Colorado Section of the IDA

Perhaps the greatest achievement in the past 130 years is the invention and use of electric light. Easy and cheap to buy, its use now extends to so many applications that many  finding themselves “in the dark” readily attest to the great service it provides. Some uses are essential like car head lights and lighting dark stairwells, but others are now becoming so common place they are a hindrance to more basic activities like sleep. Its proliferation, mainly out-of-doors, has created a new task for society: controlling its over and misuses.

 

Light Pollution has become a deterrent to the human ability to get a restful night’s sleep and is now also an increasingly costly way to have 24-hr day. “Curbing” the lights after dark is not only easier on the sleep cycle, it is becoming increasingly so much kinder to the check books of cities, counties, states, companies and individuals as well.

 

Some point to the use of a light “always on” as the best way to keep a place safe, but unfortunately this is not always true. Often the type of lighting used can actually work to the opposite effect and decrease security if misapplied. So a new partner in crime today has become the misapplied light (the criminal hiding in the glare).

 

GOT MILKY WAY? How many years has it been since you’ve seen your own galaxy at night, let alone our very large nearby neighbor, Andromeda? Some falsely believe it requires a telescope to see the Andromeda Galaxy. This is completely false. It has always been readily viewable with the naked eye until only recently as we leave more-and-more lights “on” at night. Who owns the sky, or the night? Shouldn’t we get a say in who “pays” for this carelessly created 24 hr. day? We can “get it right” and should all take an active interest in making this happen again.

 

 

Contact information:

Please contact Aaron Reid with any questions or comments

about the contents and activities mentioned in this section.

 

Contact the International Dark-Sky Association for national efforts and activities.

 

The new Navigation Bar presumes you have ActiveX “on,” or allowed for all or some sites in IE6 and 7 in order to use our fly-out menus. The choice is yours. Simply say “yes” when asked in order to use our new and convenient NavBar on the left and you’ll find getting around the site will be so much easier.