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“Our telescope used to spot stars with magnitudes of 17 or 18. However, at the moment, we are only able to catch magnitudes of 13 or 14.” – Zhao Junliang, the former head of Shanghai Astronomical Observatory.

Another one bites the dust. The Sheshan branch of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory’s second largest optical telescope can no longer participate with other international telescopes. Why? There’s too much light pollution in and around Shanghai. The Sheshan branch of Shanghai Astronomical Observatory lies approximately 23 miles outside of Shanghai on Mount Sheshan, which at the time, proved invaluable to mapping the stars above. Presently, the Sheshan branch of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory is considering remote sensing options in Chile or Hawaii, as well as relocating the observatory to a better suited location. Similar to other nations around the world, China has ignored the effects of light pollution and ruled its effects as ‘inconclusive.’ Whilst the negative health effects of water and air pollution are readily ostensible, nations around the globe haven’t considered the health effects of light pollution due to a lack of palpable evidence. Light pollution affects all life on Earth. Most creatures on the planet, including humanity, functions on a biological clock. This clock, known as the circadian rhythm, is defined in the The American Heritage® Science Dictionary as:

A daily cycle of biological activity based on a 24-hour period and influenced by regular variations in the environment, such as the alternation of night and day. Circadian rhythms include sleeping and waking in animals, flower closing and opening in angiosperms, and tissue growth and differentiation in fungi. See also biological clock.

Furthermore: 

Our Living Language : The circadian rhythm, present in humans and most other animals, is generated by an internal clock that is synchronized to light-dark cycles and other cues in an organism’s environment. This internal clock accounts for waking up at the same time every day even without an alarm clock. It also causes nocturnal animals to function at night when diurnal creatures are at rest. Circadian rhythms can be disrupted by changes in daily schedule. Biologists have observed that birds exposed to artificial light for a long time sometimes build nests in the fall instead of the spring. While the process underlying circadian rhythm is still being investigated, it is known to be controlled mainly by the release of hormones. In humans, the internal clock is located within the brain’s hypothalamus and pineal gland, which releases melatonin in response to the information it receives from photoreceptors in the retina. Nighttime causes melatonin secretion to rise, while daylight inhibits it. Even when light cues are absent, melatonin is still released in a cyclical manner.

Light pollution positively correlates with breast cancer, a decline in sea turtle population and sleep disorders.

Heavens above: great conditions for night-time observations
Image Credit: telegraph.co.uk

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“We can make the whole family feel like Galileo. When you can see the planets in detail with your own eyes, it makes you ask questions as to how big they really are, how the solar system was formed and how to peer beyond our own Milky Way to the galaxies beyond. We can also help you find and recognise different constellations, planets, nebulae and star clusters that you never even knew existed.” – Carmelo, who runs AstroTour Isla Bonita

Situated off the northwest coast of Africa, the island La Palma, in the Spanish Canary Islands, attracts visitors from around the world because of its astro-tourism. Much of La Palma’s geography is high altitude mountains, untainted by light pollution. In fact, it is home to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, where much of the telescopes are optical and infrared, and offers the second clearest skies in the northern hemisphere, rivaled by the best, the Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii. The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is situated at 7,860 feet above sea level, where it rests above the cloud line.

Roque de los Muchachos Observatory.
Credit: Nik Szymanek (ING), IAC, ENO

Much of the success of La Palma and the other Canary Island observatories lies in their urban planning policies. Settlements on the island must follow strict lighting guidelines in order to prevent light pollution from obscuring the night sky. Aside from being a warm climate year round for travelers primarily from Europe, the Spanish Canary Islands have carved a niche for themselves with astro-tourism.

Credits for the images

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Can you see the difference? Whilst most individuals may not have a floodlight, the fact remains: unshielded lights waste energy and contribute to light pollution. As population trends continue to rise, it’s inevitable energy consumption will also continue to rise. Expanded population growth will expand the size of towns, cities and metropolises, as well as their general city infrastructure. Presently, the majority of towns, cities and metropolises use 40 year old lighting technologies to light their homes, sidewalks and expressways. Who is this infamous light? Enter high pressured sodium lighting. These unshielded lights emit quite a bit of heat, require high wattage lamps to illuminate the ground and remain woefully inefficient. From an infrastructure standpoint, these lamps have a horrific longevity to energy efficiency ratio yet no alternative ’seems’ to exist. The solution is shielding. When a light is shielded, it directs the light downward, where it’s needed. With the direction of the light in its proper place, one does not require the same watt light lamp found in a high pressured sodium lamp. The reason? High pressure sodium lamps require high wattage lamps to compensate for the loss of light into the heavens or otherwise known as ‘light trespass’ – see figure above. Shielded lighting eliminates that inefficiency and allows for more energy efficient and lower wattage bulbs or lamps to do the ’same’ job. All of these benefits translate into, from an infrastructure perspective, thousands or perhaps millions of dollars in energy savings depending on the size of the settlement. From a human perspective, the benefits of shielded lighting translates into a triumphant return of the night sky. Light pollution is a serious scourge on human and animal health and life. We have the technology to completely, 100%, no ifs or buts, eradicate light pollution entirely. The question lies in if we have the courage, determination and patience to fix it.

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You’ve probably heard the adage ‘the children are the key to our future’ many times throughout your lifetime, but I find education on the subject of the environment pivotal to young and old learners alike. Denying the importance of the our environment denies the importance of our existence. So for those with progeny or thinking of begetting offspring, what values can you instill? According the article, teaching the importance of conservation would be ideal. By doing so, your children would learn the importance of saving, say monetary funds or conserving a habitat, which would later pass on to their children. As all children grow up, parents could inform them the savings of buying bulk. Whilst the initial price may seem high, the return one would receive over time would demonstrate another form of saving – efficiency. I find it equally wonderful and disheartening that products continue to become more and more energy efficient. Wonderful that the consumer can ‘pay for’ the said device from the energy savings alone; disheartening that the consumer understands the initial high cost as ‘too much’ in the short-term. Teaching saving and efficiency values to children and young adults would help admonish future generations to think expenses in the long-term rather than the short-term.

Light pollution represents short-term thinking. A town, city or metropolis requires lights to light their streets. The nearly 40 year old standard of High Pressure Sodium Light exists as an easy choice that’s been around for ages. They’re inexpensive and get the job done. But at what cost? High Pressure Sodium Lights are notorious for being high maintenance, costly to repair and terribly inefficient. They’re also infamous for creating sky glare or otherwise known as light pollution due to its unshielded, high wattage light bulb. Yet why do towns, cities and metropolises continue to build more of these inefficient lights? That’s a good question. I suppose the alternatives pose a much larger upfront cost than the ‘originals’ do, but here’s the truth: the alternatives in the long-term will save more money and pay ‘itself’ off. If you’re convinced and ready to think in the long-term, come visit Starry Night Lights‘ selection of shielded, energy efficient lights for all your lighting needs.

Image credit: http://www.sombreroshelters.com/
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“Sombrero Shelters and Zeta Solar have launched its Mass Transit Solar Applications that is considered to be the most exciting solar powered product launch of the year. These applications are powered by the sun and they utilize the most successful Zeta Solar Technology. Electrical power is gathered by these applications during the day and this power is used to charge maintenance free battery cells that power efficient LEDs to shine brightly at night.”

Sombrero Shelters and Zeta Solar have come to a distribution agreement to make solar power nationally ubiquitous. According to the CEO of Sombrero Shelters John Bright, the move makes perfect sense, since the deal suits the company’s interest to move the company in the direction of mass transit. Sombrero Shelters targets a somewhat niche market of installing in places that larger, conventional shelters simply can not due to size restrictions. Zeta Solar on the other hand, specializes in high efficient, cost efficient lighting stand alone solutions.

“The Solar Mini Pod, the Solis Pole and the Solar StopLight are the range of Zeta Solar products. The Solar Mini Pod is a well designed bus shelter lighting kit, which is cost effective, vandal resistant and aesthetic in appearance and it can also be installed on an existing shelter. The Solis Pole can be used for a number of applications including vehicle and street lighting activated traffic signage. The Solar StopLight provides higher security for passengers and bus drivers by illuminating the bus stops. The StopLight is simple to install, slim line, maintenance free and completely waterproof. Zeta Solar products are eco-friendly and possess long lifetime and high reliability. They eliminate light pollution. They do not require mains connection and hence no utility bills.”

Image credit: http://philgamer.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/dark_alley.jpg

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HEADLINE:  “OLYMPIA – Downtown business leaders and the city have joined forces to clean and light another alley, reducing both grime and crime, they say.”

“Dirty alleys encourage rodent infestation, standing water and impediments to emergency vehicles.

The city’s long-term goal is turning the alleys into a work of art. Eventually, murals would be added to the backs of buildings. That cuts down on graffiti” – Downtown code-enforcement officer Ruthie Snyder

When one thinks of an alleyway in a city, one does not think of it as a place of safe refuge. Often, an alleyway carries a negative connotation and paints a picture of homelessness, graffiti and crime. Rather than passively accepting alleyways for what they are, enter the city of Olympia and its fairly new city initiative to turn alleyways into “clean, well-lit spaces with lights and murals.” Work has already been done on “a block of alleys between Fourth and State avenues and Jefferson and Cherry streets” and between “Fourth and Fifth avenues and Washington and Franklin streets” so far. The city initiative’s  choice of lighting is also laudable:

“The lights that are installed are “dark sky” lights that are shielded and point down so they don’t create light pollution that muddies the sky with a yellow glow at night.”

Shielded lighting works. Period. One can achieve the same amount of brightness found in a regular high pressure sodium light yet save tremendously on energy costs and clearer night skies. I am curious to see if the city initiative would consider and test out motion sensing lights as part of their plan. Starry Night Lights carries a variety of shielded lighting and motion sensing products for all your needs.

BRIGHT LIGHTS: Pittsburgh officials worry that a total switch to LED streetlights will make the streets too bright after dark. (Photo: caseywest/Flickr)

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Admonished by University of Pittsburgh’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, Pittsburgh, Penn., may replace its high-pressure sodium lights to light-emitting-diode (LED) lamps this upcoming summer. The University found that LED lamps rank substantially higher in longevity than high-pressure sodium lamps. In addition, LED lamps offer a more environmentally solution to lighting due to their higher watt per lumens ratio. Therefore, considering the overall lifespan of an LED lamp, the LED lamp is clearly the superior choice. The University estimated an annual savings of “$1 million annually in energy costs and $700,000 in maintenance fees” and a C02 emissions cut of approximately “6,818 metric tons per year,” if the city switched to LED lamps. Of course, three caveats emerge: blue tint, light pollution and poor heat dissipation.

First, the article states that concentrated light emitted from LED lamps manifests as a blue-tinted light. These concerns are partially true, although I find it prudent to crush these half-truths. It’s true, some LED lamps produce a blue tint. The concern with the blue tint lies in its colour wavelength it emits: blue is a from High-energy visible light (HEV). Most LED lamps are blue / white ‘cool’ LED lights calibrated to emit ‘white’ light – hence the blue tint. Presently, blue ‘cool’ LED lights rank the highest on the energy efficient scale. True ‘white’ warm LED lamps have been an obstacle to match the efficiency of ‘cool’ LED lights but significant strides have been made to make it a reality.

Second, the article states that that concentrated light emitted from LED lamps may produce light pollution. Following the Rayleigh scattering principle, the scattering of electromagnetic radiation by particles with dimensions much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation, resulting in angular separation of colors and responsible for the reddish color of sunset and the blue of the sky, light emitted by blue / white ‘cool’ LED lights would emit more light pollution due the shortened wavelength and higher frequency of blue on the ROYGBIV or electromagnetic spectrum. Scientifically, it’s absolutely correct. Although there is a way to drastically or eliminate light pollution all together: direct the light downward.

Third, the article states that that concentrated light emitted from LED lamps have poor heat dissipation. Poor heat dissipation is a ubiquitous fact for all high-pressure sodium lights; they waste energy and decrease the lifespan of the bulb. This once shortcoming for high-pressure sodium lights, has now become a laudable advantage. Why? An article back in December of last year mentioned how a town switched to Blue / White cool LED lamps for their traffic lights and found that the lamps can not melt snow due to its cool operating temperature. Fortunately, no drivers were harmed. Perhaps when warm LED lights can match the efficiency of cool LED lights, the public will see quite the contrary.

I’ll admit, LED has its limitations. It’s a burgeoning technology that offers tremendous energy savings and advantages over high-pressure sodium lights once the technology matures.

As of now, Pittsburgh, Penn., is one of the few nationwide cities that does not have a lighting code whatsoever.

“Several subcommittees of the Pittsburgh City Council will develop a better streetlight network and, as the city is one of the few nationwide without a lighting code, will propose a Pittsburgh lighting code. Once these analyses and codes are in place, the city will make a final decision regarding the switch. At any rate, Pittsburgh hopes the research study and task force studies will serve as “a standard tool for municipalities worldwide to evaluate streetlight technologies.” The city hopes to begin installation of new lights later this summer.”

At the very least, Pittsburgh will have a lighting code and given their concern for light pollution and safety, their heart is certainly in the right place.

Nuite Blanche by Michel de Broin. Images: Émilien Châtelain.

Nuite Blanche by Michel de Broin. Images: Émilien Châtelain.

Nuite Blanche by Michel de Broin. Images: Émilien Châtelain.

In a city that can no longer enjoy a starry night, French artist Michel de Broin had an innovative and expensive solution – create a 7.5m (24ft 7”) disco ball, covered in 1,000 mirrors and suspend it 50m (164ft) over the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. The Nuit Blanche project simulates a starry sky for residents who never get the chance to enjoy the night skies amongst all the artificial light pollution. Perhaps the Nuit Blanche event reminded Parisian residents what they are missing and more people will start turning off their lights at night.

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A 20th century French Philosopher named Jean Baudrillard once wrote, “The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth–it is the truth which conceals that there is none. The simulacrum is true.” Monsieur Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulations asserts that the simulacrum undergoes three orders of which images or representations found in reality become increasingly virtual and eventually meld both reality and virtual reality into hyperreality.

The three orders of simulacra:

The first order occurs when individuals can see that the image is ostensively artificial and functions as a fake representation for the real item. E.g. a basic mechanical owl debuts at a technology show. This mechanical owl can reproduce the sound of an owl but can not fly on its own; its appearance lacks authenticity compared other owls and there is an ‘On’ and ‘Off’ switch.

Second order occurs when the distinctions between the image and reality break down due to the proliferation of mass-produced copies; the image’s ability to imitate reality threatens to replace the original version. E.g. a new complex mechanical owl model debuts with its own AI and can fly on its own; its appearance uncannily resembles an organic owl and has its own life span without a power switch.

The third order occurs when the simulacrum itself precedes the original and the distinction between reality and representation breaks down. The simulacrum itself has replaced the original entirely. E.g. The synthetic owls have replaced most or all organic owls in the world; organic owls have become a rare and increasingly wealthy commodity around the world. The once illusion has become reality.

When an image reaches the third order, then the image itself becomes hyperreal. Monsieur Baudrillard defines the hyperreal as “the simulation of something which never really existed.” In other words, an inherently fake representation with no meaning has become ‘real’ with meaning.

In regards to Monsieur Michel de Broin’s art piece, I’m equally afraid and intrigued to see his art piece come alive. Following what has been said earlier about the three orders of simulacra, I would place Monsieur Michel de Broin’s art piece Nuit Blanche (white night or all nighter) toward or on the precipice of the second order. I know this art piece or representation emulates the starry night skies through a massive apparatus, although I’m not entirely sure if other devices have been created yet. Are we heading towards a hypermediated reality or will this art piece inspire contemplation and yearning for the original night sky? Where does light pollution fit into Baudrillard’s vision? For the former question, I’m unsure but for the latter question, I’ll speculate that light pollution has reached either the second or third order of simulacra, especially for children today and their subsequent generations. It’s entirely possible they will never see the unadulterated, starry night skies and only see the sky glow or a simulated light lit sky.

Unfortunately, finding an untainted sky amongst a town, city or metropolis has become increasingly rare due to increased population. I didn’t mention technology as a problem, since humanity has the technology to eradicate light pollution entirely. Shielded and Motion sensing lights provide light where and when you need it. Perhaps we’ll want to save the night sky more after seeing Monsieur Michel de Broin’s art piece or perhaps we’ll look forward to seeing the nightly light show of stars.

Image credit: Starry Night Lights
Want to know what makes a home or neighborhood vulnerable to crime? Ask police officers; they see it every day.

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Safety by Design, an announced program “by the Lexington Police Department and Eastern Kentucky University’s Center for Crime and the Built Environment,” hopes to help inform “Lexington developers, architects, planners and property owners build and renovate safer homes, neighborhoods and commercial buildings by using design principles known to discourage crime.” Inspired from a successful 20-year-old program in England called Secured by Design, Safety by Design hopes to achieve the same level of success in the United States. Here are a few tenets behind the Safety by Design vision:

“Those factors include the design and strength of doors, windows and locks; landscaping considerations, such as shrubbery height; sidewalk, window and garbage can placement; the style, placement and height of fencing; and site plans that maximize visibility.

Some of the guidelines are common sense, but not all are. For example, Lexington Police Chief Ronnie Bastin said he would have assumed that the more outdoor lighting around a building, the better. But research has shown that it’s not necessary to create a lot of light pollution. The key is to put the right amount of light in the right places to discourage criminals and make people feel safe.

Common building design issues in Lexington that encourage crime include overgrown shrubs, tall privacy fences and a lack of windows on the sides of houses”

According to officials at Safety by Design, one does not need to sacrifice aesthetics in order to build a ‘fortress.’ If anything, Safety by Design, is a voluntary program that offers advice and expertise to “the table that might avoid problems before they happen.” Starry Night Lights‘ catalogue features motion controlled lights, Outdoor Wall Lanterns or even light bulbs to help outfit your home into a safer and more environmentally safe residence.

A WARM APPETIZER: On the hunt for cool, low-mass planets, which may take years to identify, Kepler needed little time to find much more massive planets kept scorching hot by their host stars. Above, an artist’s conception of one such “hot Jupiter.” – NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle (SSC)

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“To find a true Earth analogue orbiting a sunlike star at about the same distance separating Earth from the sun—in other words, an Earth-size world with an orbital period of about one year—the Kepler team estimates that it will need about three years of observations from the spacecraft.”

Launched last March, the Kepler space telescope mission’s is to find terrestrial planets “orbiting sun like stars at a temperate distance where liquid water could persist.” So far, it “monitors the brightness of about 150,000 stars.” Recently, the telescope has found five new exoplanets, all giants, “with masses ranging from about 25 to 670 Earths.” What exactly is an exoplanet? An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star other than the Sun and that is thus beyond the Solar System. The Kepler space telescope achieves this by utilizes advanced optics to detect periodic dimming a star may exhibit, “that might be caused by a planet passing in front of its star.”