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[RobbW]

To all Chicago Astronomers,

Ever since my passion for astronomy was re-ignited a few months after my young daughter started showing interest in the subject, I have been reading and researching more and more about the dimming of our night skies. I am now at the point where I would like to start taking political and community action to push for legislation that would/could eventually bring back our dark skies. My biggest question, however, is how to start this campaign.

On March 17, 2010, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring its support for responsible nighttime illumination and recognizing the importance of dark skies at night. Personally, I don't think Congress drafting a letter stating they agree that it should be dark at night is enough. I would like to see them pass some real legislation that would actually result in changes to community lighting and reduction of light pollution.

My problem is that I have never really been all that politically active. So I really don't have the first clue about how to embark on such a campaign. Today I drafted a personal letter that I intend to send to many of our state legislators and leaders. But beyond that I am clueless.

How does one go about fomenting a grassroots campaign for such a cause? How do you explain to your family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc. the importance of something like dark skies at night without being laughed out of the building? Who do you contact or talk to in order to drum up support for a cause like this?

Has anyone else already embarked on a campaign such as this? Does anyone have any advice on how to further this cause? Any help and advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Robb,

There are a few avenues to pursue regarding this light pollution situation.

Nationally, there is the "Dark Skies" movement. Building awareness about irresponsible lighting and waste.

And I have a good friend from the Chicago Astronomical Society - Audrey Fischer, who is just about single handedly taking on this concern, shaking cages, publically speaking and trying to save the night sky for future generations.

I will put you in contact with her and she can guide and team up with you.

Side note....

As urban astronomers, we plod through the intense light pollution and conduct observations despite the glare and orange mucky skies. Last fall, some of us Chicago Astronomers went to the Indiana Dunes for play and astronomy....and when night fell...one could actually see the Milky Way. Being so close to Chicago & the Steel Mills, it was incredible! I spent a good part of the evening just slewing from one target to another.

We intend to go again this year as well.

[Paulie pchris00]

How well could you see the Milky Way? I've never seen it well, but on REALLY good nights I can see a band that almost looks like a cloud running through the sky. In fact, the first time I saw it, I was thinking that it would be perfectly clear if it weren't for the cloud running from Sagittarius up to Cassie. And then I realized what it was. I don't think it can be seen every night from the Dunes, but sometimes, when everything is right it shows up. You guys must have had one of those nights. How cool!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paulie,

The Dunes were a great location to catch the Milky Way.

Not as great as it was on our Woodstock Illinois star party in '05, but cool nevertheless.

My celestial directions were messed up for awhile, as I'm used to the lake being due east...here it was due north. When we do go again, you must join us.

[Paulie pchris00]

Of course. I'm not real familiar with the State Park (which I'm assuming was your location) except for by the beach. But all the dunes in that area are great for great for relaxing.

[RobbW]

Well, aside from writing letters to representatives, I also finally did my part to reduce any direct impact I may have on the night skies. I finally went and replaced all my exterior lighting with IDA-approved dark-sky lighting I purchased at Home Depot. The new lights are full-cutoff and point straigh down. They are also on a motion sensor so they only come on when someone walks in front of them. Since installing them a couple nights ago, my immediate property has been pretty dark at night. I only wish I could get others in my neighborhood to change out their lights, too. They are a few right around me who have some ungodly glaring exterior lights.

Unfortunately for me, our neighbors directly across the street from us are the worst offenders. The problem is the wife has some sort of phobia and is very uncomfortable in public spaces. So, to compensate for her fears, they light up the area around their property like nobody's business. When the streetlight directly in front of our houses burned out, she was on the phone and had the city out to fix it the very next day. I think she had them replace the head with an even brighter one after the last time it burned out, because OMG that thing is brighter than ever before. And I think it would be a lost cause to petition the city to shield the streetlight because she would have a total fit. I think the family has an "in" with someone who works in city government.

Our subdivision has a lake that is right across the street from my house, behind our neighbor's house. It is beautiful to see during the daytime; very relaxing. There is a large clearing in front of the lake between our across-the-street neighbor's house and the next house over to the east of theirs. There is a hill in this clearing with a nice flat top that would make an absolutely perfect observing site for me. Nice and close, right across the street with a nice big view of the east, south, and west skies. Well, it WOULD make a perfect site if it were not for those neighbors across the street. They have this exceptionally bright floodlight (I believe they are called glare bombs) on the side of the house that is directed at this clearing and their back and side yards. It is so bright and intrusive that I have to walk nearly halfway around the lake before the light is blocked by enough other houses that it doesn't affect my viewing.

How do you talk to people like this about light pollution when their issues are derived from some sort of neurological imbalance?

[Paulie pchris00]

I've never been politically active either, but I found out last weekend how incredible a dark sky is. Whenever I do any sidewalk astro, I always get the question, "How can you see anything with all these lights?" Obviously, even non-astronomers realize that LP is a problem, or they wouldn't ask. I'm thinking now that I should be more aggressive when answering that question. I had printed up a flyer at one time with a composite satellite image of the world's light pollution, and a great quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson about how we are not only losing visible astronomy, but large parts of radio astronomy from all of our wireless devices and such. I may have to print those up again, with contact info of local legislators included.

[RobbW]

Paulie, it's so good to hear you experienced and appreciated a good, dark night sky. I wish there was a way to get more people to experience a really dark night sky. Maybe then they would understand the problem we are facing with LP.

Unfortunately, it seems the vast majority of the public couldn't possibly care less about the night sky. If doing something for a cause means even the slightest inconvenience on their part, most people won't raise a finger. Take, for example, two articles I have read and commented on recently in local newspapers about proposed lighting ordinances in Barrington Hills and Arlington Heights.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/northnorthwest/ct-x-n-dark-skies-0707-20100707,0,1089791.story

www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=378989

If you read through the user comments at the end of each article, you will find that most of the posters are offended by the thought of government trying to introduce lighting ordinances that might help stave off the loss of our night skies. Most of the comments are extremely critical of the ordinances and accuse the local municipalities of being out of their minds meddling in people's rights to life, liberty and property.

I tried posting comments in favor of the ordinances and protecting our night skies, but all I get is backlash. Jeez, from their reactions, you would think their lungs were being ripped out and they were being told they couldn't breathe unless they got a permit from the village!

My God, if this is the attitude most people have towards our night skies, then I don't think we have a chance in hell of saving our starry nights. Our children, grandchildren, and great grandchild will just have to suffice with stories of legend from long, long ago about how beautifully starry the skies used to be at night!

[patrickm]

Robb,
First rule: Never, EVER, for any reason read news site comments.

Most people that post to comments are the subset of the vocal minority who also happen to have too much time on their hands. In most instances, I doubt they represent the majority opinion on anything.

Like I said before, people will shift toward a different position only when it is shown to be directly in their self-interest. Unless or until it can be pointed out to them why and how a dark sky would mean more to them than an LP sky, most people, I believe, would not only not feel that way, but would not even see a reason to contemplate a change of opinion on a topic upon which they probably didn't even know they had one to start. (God, that's convoluted!)

To try to put it concisely, show people how it is in their self-interest, and preferably monetarily. How much can communities SAVE annually by lighting less stupidly? There's the thin end of the wedge for a dark sky.

Though not the prime mover for us, it is for the majority, even more so these days as Illinois goes bankrupt. How much would Chicago save in electricity, bulb cost, and labor simply by unscrewing every other street light, or even just not replacing the bulb in every other light once it burns out?! Though somewhat a Trojan horse, I think therein lies the winning argument for the majority.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

My good friend from the C.A.S, who I mentioned above, was a guest speaker at a suburban town hall meeting regarding swapping out poor lighting for smart, timers, directed etc.... all for bringing back the night skies...and saving the town money in the long run.

They practically ran her out on a rail and felt she was threatening their security.

Idiots.

Fire...bad.

[RobbW]

Yeah, I hate reading all the user comments. It just gets me angry. Paulie, you're right. The only people who post comments on articles are those with very strong opinions on one side or the other. People with no opinion or not-so-strong feelings on the subject usually don't waste their time posting comments. So, there may be a ton of people out there who are in favor of protecting our dark skies, but just aren't posting about it. The problem with the comments in these two particular articles is that it seems 99% of the comments are against the lighting ordinances. I have a sneaky suspicion that there is a small, tight-knit group of people who are opposed and they troll these articles. They leave negative comments and then lambaste anyone who posts against their opinions. It's almost comical to watch how as soon as any anti-ordinance comment gets posted, it immediately gets 2 or 3 thumbs-up ratings from other users. But as soon as a pro-ordinance comment gets posted, it is immediately negatively rated by several readers.

Joe, I really hate the "safety and security" argument that most people try to make in opposition to the lighting ordinances. It's not like they are being told to turn off all their lights at dusk and leave them off. We simply want them to point their lights downward, shield them, only use them when needed and only for as long as needed, and any lights that you "need" on all night, put them on a motion sensor.

I had made what I thought was a good argument on the Chicago Tribune article about how motion-sensor security lighting would be a more effective deterrent to home invasions than continuous lighting. Oh well, I guess people just can't see the other side of the argument!

[Paulie pchris00]

Luckily this house pictured below is shielded from my primary observing spot at home, but these idiots have their back deck lit up with a couple of floodlights. Any prowler in the neighborhood could easily walk through their back yard, see what is worth taking, and not worry about stumbling over anything hidden in the dark. That makes their property safer?!? I think it has been shown that reduced lighting actually DETERS property crimes, since thiefs can't easily see inside your car for any valuables that might have been left out. Lights make people FEEL safe, but the reality is that it actually creates an atmosphere easy for criminals to work in. I wish somebody would start pointing this out during these debates. (Apathy. Notice I say, "I wish somebody would start pointing this out during these debates. " Didn't suggest that I should be the one. Herein lies the problem, me thinks...

I took this picture back in April, sometime around 3 AM on a Sunday Morning. It is on ALL NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT. I want to go steal stuff off the patio just to prove a point...

Attachments:

[patrickm]

City of Chicago testing out LED lighting. If implemented this will doom my hope of budget constraints forcing shut off of 1/2 of the street lights in Chicago. Looks better than nothing though, which is what we got now!

Borealis Innovative LED Lighting
For Immediate Release
August 2, 2010
For more information contact: Tula Kareotes, Marketing Coordinator PolyBrite International, Inc. 630-717-6700 [e-mail] www.polybrite.com

City of Chicago Testing PolyBrite International’s New Borealis® LED Streetlights

City Eager To Find Brighter Light Quality To Ensure Residents’ Safety
NAPERVILLE, IL. – August 2, 2010 – PolyBrite International, Inc., developer of the Borealis® brand Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lighting Systems, announced today that the City of Chicago has installed new Borealis LED streetlights as part of a test pilot program. The City of Chicago will monitor the LED streetlights, weighed against their current lighting solution for streets and alleyways. The goal is for a safer, cleaner and brighter light that will improve nighttime safety and the overall appearance of the city.

Borealis LED streetlights have been installed and will be monitored for three months on the block of 4800 W. Parker Avenue in Chicago, IL. The city will be testing the LED streetlights for high color rendition to assure adequate vision, and greater control of light dispersion and energy savings. Currently, most of the city’s streets are illuminated with High Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlights. HPS lights are used primarily because of their long rated life relative to other conventional options, but HPS street lighting has a very low color rendition, hindering visibility at night.

“We continue our efforts in assisting communities and cities everywhere with innovative ways to reduce their lighting concerns and their carbon footprint on the world,” said Carl Scianna, President and CEO of PolyBrite International. Mr. Scianna also noted that, “Borealis LED streetlights have a very high color rendition and consume a remarkable average of 60% less energy than the HPS streetlights. We appreciate the city’s study and their commitment to a clean, bright and safe lighting solution for their city streets.”

Borealis LED streetlights have a longer life, up to 50,000 hours, compared to the HPS life span of 20,000 hours. In addition to reduced maintenance, Borealis LED streetlights have a very high color rendition and produce a sharp, pure color without glare. They feature an instant “on” with no cold starting compared to HPS street lights, which typically take several minutes to achieve full brightness. PolyBrite’s patented LED technology, used in all Borealis lamps and lighting systems, will reduce the city’s operating costs, including lower energy usage and reduced maintenance and bulb replacement.

Motion sensors and lighting controls can also be used with Borealis LED lighting since they can be turned on and off instantly. Furthermore, Borealis LED streetlights are better equipped to withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures and provide more control over what is illuminated, thus reducing light pollution, making it an ideal solution for public lighting applications.

About PolyBrite International: PolyBrite International, Inc. has established itself as an innovative global LED lighting technology company. Since 1995, PolyBrite has designed, and maintained complete control in manufacturing solid-state lighting products, creating LED lamps, street lighting, panel and tube lighting and complete signage lighting systems under its Borealis® Lighting brand. The Borealis brand of products utilizes PolyBrite’s proprietary technology bringing the energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and economic advantages of LED technology to the marketplace. More information on PolyBrite’s Borealis brand of products is available on the Internet at www.polybrite.com or www.borealislighting.com or by calling 1-800-320-3801.

[patrickm]

New International Dark Sky Park Opens in Michigan—Only Nine others in the World
by Jeff Kart for treehugger.com

Michigan's nightlife is looking up. The state's first International Dark Sky Park has been created. It's now one of only six in the U.S. and 10 in the world. Think about that.

In lots of (too many?) places on Earth, you don't see the full night sky of stars and galaxies. You see bits and pieces that aren't drowned out by light pollution from city streetlights and buildings (many buildings that don't need to be lit up from top to bottom during the night).

Michigan's new Dark Sky Park is a 600-acre stretch of old-growth timber located north of Petoskey, in Emmet County, along Lake Michigan and west of Mackinaw City.

The county-owned property, called the Headlands, was recently designated as a Dark Sky Park by the Arizona-based International Dark-Sky Association after experts measured the amount of light in the area, and found that it offered a clear, unaltered view of the night sky, as explained by MyNorth.com.

According to the association, some outdoor lighting retrofits are still needed before the Headlands is granted full status as a Dark Sky Park. The county also has passed an ordinance to curtail the growth of artificial light at night in surrounding areas, with the land in and around the park zoned for natural conditions and stringent lumen limits.

Mary Adams, of Harbor Springs, Michigan, an association member, was part of a group of locals that successfully pushed for the Dark Sky designation.

"The designation gives us a place to stand so we can raise awareness of the importance of having a dark night," Adams says. "It's good for the health and well-being of human beings and of nature. It gives us an opportunity to pause and think that we don't only need to be concerned about the quality of our water and our air, but also another resource that belongs to all of us - the night sky."

This new designation will hopefully be a boon to Emmet County --- one that doesn't require ripping out trees, constructing new buildings, and lighting them up at night. Several events are planned, including nighttime storytelling, star parties and astrophotography nights. No flashes, please.

[-=CROMAN=-]

I would definitely be up for a road trip!

[Centaur]

Apr 28, 2010 22:43:40 GMT -6 RobbW said:

On March 17, 2010, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring its support for responsible nighttime illumination and recognizing the importance of dark skies at night...I would like to see them pass some real legislation that would actually result in changes to community lighting and reduction of light pollution...Has anyone else already embarked on a campaign such as this?

RobbW, I'm running for state representative. I've been inundated by questionnaires from various organizations. Last month I answered a questionnaire for the environmentally conscious Sierra Club. They asked no questions regarding light pollution, so I added a comment regarding the need to curb it. Today I completed the Chicago Tribune's questionnaire. Among my responses was: Reduce light pollution to save money and energy, while allowing wondrous views of nature’s starry skies.

[RobbW]

Good on ya for that, Curt! How does it work with you running for state rep? What district are you in?

[Centaur]

Jul 26, 2012 22:20:30 GMT -6 RobbW said:

Good on ya for that, Curt! How does it work with you running for state rep? What district are you in?

I'm running in the new 53rd district, which includes portions of Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights.

[Paulie pchris00]

Jul 26, 2012 16:49:08 GMT -6 Centaur said:

RobbW, I'm running for state representative. I've been inundated by questionnaires from various organizations. Last month I answered a questionnaire for the environmentally conscious Sierra Club. They asked no questions regarding light pollution, so I added a comment regarding the need to curb it. Today I completed the Chicago Tribune's questionnaire. Among my responses was: Reduce light pollution to save money and energy, while allowing wondrous views of nature’s starry skies.

Thank you, Curt!

[atomant]