December 2008 - Utah-Astronomy - mailman.xmission.com

Re: [Utah-astronomy] Light Pollution in S L Tribune
by zaurak＠digis.net 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

As a tax payer, to my local municipality, I wish they would spend my taxes more wisely. Can a taxer get tax breaks? Tax breaks for initial cost does sound pretty sound though. I talked to my city manager, seemed problem was that they had non lighting engineers deciding on what fixtures to buy, cities need to be educated. They look at initial cost only. They should look at operating costs and how much longer the more efficient fixtures last. Money is saved in much lower energy cost and the less fixture replacement.I did manage to get them to shield lights I could see. The US manufacturers are like Detroit, way old school with no thought of energy conservation. I have noticed, that on nights during power failures I do sleep much better (until the hospital called my cell phone at least). Health concerns aside, the money savings should be plenty of motivation for more efficient lighting. Tax payers should be demanding it, they also need to be educated. Erik --- josephmbauman(a)yahoo.com wrote: From: Joe Bauman <josephmbauman(a)yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Light Pollution in S L Tribune Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 10:24:33 -0800 (PST) To add another of my 2 cents worth (make it 4 cents!! total, close to my limit): a good approach may be to push legislation to give some kind of tax break to people and municipalities toward the purchase of light shielding. -- thanks, Joe --- On Tue, 12/2/08, Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> wrote: From: Patrick Wiggins <paw(a)wirelessbeehive.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Light Pollution in S L Tribune To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 12:57 AM During interviews, lectures or conversations I always put economic cost of wasted energy, increased air pollution caused by the unnecessary burning of fossil fuels to generate the wasted energy and threats to animal and human health ahead of the need to preserve the night sky. It is nice, BTW, to see the positive effects of Tooele County's light pollution ordinance. Lights on billboards built before the law shine up while he new ones shine down. The strip mall built at the north end of Stansbury Park before the law has awful lights on the back walls of the buildings (though the parking lots lights are ok) while the strip mall at the south end built after the law has shielded lights. That last BTW, is due to a few of us politely complaining to the county during construction which resulted in the lights being modified. Slowly but surely I really do think that many people (except maybe those at YESCO that make money off of light pollution) are beginning to see the light (or is that dark?). patrick On 01 Dec 2008, at 11:21, Robert Taylor wrote: > What are the thoughts about arguing from a health standpoint vs. > loosing the > night sky. I really don't think politicians care one wit about loss > of the > night sky but I think they would be more responsive to some of the new > studies that are pointing to excessive and non-stop lighting as a > cause of > Breast Cancer and now colon cancer as well as disruptions to > wildlife? We > are creatures that evolved with a dark nighttime and darkness serves a > purpose. > > Robert Taylor _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Good Dark Sky Locations
by Jay Eads 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Hello, I have ok skies at my home in Herriman, but I am wondering just a couple of newbie type questions. First, are there any good dark sky areas with 45 minutes of Herriman that any one knows of and will share? Next, is it worth it to plan a trip out to SPLOC with the equipment during the winter? Anyway, just a couple of easy questions and any advice I would appreciate it. Thanks, Jay

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Light Pollution in S L Tribune
by Robert Taylor 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

What are the thoughts about arguing from a health standpoint vs. loosing the night sky. I really don't think politicians care one wit about loss of the night sky but I think they would be more responsive to some of the new studies that are pointing to excessive and non-stop lighting as a cause of Breast Cancer and now colon cancer as well as disruptions to wildlife? We are creatures that evolved with a dark nighttime and darkness serves a purpose. Robert Taylor -----Original Message----- From: Joe Bauman <josephmbauman(a)yahoo.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Light Pollution in S L Tribune Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:12:50 -0800 (PST) Ditto?from me --?didn't know you subscribed to this newsgroup, Sheila. ? I think we who care about the night sky should campaign, again,?for decent light pollution standards. The argument should be made on two grounds: light pollution is a terrible scourge, destroying nighttime access to the views that should be our natural heritage, and?it wastes resources?when people beam energy into the sky. The last few times?made astronomy expeditions?to the Wedge, I?was annoyed by the big arc of light pollution off toward Moab. Best wishes, Joe

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] Good Dark Sky Locations
by zaurak＠digis.net 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Jay, A link to Rush Valley site, a Pony Express Historical site, there is a gravel pit about a half mile before pony express site to the south. It is just a few miles down the road from Cedar Fort. Car lights not a problem at gravel pit. If you stay till morning don't be startled by Pershing Missles occasionally being blown up. Some lights to north from Desert Weapons Facility, site is very dark other than that. Dugway rarely turns on some real bright lights that really lights up the northeast. http://www.slas.us/maps/RVALLEY.HTM Erik --- jayleads(a)gmail.com wrote: From: Jay Eads <jayleads(a)gmail.com> To: utah-astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Good Dark Sky Locations Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 22:49:54 -0700 Hello, I have ok skies at my home in Herriman, but I am wondering just a couple of newbie type questions. First, are there any good dark sky areas with 45 minutes of Herriman that any one knows of and will share? Next, is it worth it to plan a trip out to SPLOC with the equipment during the winter? Anyway, just a couple of easy questions and any advice I would appreciate it. Thanks, Jay _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy(a)mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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Martian Carpenters
by M Wilson 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

There's strong evidence that Martian carpenters were actively engaged in their trade on the red planet within the past 50 years. Want proof? Check out this site: http://thecrit.com/2008/08/05/nasa-mars-photo-leaked-wood-found-on-mars/

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Re: [Utah-astronomy] LPOD: Main Lunar Crater Sequence Animated - Kurt A. Fisher
by Canopus56 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Sorry, scratch that message. It was misdirected. - Kurt

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LPOD: Main Lunar Crater Sequence Animated - Kurt A. Fisher
by Canopus56 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Dr. Chuck, I was able to correct the file size problem in the earlier version of my draft LPOD at: http://canopus56.wikispaces.com/MainLunarSequence Both animations are now YouTube videos. Corrected wiki tex for the draft entry is attached. Clear Skies - Kurt

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