turn the lights down low—not for a single hour on one night of the year—but forever.
Dave Chapman is a retired scientist, a life member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, editor of the annual RASC Observer’s Handbook, Dave XVII of the “Royal” Astronomical Society of Daves and principal volunteer webmaster of astronomynovascotia.ca, your source of astronomical activities in Nova Scotia.
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This article appears in Apr 18-24, 2013.
stargazing on the boardwalk? I cant think of a more moronic place to go stargazing than downtown. Maybe you should go outside the city to observe the constellations. There’s tons of dark skies in this province.
As well, efforts are already being made to remedy this problem through the use of LED streetlamps…
It’s only a 1/2 hour drive to the observing deck where the picture was taken (st croix). Big deal.
Wanna talk stupid, though? Look at SMU with their observatory on top of an apartment building next to a sports stadium? Stupid SMU.
@Cranky The argument that going “only half an hour” (it’s actually more that than from some parts of Halifax) outside of the city to get dark skies rather than having the ability to enjoy dark skies from inside the city can be applied to trees and parks. Why not cut down the tress in Halifax, and develop Point Pleasant Park, the Public Gardens., etc. If people want to see trees and forests they can always drive half an hour to go see them…
As for SMU, they recently completely replaced all of the stadium lighting and make them not only full-cut off but also able to run at two levels both to address light pollution and to make a big cut in the power bill that was used to run the old ones.
@Jeff The point of stargazing on the boardwalk is that it is a public outreach activity and that you have to go where the people are. Bright objects like the Moon and planets can still be seen quite nicely even with the light pollution downtown. Besides, it is so much fun to listen to the gasps that people, young and old, make when they first see Saturn through a telescope and realise that it’s a real place, and not just a picture in book; or see the Moon and that watch the peaks of the taller mountains catch the sunlight as the Sun rises on that part of the Moon.
“It’s only a 1/2 hour drive “, yeah thanks…for those of us without cars, and would like to do some stargazing, what do you suggest? Personally, I miss being able to go out in my backyard to do some gazing. Since my neighbourhood became overrun with car dealerships and their bright lights on all night, I’m greatly reduced as to what constellations I can see.
It’d be nice if there could be some designated areas in the city that lights are turned low for those who’d like to look up at the sky at night. But, I suppose that can’t happen, the criminals would probably take over the area.
Take the bus out to sambro and look east. no light pollution other than sambro light. enjoy.
Fantastic article!