Fan Mail - Hate Mail

16. FROM an interested Rhode Island nonastronomer fighting light pollution:

I stumbled across your website and thought you might like this poem I wrote a few weeks ago. I'm not an astronomer, but I still see the red sky out my window every night.

I will not waken while I slumber

In the star sprinkled night.

But stars above, without number,

Fail to reach me their light.

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I cannot see them, not from here--

The horizon's red glow

Grimly glitters and gives me fear,

For its cause, I don't know.

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Someone help me, O help me please

To pacify my mind.

Help me repose, lie down in ease,

Let my thoughts cease to grind.

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What monsters cause the sky's strange tint

And make starlight so cheap?

What cover more irreverent,

Sight shallow formed from Deep.

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The stars still shine, I'm sure, without

Care or earthly concern.

They spread their golden rays about,

And no gold coins are earned.

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Though as I've said, I cannot see

Beyond Night's bloodshot eye,

Which strains so unrestrainedly

To peer into the sky.

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15. FROM B.T. in Michigan:

I just read your newest R and R (number 16) moments ago, probably shortly after you put it online, and WOW! it is a real firestorm of anger! I wish I had the guts to do what you're doing! I'm so sick of the efforts to rid the sky of light pollution now being used by the usual dark sky organizations and all the other astronomy organizations. I know we astronomers all mean well but we are NOT being successful using the worn out approaches!

We have groups like the ICCI in Iowa here in Michigan and like yours, ours are very active and activist oriented.

As a former member of the Astronomical League and a former member of the IDA I also agree with your contention that the Astronomical League should be doing much more than it is, especially at it's annual and regional meetings and at the local level, but as you already know, I'm aware just how difficult it is to get astronomers involved in the light pollution issue, even though they know light pollution will eventually destroy astronomy as we have come to know it! Also, I agree with you in an earlier R and R about how the telescope industry should get more involved in fighting light pollution, but they, like all businesses, are only interested in the bottom line and their profits.

I wish I could help you get astronomers more motivated and activated, but I don't know what it will take. Perhaps the only thing that will work is the loss of the night sky view over most of the country.

Right now, most of my astronomical friends (here in Michigan and elsewhere) still have the means and the money to travel to dark sky sites out of state or in the far nothern parts of Michigan. Perhaps the price of gas will eventually get astronomers off their butts and into the battle. I hope so.

If I didn't have a job and family and weren't in the public eye as you once were, old Stargeezer, I'd be out there kicking astronomical ass with ya! Don't give up! No matter what the dark sky organizations and the damned astroglossies (as you call them) say!!

P.S. Our family switched to free-range meat last year and will NEVER return to the crappy corporate meat and corporate food again! We are growing lots of what we eat in our own garden, too, this year! I never realized how good food could be until I started eating home grown food! You should read Barbara Kingsolver's book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, if you haven't already! Americans have become clueless slaves to the corporations who've taken over our food supply and are now at work getting their filthy hands on the water supplies of the country and world! You should write an R and R about that issue, Stargeezer, even tho it has nothing to do with dark skies.

Please keep your Rs and Rs coming as long as you can. There are a few of us astronomers out here under corporate cluttered skies who cherish your fire and brimstone efforts and your words of motivation!

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14. FROM Capt. Blackout across the "pond":

Hello from across the "pond"! Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed looking at your web site, and to wish you all the best with your own local (dark sky) campaign.

Cheers, best wishes for Clear/Dark Skies.

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13. FROM Jenny in NYC:

I am a midwest girl who moved to New York City, and the light pollution is driving me out of NYC. I am trying relentlessly to get the massive "highway" lights masquerading as "streetlights" (ha ha!) off my street. I will e-mail my council members everyday until I see action!

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12. FROM Mark along the North Carolina coast:

I've watched the local nighttime sky go from bad to worse in a matter of months. I live in a relatively small beachtown, and, right in town, the seeing was never that good, though I would say it was probably (unfortunately) above average. But if I traveled just a few miles to the southern end of an island, the heavens opened up, and I was able to see the beautiful Milky Way with ease.

That all changed just a few months ago. I remember up to October going to the southern end of the island to view the Milky Way. Visiting toward the end of November and into December, the Milky Way was washed out, and overall I would estimate seeing at least 50% less stars than before. I hypothesized that this was a temporary thing, due to both public and private Christmas light displays (people go all out here). But as January rolled in, and definitely by February, it became apparent that the Milky Way was long gone from southeastern North Carolina. In that time, several large corporate-owned beachwear megastores have been built.

These things are some of the ugliest things I have ever seen in this corner of the world, making a small beachtown look more like the Vegas strip. I could NOT BELIEVE the intensity of the lighting installed. Worse, the stores were NOT EVEN OPEN! They wouldn't be open for months, as they operate seasonally! Yet the huge stadium-like lights were turned on, turning midnight into high noon on the Atlantic coast, USA. Worse, these stores are right on the edge of an otherwise beautiful state park.

Thank you for setting up your website and spreading your (Dark Sky) pledge. Count me in to help "enlighten" the SOBs (Satans Of Brightness) by turning their lights out!

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11. FROM a Dark Sky Representative of an astronomy club in the southern U.S.:

How do you feel about catching the "green" wave as a way to push our cause past the "tipping point"?

I tried to contact Global Green, but have not heard back, but I intend to follow up with them.

We also have "green" developers, or at least that is what they advertise. I plan on tweaking them to include fully shielded lighting in their "green" projects.

Green seems to be "in" so it probably wouldn't hurt to hitch our wagon for a ride.

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10. FROM a beginning amateur astronomer who travels all over America:

Driving down the road all night has taught me one thing. Bright streetlights cause more harm than good, especially after a rainstorm, because the glare can keep one from distinguishing the lanes of travel. I've had that happen many times.

Back in the 1980s the college campus folks started lighting up campuses like Christmas trees because of a rash of attacks on young women. The attacks still seem to happen. That's because universities just wanted to throw money at the problem to avoid liability, which obviously didn't work.

Schools didn't seem to get that they were liable either way, and listening to a lawyer tell them to throw a bunch of money at the problem with lights instead of education, which a college is supposed to have an affinity for, doesn't make any sense.

Now most colleges have their own campus police, which was the way to go back then, but now the lights are already there.

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9. FROM someone interested in dark skies:

Turning off lights is something, but it may not be enough. I believe if you want people to pay attention and be on your side, you must enlist very high profile people.

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8. FROM Gary, a stargazer in New Jersey:

I live in Bergen county New Jersey, and my sky consists of a few dozen stars at the most. I can see the little and big dipper, and feel very lucky. I live a few miles outside New York City. Sometimes I go camping in the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York State, and I am amazed at how many "millions" of stars there are. Thanks for your web-site, and information.

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7. FROM a beginning amateur astronomer who travels all over America: 5-11-08

To the upset republican in Texas (comment number 4):

I'm a republican also, but I don't remember economic growth coming out of lighting up the sky. It's burning money, but not in the right direction. The reason they light up the skies is for crime and advertising. We all could do with less of either of those! Lighting is useless on crime, and advertising lighting could be done differently. Criminals will be criminals either way, but those lighting specialists you were talking about are there for one reason, improving the way lights affect the sky. That's a good thing. Coming up with a new product can't be a bad thing, right? Why are you so angry with him (Stargeezer)? He's doing something! All stargazers should.

Sure, there are bigger problems for the candidates to deal with. But it's not a money issue, it's an educational issue. If someone in power were to mention light pollution we could get more people to notice how out of hand it is.

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6. FROM a beginning amateur astronomer who travels all over America: 4-23-08

Please darken the skies for me.

Stargazing is a great hobby for beginners. I know because I am one. It's great for education and keeping kids off the streets and in the fields and parks. I'm 40 years old and I remember what it was like when I was kid in a small town and you can't even see the sky in some small towns any more than a city.

Killing the lights at night will create more and better camping sites closer to urban areas, which in turn will get more people interested in the outdoors, and create interest in all outdoor activities and ecological objectives.

Astronomy is one of the few hobbies that has no drawbacks in increasing the number of people interested. It's not hard on the environment. Parks won't be too crowded with people and it would only make an affordable hobby cheaper.

So if the presidential candidates are interested in ecology, education and the economy, they should give some attention to light pollution.

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5. FROM a Stargeezer in the SE United States:

While I agree wholeheartedly with your R&R #9--What's the NRA got to do with it?--I can't help but be frustrated and aggravated just thinking about the 250,000 professional and amateur astronomers that are sitting on the sidelines waiting for skies to suddenly become darker. The IDA won't get it done, not with half of the IDA Board made up of lighting professionals and the largest amount of monies coming in from lighting companies that are lifetime members. What's wrong with that picture??

I've spent far too many years spinning my wheels and getting nowhere just to watch the sky become many times brighter than it was 10 years ago. And I'm tick'd off that at least 7 years have gone by and the only good IDA MLO was the very first version - it would have worked!

Keep stirring the pot, maybe some of the sideline-sitters will finally get into the game. As I've told people in the past and keep telling them, if you're not involved in LP reform, nothing will happen. But if you do, there's a 50/50 chance that you can bring about change! And that's better than Zero!!!

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4. FROM an astronomer in Texas who is very upset with me and my efforts: 1-15-08

You're Web site is useless! Your efforts are never going to work! Why be so angry about light pollution? As an astronomer living in Texas, in range of one of its larger cities (where I work), I may have to travel to see the sky well, but nothing you are doing will solve the problem of light pollution! Stop wasting your time and mine and that of other astronomers.

You sound like you advocate for the human species to go back to the Dark Ages? What an ass.... you are! Growth is always good. I wouldn't even have my two big telescopes if it weren't for growth and business! You must be one of those drugged up hippies leftover from the '60s! In your picture on the link (Ed's note: Who is Milky Way Man?) you look like you've been sucking drugs for decades!

And who gives a damn about your Iowa caucuses?! No one cares! The rest of America is growing, and though I don't like light pollution myself, the Republican who will eventually be in the White House will not be involved in such a liberal cause! There are far more important things out here in America than some astronomers complaining about light pollution.

Just shut up and go play with what is likely your tiny telescope and leave the rest of us alone!

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3. FROM an amateur astronomer in NE South Carolina: 1-8-08

Stargeezer:

I am now an official "stargeezer," too, and I've been trying to educate local leaders, citizens, etc., about light pollution since 1982.

But over the years I've heard and read about lighting ordinances being passed and then just ignored. Makes absolutely no sense. Concerning light pollution, Einstein was absolutely correct when he stated, "Today's problems can not be solved if we still think the way we thought when we created them." The leaders (and IDA) today seem to think that if we continue doing things as we've always done them, everything will work out alright. Sort of like adding 2 + 2 and getting 5. If we do it enough we'll eventually be right. Drives me nuts.

In 1992 I spoke before our local City Council in northeast South Carolina about the problems associated with light pollution. The members listened attentively but put off doing anything about it. After hanging in there, the city finally decided to pass the lighting ordinance in September of 1997, but wouldn't you know it, our local utility shot it down. Again I didn't give up, and finally in February, 2000 the ordinance was passed!

And then things got worse! The city hired a new building official in the summer of 2001, and this guy doesn't like light pollution activists, and he has gone out of his way to only enforce the lighting law when he wants to. Get this: twice he's threatened me with a state warrant and a $5,000 fine for talking to electricians who told me that they didn't even know we had a lighting law. The building official is supposed to TELL them, not me.

Anyway, light pollution is many times worse now because of this guy, but believe me, I've had my run-ins with him. More than once I've gone to his office to report non-compliant fixtures, and the discussion got fairly heated. He got really angry at me one day and told me to get out of his office, to which my reply was, "this is the taxpayer's office, you get out." After a couple more exchanges he again told me to get out of his office. I laughed at him and said, "you get out of my town."

So it's very frustrating and aggravating, but I'm fighting back and standing up for better lighting, even with the building official AND the utility doing their own thing--ignoring the law.

After reading all of your stuff (many times!) let me say that I absolutely agree with everything you say about the light pollution groups that are "getting along" with and "making allies not enemies" with the lighting industry. It makes no sense to gladly present the key to the hen-house to the fox, but that's what has happened. And when the dues paying members speak up about it, well, we're labeled as troublemakers. Tough! I'm a troublemaker.

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2. FROM BENNETT, A MEMBER OF AN ASTRONOMY CLUB IN WASHINGTON STATE: 12-7-07

Thank you Stargeezer! It's about time someone thought of the idea to flood the presidential candidate's campaigns with e-mails and calls about light pollution!

You are the first astronomer I've known who's not afraid to take on the conventional "wisdom" of the IDA and the "mainstream" astronomy magazines. Don't let them off the hook!

We need more nonconventional thinking, not more of the same old ideas (IDeAs(?)-- I love it!). I'd love to hear you speak at some future astronomical conventions. It's good to know you still have a real sense of humor about this issue. I think most of us astronomers lost it long ago!! But I can understand why you have retreated from the "spotlight!"

I hope all the other astronomers out there will read your reflections and refractions and will take them to heart and get to work!!

My e-mails are off to the candidate's Web sites and I will send more over the coming months! Thanks again Stargeezer!

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1. FROM ROBERT IN OLD BRIDGE, NEW JERSEY:

Well, you do a good job of getting my blood boiling again! My name is Rob and I have been in the hobby full tilt for 2 years, buying a 12" scope, which I use in an apartment, aimed out a window. It will have to do, but it gets maximum use.

Well, to the subject of light pollution and a cure: I have tried to get my relatives involved with some schools locally, but with very little results. So I propose state-by-state class-action law suits, naming all amateur astronomers as the plaintifs--we start at $50 million in each state X 50 states = $2.5 billion, and we charge the defendents--all advertizers with outside billboards--for just cause by trying to save $150 per billboard and to mount the lights on top, shining down. By shining billboard lights down the lumin requirements could be less, requiring less electricity. I propose that if the advertizers are threatened with a law suit and if they try to settle, that we settle for every sign in America to be flipped from up-lighting to a design with lights shining down.

And what about the huge outdoor signs where 20 or more fluourescent bulbs are required per sign? Because most businesses are closed overnight, what is their purpose other than to advertise, increasing the owner’s electricity bill and adding cost to the consumer. Besides, business owners: your customers know where you are located, and all your locations are safely tucked away in the memories of omnipresent GPS units across the country.

All humans have a right to dark skies; indeed recent studies show that human health, as well as plant and animal health, is dependent upon darkness at night. Many current and recent class-action suits are based on the plaintiffs' right to health. Lighting up the night sky is a health issue as many studies of various diseases indicate. For example, everyone already knows how inappropriate nighttime lights influence our sleep habits. One bad night's sleep has an impact on everyone, especially in productivity and attitude.

Other recent class-action lawsuits are common: dangerous toys, unsafe medicines / drugs, and what about vehicle recalls due to defective parts (tires, brakes, etc.), which cause death and lifetime disability injuries.

Lighting up the night skies is a health issue. A class-action lawsuit against the poor lighting countrywide could help solve the problem.

Stargazing / amateur astronomy is a hobby or interest for many people. And yet, we are forced to travel vast distances to enjoy our hobby. We have to wonder, what would happen if other peoples' hobbies / interests, such as golfing, were equally impacted by something that forced them to travel to enjoy their hobbies / interests.

And last, but not least our children: if we darken the night sky, many more young people would be inspired to take up astronomy / stargazing as a hobby. Restoring the night sky to darkness would likely return astronomy to school curricula, providing a more interesting nighttime activity for young people.