The British Astronomical Association Campaign for Dark Skies. Light pollution matters The blight of

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The British Astronomical Association Campaign
for Dark Skies. Light pollution matters
(The blight of stray light)1, CfDS local
officer activities, initiatives and
contributions.2, Selected topics from the CfDS
image library. 3, Photometry by measurement and
theory, of sky glow over the rural UK.

• Dr Chris Baddiley
• (Technical advisor to the BAA Campaign for Dark
  Skies) email

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CfDS

• Misconceptions Campaign for Dark Skies, not Dark
  Streets.
• After headlines and articles in Scottish papers
  (e.g. the Daily Record) suggesting that we are
  calling for dimmer lights (wrong...!).
• A womens group in Edinburgh wrote to campaign
  representatives in 2001, condemning them for
  wanting to plunge the streets into darkness!
• We are after well directed lighting fit for its
  purpose.
• Working for star quality lighting.
• Quality lighting means that everybody wins,
  whether looking up or straight ahead!

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CfDS awards

• The CfDS Good Lighting Awards
• The CfDS offers Good Lighting Awards to
  organisations or individuals who have fitted or
  modified lighting that reduces light pollution to
  a minimum. By doing so it is hoped that, by
  publicising these good examples, it may encourage
  other organisations to follow suit.

Knowsley's Highways and Environment. cttee.
Lights on the newly A5300 expressway
Recipients- Automated Packaging Systems,
Liverpool City Council. For the "Somerset" design
light fitting used. Photo Liverpool Daily Post
Echo PLC
Sainsbury's, Ferndown, Dorset, for the Car Park
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CfDS awards
CfDS Awards of Appreciation - Awards in
recognition for the work that noteworthy
non-astronomers have given the campaign.

• Some recipients -
• Radio 4 (Today) and TV Broadcaster John
  Humphrys, for his involvement in light pollution
  seminars and comments.
• Broadcaster and author Libby Purves, for her
  articles on waste light and the erosion of the
  night skies (inc.."Town Country" eds.. Barnett
  A. and Scruton R., ISBN 0-22-405-2500)
• Lighting professional Mike Simpson, for his
  writing on sensitive lighting and his public
  recognition of the value of astronomers efforts
  to change the climate in the industry.

Technical advisor to the ILE David Coatham, for
his publicising the need to control light.
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Security lighting

• DIY store chain B Q agree to promote well
  directed domestic security lighting -
• Feature better design and lower-wattage types
  (e.g. Astrica design)
• Put leaflets inside the boxes of the old-style
  lights about light pollution and proper angling
  of the lights to reduce glare and light intrusion
  on opposite premises and reduce triggering by
  passers-by etc.
• Show domestic security lights pointing
  downwards rather than sideways on displays in the
  shop and also in catalogues
• Other companies are thinking about it, but so far
  have done nothing.

The Astrica downward controlled security light
(Bob Mizon)
A manufacturers security light installation
diagram, apparently to illuminate the neighbours
garden ! (Micromark radio controlled alarm)
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Night Blight campaign
Campaign to Protect Rural England / CfDS 2003
Night Blight campaign launch, May 9 Publicity
campaign on the increase in ambient light in the
countryside. Publicity launch at the Queens
House Greenwich. With CPRE President Sir Max
Hastings, Chief Executive Kate Parminster, CfDS
Co-ordinator Bob Mizon, Astronomer Royal Sir
Martin Rees.
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Light Pollution

• NOAA data UK light pollution increase from 1993
  to 2000

NOAA UK isophotic data for 1993 and 2000 Black
0-1.7 ..can see MW when clear, Blue 1.7-50 MW
visible occasionally, light blue 50-150 can see
MW very occasionally, yellow 150-240.. And above
..never see the Milky Way, Red... instrument
saturation 24-255. The increase in the ambient
lighting at the second isophot level in just 7
years is alarming. (NOAA/ CPRE)
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Light Pollution

• Atmospheric light pollution Europe now and
  prediction for 2025

Computer modelled atmospheric skyglow isophotes
for Europe, Left 1995. Right prediction for
2025 From a few stars only visible (red) to a
few hundred (yellow to green), to near a thousand
, some Milky Way visibility, to dark sky
(black). Based on DMSP nadir data . (Cinzano P.,
Falchi F., Elvidge C.D., Baugh K.)
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CfDS publications and advertising
Patrick Moores Practical Astronomy Series.
LIGHT POLLUTION Responses and Remedies, by
Bob Mizon ISBN 1-85233-497-5 Bob Mizon
advocates a dual strategy. Our initial
response,.. should be to use our observing skills
to find the many fascinating objects still
visible. Then there are remedies by persuasion.
This book shows what is possible.
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Light Pollution

• Star visibility limits in the UK
• Forthcoming commercial publication.
• P. Cinzano - (Dipartimento di Astronomia Padova,
  Italy), Philips - Maps, CfDS.

Dark sky areas around Norwich
PREVIEW reduced resolution sample NOT FOR
PUBLICATION
South Yorkshire, Barnsley Note Peak district
National Park semi dark area
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CfDS

• Standards,
• Parliamentary and Government initiatives

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Lighting industry - Advisory Standards
Institute of Lighting Engineers guide on light
level zoning (ILE leaflet), now revised. The
ILE has set up a light level zoning system, from
E1 (national parks, rural areas), E2
(villages), E3 (town suburbs), to E4 (city
centres).
The ILE leaflet is available from... Lennox
House, 9 Lawford Rd., Rugby, Warwickshire CV21
2DZ. Tel. [phone]
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National Government

• Highways Agency.
• Responsible for major roads and Motor Ways.
• HA has long since adopted Full Cut-off lighting
  on all new Motor Ways,
• Also found now on new roundabouts in open areas.
• NATA environmental impact appraisal.
• New Approach To Appraisal
• - a high priority for the effect of the
  environmental impact of lamps when choosing them.
• Is it working ?

Rural roundabout at Beckington, Somerset, on the
A36 between Bath Warminster. before then
re-lit with FCO lights (John Ball)
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Parliamentary initiatives

• 2003 The Science and Technology Committee inquiry
  into light pollution and astronomy.
• A lot of CFDS input written and aural evidence.
• Many recommendations,
• Central recommendation ..
• That there should be legislation against stray
  lighting.
• On 2004 Feb 12th There was a Parliamentary debate
  on the report and its findings, at Westminster
  Hall.

• A discussion in the House of Lords was held in
  mid June. The Government is working on the issue
  at the speed of light (!)

• ODPM to produce an annex to PPS23, obliging
  councils to control external lighting through
  planning requirements.
• Re. PPS23, Discussions are being held at the
  Office of the Deputy Minister between
  stakeholders and Government departments.
• This includes the ILE, RAS, and CfDS.

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Information
Addresses - The British Astronomical Association
Campaign for Dark Skies, Burlington House,
Piccadilly, London, W1J 0DU. Tel [phone]
4145 CfDS Website www.dark-skies.org or. The
Coordinator, CfDS, Bob Mizon, 38 The Vineries,
Colehill, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 2PX Email For
the CD ROM image library . of good and bad
lighting and its effect on the environment(roads
/ security/ amenity/ building floodlighting /
Towns and countryside skyglow, views for space,
information and resources. . compiled by Chris
Baddiley, Email
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