Makes me sick reading this and seeing those pics! That magnitude of lighting would seem to be total overkill. What is it supposed to achieve?? I would try and put a petition together to at least to get them shielded. Personally, I'd move - even if I wasn't an amateur astronomer. Night is supposed to be dark!!
Commiserations Dave - bad situation!
Cheers, Marcus
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Fuuuuuu....
I guess there comes a time in every mans life David when he has to take the bull by the horns, grab his package and take on the wife...you have to move, either your whole family or the observatory. This is your passion and your being (I know, heck we all know). I am doing this at the moment myself, we are moving back into the city but our current neighbours have come to my rescue and are letting Wallaroo Observatory stage 3 take form on their 140 acres sure it will be a drive out every time I want to use the scope but it will only take 30min and the dark skies are worth the effort.
Life is too short to think if only I tried...
Good luck mate
Mike
Quote:
Originally Posted by RB
Dave, like I told you this morning on the phone, you're always welcome to come and image at my place mate.
This situation is beyond words.
When my wife saw these photos she was shocked, she said how could you sleep at night with all that glare?
That's not fair to do that to any family.
thanks guys - the only thing worse is death, but no one hears you complaining then
I put a word onto our elecrical guys and managed to get a lux meter - will be measuring tonight. facts speak along with loud words
Fair crack of the whip - I am gutted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they turned the bl00dy things on tonight
Yes that is quite bad there mate actually a lot worse than i thought it would pan out for you. its multiple direct line of sight to the lights.
Its too bad your neighbour's house isn't slightly higher it would have masked most of them.
I'd be looking at erecting a few screening devices, thats made the obs non useable. unless looking straight up or opposite direction. good luck with whatever mitigation measures you decide to go for Dave. ...
Lux measurements are good, but the critical thing from the council / roads dept is that the intersection complies with the regs. This is certainly overkill, you may have to consider in addition to the lux readings contacting a traffic consultant as to what can be taken out / turned off but still retaining the safety of the intersection. Then approach the relevant department with the lux readings / complaint about excessive lighting /lack of sleep / and traffic consultant evidence and suggested remedial actions.
It reminds me of where I lived previously in town. A street light in the front yard and one in my neighbour's and another at my back fence over the intersection there.
I could walk out into my kitchen at night an read medicine bottle labels easily without turning a light on!
Moving was the best thing I'd done in a long time.
I think I have to agree with the suggestion... its time to think seriously about moving to somewhere darker. A little property out around Minmi / Mt Sugarloaf wouldn't be too far away but should get you a big improvement in darkness.
Al.
Quote:
Originally Posted by h0ughy
to answer your question about sleeping - nightmare light streams through our blinds and the lounge room has french doors - no blinds and our front door is glass - no blinds. you could read by the light
Last edited by sheeny; 02-04-2014 at 03:43 PM.
Reason: typo
funny thing - that chip ad on TV at the moment " oneupmanchip" - i reckon i have the bigger example of light pollution - geez if only i could laugh at that at the moment
A couple of years ago they upgraded the intersection where you turn off the Picton Rd into Wilton - there is a lot of new housing going in at Wilton. They used full cut-offs and they are really very good. I haven't had a close look at the area around the lights, just driven through, but from a drivers perspective there is very little light spill as you approach them. Which makes me wonder why they weren't used in this case. Is just a more enlightened (no pun intended) local Council or was it for driver safety? If you could make a case that the light spill was causing glare on the windscreens of approaching cars that may be motivation to improve the shielding. Appealing to the good nature of a burocracy is rarely successful, suggesting you will sue them over your lost sleep is unlikely to scare them enough (you may well be fighting a test-case there?), but the possibility that they will be culpable if glare causes an accident may be something that registers on their radar. Perhaps this is also a long shot but I thought I'd put the idea out there.
When you consider the quality and cost of astro gear there has never been a better time to be an astronomer. However, from the point of view of light pollution we are going to hell in a handbasket. In the 70's I could see fainter than mag 6 (say 6.5) from my parents back yard in Corrimal, now I reckon you'd be luck to get to 5.
I don't understand why they need the lights all night, not many people shop at Bunnings at night anyway. You should do a traffic count. Get the green pollies to pressure the council about wasting energy resources. Why do we need street lights on when when everyone is asleep anyway.
well I am stuffed - on the observatory the reading is 1.2 -2 lux - that's not how it looks in real life its bathed!!! at the front of the house it is 5-7lux and at the road, well that's 40lux
well I am stuffed - on the observatory the reading is 1.2 -2 lux - that's not how it looks in real life its bathed!!! at the front of the house it is 5-7lux and at the road, well that's 40lux
Wow that is ridiculous.
I think your best bet is the complaint about not being able to sleep given that it is a fact and is interfering with your living and quality of life.
What are your neighbours reactions? Light pouring into their bedrooms as well? If so, that makes your case stronger.
I'd be livid about moving for the sake of some one else's foolishness.
Alistair
Is unable to sleep going to cut it with them though? Someone is bound to mention dark bedroom curtains.
I do think you will be able to shoot narrow band still, as long as you use a long dew / light shroud so light doesn't directly hit the lens or inner tube. OSC probably won't work that well without an LP filter.
all too hard - wife doesn't like idea of shrouds, i calculated th cut offs won't work due to height of lights. she said we could move , but here is the catch, my son has to be able to walk or catch bus to school and has to be near bus route for daughter, and now the big one - she wants me to downsize and get rid of all my gear i don't use as we have eyed out a possible location that fits the family bill, just need to see if i can fit the dome in the back yard. guaranteed not to be ever built out.
I have a lot of gear
there will be a sale soon, will see how much i could keep.
all too hard - wife doesn't like idea of shrouds, i calculated th cut offs won't work due to height of lights. she said we could move , but here is the catch, my son has to be able to walk or catch bus to school and has to be near bus route for daughter, and now the big one - she wants me to downsize and get rid of all my gear i don't use as we have eyed out a possible location that fits the family bill, just need to see if i can fit the dome in the back yard. guaranteed not to be ever built out.
I have a lot of gear
there will be a sale soon, will see how much i could keep.
Well that's promising news Dave We nearly bought a house in Valentine - not too bad sky wise with good yard for an observatory and even had a nice in ground pool (just missed out in an auction) and the best part was it was at the end of the bus route direct to Bishop Tyrell for Riley as that was one of our criteria too ...so they are out there, should be some nice ones in Fletcher or Minmi suitable too, so good luck
sure it will be a drive out every time I want to use the scope but it will only take 30min and the dark skies are worth the effort.
We nearly bought a house in Valentine - not too bad sky wise with good yard for an observatory and even had a nice in ground pool (just missed out in an auction) and the best part was it was at the end of the bus route direct to Bishop Tyrell for Riley as that was one of our criteria too ...so they are out there, should be some nice ones in Fletcher or Minmi suitable too, so good luck 
