SKIES with Light POLLUTION
When looking at the night sky it’s always best to get to the darkest place possible, away from street lights and other light pollution. Your eyes also need to adapt to the darkness, and this takes 10 to 20 minutes.
Pitch black surroundings are best, so you will need a small torch with you to see more earthly things. 
Cover the torch up with some red cellophane, and this will keep your eyes in the correct night vision mode. (This is the same principal that traditional photographers use in their ‘Dark Room’).
However even if you’re lucky enough to have a dark observing spot, you need to be aware of a natural light ‘pollutant’ – the Moon. 
Looking at the Moon is really great through a telescope, plenty of craters to keep you entertained. Unfortunately its light is so bright it makes fainter objects very difficult to see.
Therefore the best celestial observations are made on moonless nights, around either New Moon or Last Quarter. Of course, you also need a clear sky, and in the UK we do tend to have a lot of cloud. 
So in practice, try and observe the night sky whenever the skies are clear, and it’s convenient for you. This is a pleasure after all.
Light pollution is such a problem in the developed world, that ‘Night Parks’ have been designated for celestial observations. There are only 3 Night Parks in the whole world. Two are in the USA, and one is in Galloway, Scotland.
I’m going on holiday to the Galloway Night Park in a couple of weeks. I will report back here, how I get on.
Marathon Runner, Drinker and Artist, Blogging for Pleasure and Profit.
Hi John,
I look forward to your report from Galloway, as I have mentioned previously the best view I ever had was on a night sail from the Shetlands to Orkney, brilliant.
Regards,
Bill
[Reply]
John McNally
Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 6:42 am
Your night sky view from near the Shetlands, was probably better than Galloway could ever be Bill. Zero light pollution at sea.
I’m hoping to see the Milky Way at the night park. I’m also taking a small telescope to view the moon and planets. However, I think the Galloway Night Park also have large telescopes set up for public access, and I’m hoping to use these for looking outside our own Milky Way at other galaxies.
Both Margaret and myself are quite excited about this holiday, so I hope I can give you a good report soon.
John[Reply]
Glad you like it.
Have a look at my ‘Music’ section, you might find something more relevant to your tastes. (On the other hand you might not. 
) My next music post will be about Classical Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
John[Reply]
Light pollution refers to annoying, harmful and just plain wasteful lighting. Unnecessary lighting also contributes to global warming by making wasteful demands on energy.
[Reply]
John McNally
Reply:
January 2nd, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Wasteful lighting is certainly a ‘green’ issue Enna, although I’m mainly concerned about it, because light pollution cuts out the stars. I even consider the dark sky factor when I choose a holiday location.
Wishing you a Happy and prosperous New Year Enna.
John
Leamington Spa, England
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Reducing light pollution is not difficult. It does require that we understand the issues and that public officials and citizens be aware of the problem and act to counter it. People can help reduce much sky glow by using lighting only when necessary and by choosing well shielded lighting fixtures.
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John McNally
Reply:
January 2nd, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Unfortunately the UK is one of the worst countries in the world for light pollution. It’s because we are a very crowded island, full of cars and motorways, and with lots of ‘security lighting’ installed.
Street lights can be improved, by replacing them as they age, with shielded, downward only lighting. As you said Claire, the problem can be solved be people being aware of the issue, and acting to counter it.
Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year Claire.
John
Leamington Spa, England
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The reduction in light pollution depends specifically on the source of the problem. There must be a reduction in sky glow, glare and many other light related issues. Some solutions are the use of light sources that meet the minimum criteria to get a specific task completed. Others include the use of timers to shut lights off automatically or the shutoff of lights manually when they are not in use.
[Reply]
John McNally
Reply:
July 4th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Good points Joel, if everyone took account of sky pollution when installing new lighting, dark skies could eventually return even in urban areas. Lets hope it happens.
John
Leamington Spa, England
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