[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

This article has just appeared in our local rag in south-western Sydney. Please, if you have the time, have a look at the article and post a comment supporting this council initiative. Maybe other councils will look at what's going on and propose similar guidelines in your own area.

http://macarthur-chronicle-campbellt...wn-stargazers/

Light pollution under attack from Campbelltown stargazers

11 Oct 09 @ 11:12am by Ben Pike

(In reference to picture below) Ragbir Bhathal (right) and Julie Bourke want to protect our skies from light pollution for the next generation.

AS the 400th anniversary celebration of Italian astronomer Galileo’s discoveries in the night sky approaches next week, stargazers have decided to get together in the hope of rescuing Campbelltown’s night skies from increasing light pollution.

With the number of stars around the Southern Cross visible from Campbelltown halving over the past 20 years, Campbelltown councillor Julie Bourke has resolved to introduce guidelines to reduce the impact on our night sky of lighting associated with development.

These guidelines - including putting hoods on street and sporting oval lights, as well as using blinds on taller buildings - will be part of the next review of the Campbelltown Council Sustainable City Development Control Plan due early next year.

The push comes as stargazers prepare for the International Year of Astronomy cornerstone event, Galilean Nights on October 22-24.

The nights celebrate 400 years since Galileo’s discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter.

“Seeing the stars in the night sky is one of the attractions of living in Campbelltown with its open space and relatively unrestricted skyline,” Cr Bourke said.

“Sadly, however, increasing urban development results in light pollution which dulls the clarity of the celestial bodies which could otherwise be seen by the naked eye.”

University of Western Sydney Campbelltown Rotary observatory director Ragbir Bhathal, said Campbelltown residents could also help do their bit to help.

“There’s a lot of lighting around the home which is not needed, and people would be surprised how much money they could save if they didn’t always have the lights on,” he said.

“Campbelltown city has a number of high-rise buildings where there's a loss of light.”

But Campbelltown Mayor Aaron Rule wasn’t so enthusiastic about the idea.

He said public safety took priority when it came to lighting. “We’ve got to balance those concerns with a public need for lighting with streets, freeways and major arterial roads,” he said.

I've posted the following:

Mr Rule says “We’ve got to balance those concerns with a public need for lighting with streets, freeways and major arterial roads.”

I agree - but not to the extent that you must also light the night sky above them. Hoods over lights are a great idea, as they'll reflect light down (if reflectors are used appropriately) and, as a consequence, make the downward-aimed light more concentrated. This might result in lower-wattage bulbs being able to be used, obviously saving ratepayers money. More than that - we may see something of our night sky again. I congratulate Ms. Bourke on her initiative to attempt to save both our money and local skies.