Dark Sky Czech Republic Gives information, letters and press releases about the Czech light pollution law, parts of the law, images of various lighting fixtures, lightpollution software and contact details for members. http://www.astro.cz/darksky/
Extractions: The main principle is simple, don't use artificial lighting outdoors when and where it's not necessary let the light go just the right direction: down (and steep enough). Lighting fixtures with no curved belly (a flat glass instead) do the job, (if lighting is really needed) like these in central Europe: eco-settlement in Kassel Strasse der Solarenergie in Gleisdorf in front of Brno railway station parking lot in front of the museum in Gleisdorf The rules for minimizing adverse effects of lighting are well known. A draft template for the EU legislation is available in the directory. (The International Dark Sky Association submitted an incompatible template (Model Lighting Ordinance) to public discussion, an ad-hoc activity with serious concerns about it formed as Fix the Model Lighting Ordinance http://fixthemlo.org . I'm a a signer of their both documents, as are many renowned experts in the protection of the night environment). Most information at this site is in Czech only (see http://svetlo.astro.cz
Canberra Astronomical Society - Light Pollution For amateur astronomers the problem of light pollution becomes a nightmare. The fight against light pollution is not designed to put you in the dark http://msowww.anu.edu.au/cas/light_pollution.html
Extractions: Light Pollution and Astronomy By far the biggest problem facing amateur and professional astronomers is excess light. The reason observatories are built in remote areas is to get away from obtrusive lighting, smog and other bad "seeing" conditions, astronomers are not anti-social. A lot of planning must go into site selection to take advantage of the clear steady air in unpopulated areas. It is useless to build a facility that costs millions of dollars only to have its useful life cut short by the growth of a new city. For amateur astronomers the problem of light pollution becomes a nightmare. Light from shops, sports grounds and yard lighting limit, if not end totally, the usefulness of the "backyard observatory". Apart from the simple pleasure of looking at the night sky, the work of some amateurs supplements the work of professionals. These amateurs should be regarded as unpaid professional observers. The main function of a telescope is to amplify light from distant objects, as these objects are very faint. Stray light has the effect of washing out the contrast and reducing the image quality. If you turn up the brightness on your TV you can simulate the effect. The higher the brightness the more the image deteriorates. For an astronomer, that light YOU leave on in the back yard, or those flood lights in the driveway, can mean the end to any chance of using a telescope on all but the brightest of objects.
Nelpag Info Page Mailing list for New England. Includes archives. http://harvee.billerica.ma.us/mailman/listinfo/nelpag
Extractions: Nelpag New England Light Pollution Advisory Group About Nelpag English (USA) mailing list for folks dealing with light pollution issues in New England. To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Nelpag Archives Using Nelpag To post a message to all the list members, send email to nelpag@harvee.org You can subscribe to the list, or change your existing subscription, in the sections below. Subscribing to Nelpag Subscribe to Nelpag by filling out the following form. You will be sent email requesting confirmation, to prevent others from gratuitously subscribing you. This is a private list, which means that the list of members is not available to non-members. Your email address: Your name (optional): You may enter a privacy password below. This provides only mild security, but should prevent others from messing with your subscription. Do not use a valuable password as it will occasionally be emailed back to you in cleartext. If you choose not to enter a password, one will be automatically generated for you, and it will be sent to you once you've confirmed your subscription. You can always request a mail-back of your password when you edit your personal options. Once a month, your password will be emailed to you as a reminder.
Campaign For Dark Skies: The Problems light pollutionIt was presented at the Lighting Efficiency and light pollution Task Force meeting on More than a minor annoyance, light pollution is a safety issue, http://www.star.le.ac.uk/~dbl/cfds/theproblems.html
Extractions: document.write(''); Security ... For Our Children... "Half of our environment is above the horizon. Half of our environment is not protected by the force of law. The night sky, by its very nature a site of special scientific interest and an area of outstanding natural beauty, has been quietly and gradually taken away, over the last fifty years, from those dwelling in towns and urban fringe areas, throughout the developed world. Sky-glow and obtrusive waste upward lighting also detract from the character of the night-time scene and are detrimental to local amenity, not just for astronomers, but for the public in general". Bob Mizon, head of the UK Campaign for Dark Skies Return to BAA CfDS homepage
Light Pollution Copies of correspondence with the local planning authority in South Holland, Lincolnshire. http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/nebula1/light_pollution_shdc.htm
Extractions: Below is a copy of a letter i sent to the local council. Underneath it is their reply. Ms Margaret Straite Environmental Health Dept South Holland District Council Priory Road Spalding Dear Ms Straite. I am writing to you on a matter that is causing myself, and my friends, some concern regarding severe light pollution in the Spalding Area. I and my friends are Amateur Astronomers, and whilst this is only a hobby to us, our view and enjoyment of the sky at night is severely hindered by what we consider to be unnecessary light emitting from 3 particular places in the close area. 1. Wardentree Lane Industrial site. Specifically the lorry park behind the new power station which has extremely bright lights that seen to shine upwards as well as over the site. 2. Keith Butters Group on the B1165 Weston Hills road. (same Problem) 3. A T GoodyearÂ’s lorry park on the same road but on the outskirts of Weston Hills. I realise that, in this time of vandalism and theft, that good security lighting is essential but feel that these firms have not given due consideration to the pollution that is caused. I was going to write or visit the above firms but on reflection I think I would either be fobbed off with excuses or my letters would be filed under B I N.
Planning And Compulsory Purchase Bill In Standing Committee A New Clause 32 Regu Details of a failed attempt to add a clause to the 2003 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill to allow the regulation of lighting fixtures by local planning authorities. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmstand/a/st031021/pm/31021s04
Extractions: Mr. Clifton-Brown: For the first time the Minister is getting us into real politics. We know very well that the increased resources that the Government provide for planning go straight to the regions, not to local planning authorities. If local authorities had sufficient resources, there would not be a problem with enforcement. It is not a question of the resources being ring-fenced; councils do not have sufficient resources for planning, full stop. My authority does not have enough, and I am sure that other hon. Members could say the same. Councils cannot undertake enforcement on a discretionary basis. We want to legislate with a light touch, and we are in favour of discretion; if that were enshrined in the Bill, the Government would have to provide the resources. If they were to stop giving resources to the regions and put them back into the local authorities, we would take the new clause away like a shot. The Chairman: Order. Let us not go too wide; we must keep to new clause 31.
Light Pollution And The City Of Armagh These are but some of the adverse effects of light pollution the The sky glow of light pollution reduces this vast celestial spectacle to a pale http://star.arm.ac.uk/darksky/armagh.html
Extractions: French physicist; Nobel prize for physics 1926. Many of us have been dazzled at one time or another by an intense light source, such as a stadium's floodlights or a neighbour's security light, or struggled to see the wonders of the night sky through the now-familiar yellow glow that accompanies any profusely illuminated area such as a car park or shopping centre. These are but some of the adverse effects of 'light pollution': the inadvertent illumination of an area other than that which the given light source is intended to cover. It comes in many forms: light trespass, for example when a neighbour's so-called security light is shining into your garden or through your bedroom window; sky glow, the illumination of the atmosphere by unshielded lights which limit our view of the cosmos to a handful of the brightest stars; and
Extractions: T hroughout history, the night sky has inspired writers of poetry literature and song, infusing people with a sense of wonder and spirituality around the world. Assembled here are some of the great works that mention the splendor of the heavens. Please send us your contributions to this continually growing list of quotes. Featured Quote "Sirius, the brightest star in the heavens.... My grandfather would say we're part of something incredibly wonderful - more marvelous than we imagine. My grandfather would say we ought to go out and look at it once in a while so we don't lose our place in it."
Light Pollution - Science Articles :: Physics Post light pollution is taking control of our night skies. What is this light pollution? light pollution is the excess light emitted by our lighting fixtures http://www.physicspost.com/articles.php?articleId=106
Extractions: Arrigo is an amateur astronomer from Park City. He is also a co-founder of UtahSkies, an Internet site packed with the latest space pictures, astrophotography links, NASA and European Space Agency events, star party calendars, star-gazing tips and news reports. The group sponsors star parties and a school astronomy club.
Ashmolean Museum: Conservation - Prevention (0) Methods for preventing artifact deterioration, including controlling the environment, light levels, pollution monitoring, insect infestation monitoring, handling, storage, and treatment when needed. http://www.ashmol.ox.ac.uk/ash/conservation/p00.html
Extractions: Prevention One of the objectives of conservation is to reduce any factors which could result in the deterioration of the collections. Included in the University of Oxford's Mission Statement is the aim "To conserve...its special resources including its libraries, museums, and scientific collections." As a University museum holding collections of international importance the Ashmolean Museum takes this aim very seriously. Although the clock cannot be turned back to restore objects to their original condition, the museum takes measures to ensure the stabilisation and preservation of its collections for the enjoyment and education of museum visitors and scholars in generations to come. Control of the Environment Control of Light Levels Pollution Monitoring Insect Infestation Monitoring ... Next Page
Wescast Intro Manufactures and supplies exhaust manifolds for passenger cars and light trucks and manufactures steel pump equipment parts for the petrochemical, pollution control and food processing industries. (Nasdaq WCST). http://www.wescast.com/
City Of Independence, Missouri - Utilities Lists cityowned Water, Power light and Water pollution Control and links to privately owned Missouri Gas Energy, Southwestern Bell, Comcast and Time Warner. http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/utilities.stm
Extractions: CNN (CNN) It's possible that future generations of children will know the Milky Way only as a candy bar, instead of a wondrous canopy of stars that has guided travelers and inspired poets, philosophers and dreamers for centuries. That possibility is supported by a new global satellite survey which concludes that artificial lights are increasingly obscuring Earth's view of the Milky Way galaxy. The study says a truly dark, starry sky is unavailable to two-thirds of the world's population, including 99 percent of people in the continental United States and Western Europe. The survey, conducted by scientists at the University of Padua, Italy, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, measured for the first time how light degrades the view of the stars in specific places around the globe. RESOURCES Message Board: Space exploration The report describes regions of the world where true night never occurs because it is blocked by lights from neighboring cities and towns.
AIC Matting And Framing Works Of Art On Paper Guidelines for the care of paper based works of art, including proper storage and handling, essentials of proper framing, protection from light, protection from unsafe temperature and relative humidity conditions, protection from pollution, and disasters. http://aic.stanford.edu/library/online/brochures/matt.html
Extractions: Introduction W orks of art and documents on paper are vulnerable to physical damage. They are easily torn, folded, and smudged. Works of art and documents on paper are also susceptible to chemical damage by components contained in paperboard and adhesives used to mat works of art and documents. The purpose of this brochure is to provide information about recommended materials for matting and framing and to indicate those materials to avoid. Choosing appropriate mat board, hinges, glazing, and backboard will help to protect and preserve the works in your collection. The use of chemically unstable products can result in damage to the art or documents that they are intended to protect. Backing Boards The backing board is a rigid sheet of chemically stable board placed behind the backmat in the frame. It is stiff enough to hold the contents of the frame in place without bowing when displayed. These boards are to be made from chemically stable papers and/or plastics and adhesives, and occur in such formats as corrugated, honeycombed, and foam boards. To minimize the effects of pollutants and changes in relative humidity, some conservators recommend the placement of a layer of impermeable material, such as polyester film (e.g., Mylar Type D) or a plastic-aluminum laminate (such as Marvelseal), between the back mat and the backing board, or outside the backing board.
Caring For Textiles Effects of environmental factors, including light, temperature and humidity, and pollution, and proper storage and housekeeping of textiles. From the AIC. http://aic.stanford.edu/library/online/brochures/textiles.html
Extractions: CARING FOR TEXTILES Since prehistoric times, textiles have played a rich part in the lives and traditions of people of all cultures. They have been constructed using myriad materials and techniques, and they have been made from natural fibers such as cotton, flax, silk or wool or from man-made fibers such as rayon, nylon, and polyester. Textiles can be simple in structure and composition, or they can be composite objects incorporating many materials like quills, beads, metals, paints, bones, shells, feathers, and leathers. Contemporary household furnishings, clothing, many fashion accessories, and even fragmented archeological finds may all be classified as textiles. Pieces such as quilts, tapestries, embroideries, flags, and christening gowns have been treasured for their artistic, technical, cultural, or sentimental value. Most textiles have served as functional objects. This use, compounded by environmental factors, affects an object's condition and often results in the need for special care. Decisions on the handling, display, and storage of textiles can make the difference between a short life span or survival for generations. The deterioration of textiles is largely chemical in nature. The specific factors affecting degradation are light, temperature and relative humidity, dust, and pollutants. These factors will be discussed as separate topics, but it is important to remember that they function together and frequently have synergistic effects.
