Light pollution

[Nexus6]

Hi all,
My first post..

I am thinking of rediscovering my old hobby... and getting a new telescope. "Unfortunately" I live in the Inner West of Sydney (Marrickville) and I believe the light pollution is quiet a problem here (City, Airport...). Does it even make sense to get one? Does anyone have a simmilar problem?

Thanks for all your help...
Tom

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Tom.

You could go down the portable setup path and buy something that you can take with you. Handy if you want to go for a small drive to do some viewing. The 8" dobs these days are very easy to put into a car and take to a darker site.

My suggestion is to go along to an Astro society viewing night and check out what others use, you may find something you like. We could blow sunshine up your ... but at the end of the day its best to have a look for yourself and chat with locals who have been down the exact same path as yourself. . No doubt there are members on here which can give you some very helpful advice who livein similar spots.

Good luck with your search.

[Nexus6]

Thanks a lot for your reply. Unfortunately I do not own a car and going on a train with an 8" seems to be a bit a scary thought...

Anyway, I might join one of the events and see how it goes. Thanks.

[norm]

Hi Nexus6

I recall someone called TeZzA who lives near your area, Undercliffe, Tempe way. I know he owns a few scopes, send him a PM and see what he has to say.

I live in Ashfield, which is not too far from Marrickville. That said, I don't have a scope, but do intend in getting one soon. I'm not too worried about seeing conditions or light pollution as I'll take it to the ocassional dark site when time permits.

I think if you see a lot of sky glow from lights then it could pose an issue. Fortunately my backyard isn't too bad from that perspective.

Good luck and welcome to the forum!

[Nexus6]

Hi Norm,

Thanks a lot for the info, I will drop an e-mail to TeZzA and ask him nicely about his experience... I really appreciate all your help.

Cheers
Tom

[Nexus6]

Ok, I had a quick email conversation with TeZza, he is actually moving... it looks pretty bad for me. This morning I got up at 3 o'clock to have a look if I can see something, but was able to see just a couple of bright stars.. My hope is nearly gone that I can do something... Do I really have to buy a car first to jump back on the train I left 20 years ago (means, I had a telescope when I was a teenager, then stopped with my hobby...)? I might have to join solis.org.au.. It's really bad here....

[iceman (Mike)]

You really need a car so you can get out of the light pollution.

A scope will still allow you to see the bright stuff, like the planets and moon, and sunspots (with appropriate filter), but if the light pollution is that bad at 3am, then it's going to be tough finding deepspace objects satisfying viewing.

Did you allow your eyes to become dark (or light!) adapted?

[Nexus6]

Hi Iceman, thanks for the reply. Well I got out of bed in the dark, did not switch on any lights, nearly fell over our cat (he's got good eyes, but was asleep)... does this count as dark adapted? Thanks, might have to find a car or put the telescope at my mother-in-laws place and stay there for a weekend or so...

[g__day (Matthew)]

As most street lights are Sodium based, wouldn't a narrow band Sodium filter eliminate alot of Sydney's (or anywhere elses) light pollution anyone?

[cahullian]

Hi Nexus6 I have a 8" Dob and have a street light out the front of my house. But I can still see thousands of things in the night sky. I view from my front yard and can still see things like Centarus A. Go buy the scope then worry about dark skies later on. You wont be dissapointed.

Gazz

[merlin8r]

Re light pollution filters:
They do work, to an extent. Broadband filters improve contrast by darkening the background sky. Narrowband go one better by blocking more light, and they are absolutely fantastic for emission nebula. But they both ruin galaxies, as they emit exactly the kind of light that the filters block. For planetary viewing, you won't need them, the planets are bright enough.

Clear skies,
Shane

[Nexus6]

I probably will try an 8" GSO Dob and see how it goes and might get a filter, too... if nothing else works: Mother-in-law.

[Nexus6]

Yipiiiieeeeeehhh! Got my Christmas present early... guess have to wait for better weather now....

[spacepaul]

Hi Everyone,
I have long had an interest in astronomy and used to help out at a local observatory.
As many of you probably appreciate, living in a big city is not much fun if you like a dark night sky for viewing the stars. Sadly, I was reminded of this tonight when I noticed for the first time new floodlights installed in a carpark across the road from where I live. Clearly, they are overkill for this small carpark which already had dimmer lighting that was perfectly adequate at night. I suppose they were installed to give workers there a sense of security at night. But there was obviously no consideration for minimising light pollution. Indeed, it seems that brighter is better these days.
What, if anything, is being done to lobby local or state governments about this problem? Are dark night skies going to be lost for future generations? It seems like there's a lot of complacency about this issue because all governments care about is turning night into day in urban areas to please the public that they are improving night security as well as making our cities like every other world city. Given the rapid pace of urbanisation, it won't be long before we lose the beauty of enjoying a dark night sky. That seems to be it! I wish it was more than the astronomical community that cared about this problem. It seems that other forms of pollution take priority, but light pollution is not high on any politician's agenda.
-Paul