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Nov 22, 2009, 2:26pm

The Chicago Astronomer :: Astronomer's Observation Deck :: Astronomers Soap Box :: Angry rant

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Topic: Angry rant (Read 965 times)

Bryant
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Angry rant
« Thread Started on Jul 20, 2007, 10:53am »

Well, to preface this I live right next to an elementary school. Now, this school has a nice big field out back which I have been using as my observing site for the past year. Although the school has a few security lights, I'm able to maneuver myself so they don't cause much glare and the site also provides a decent view of the horizon.

As luck would have it, the powers that be have decided to add on to the school. This means that not only has there been construction next to my house at 6am for the past few weeks, they have also placed a parking lot directly next to my house. On top of this, they dug up virtually the entire field, and just this morning set up some fantastic looking street lights.

Needless to say, I'm pretty furious about all of this because I really don't have anywhere to observe anymore. I'm going to have to lug my 55lb dob around in my car if I want to get anything done because I don't much like the idea of staring straight into a sodium light. My only hopes are that this entire project will be temporary, and perhaps in 6 months time I can reclaim a place to look at the stars... as imperfect as it may be. Cars often drive down the street next to my house and shine their headlights on me, and the police sometimes even come through and disrupt me, not to mention you can hear the expressway, not loudly, but enough to break some of the serenity. Even with all of this, I want the d**n thing back so that I can have a couple of nights of peace and quiet with my stellar friends every so often. It seems, however, that that is becoming a lot to ask in a place like chicago...

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Chicago Astronomer Joe
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Re: Angry rant
« Reply #1 on Jul 20, 2007, 1:30pm »

Bryant,

So sorry to hear of the loss of your observation spot.

Chicago used to be lit by white-light lamp post, (sodium vapor?), and the light pollution was bad, but ok. Then in the early 1970's, Chicago switched over to mercury vapor...and the skys were virtually gone over night. An ugly blanket of orange muck covered the city. I was so angry over this, but nothing I could possibly do to bring back the darker skies.

Progress means distruption of comfortable ways, but let's hope you can regain some of your area back when the construction is done.

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