Why light pollution sucks

The Spindoctors · Post by **The Spindoctors** » 21 January 07 11:27 pm

Spent a great weekend in Red Ochre country. Compare the difference between these two views of a comet from Sydney and outside of Dubbo.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/science/tail ... 28988.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80065621@N00/364355176/

OK. Admittedly I had a little more idea of what I was doing, but it certainly shows the contrast.

Maybe we should consider doing this: http://competitions.f2.com.au/enter.cgi ... earth_hour If not for the environment, at least for an hour in which the next generation might see a few more stars.

zactyl · Post by **zactyl** » 22 January 07 12:40 am

That's a great photo!

You've dropped a full stop into the end of that link, breaking it.
Don't need lights on anyway staring at a computer screen.

The Spindoctors · Post by **The Spindoctors** » 22 January 07 8:43 am

Thanks Zactyl. Fixed the link also.

Bronze · Post by **Bronze** » 22 January 07 12:11 pm

You fixed the full stop but this thread has the most scary avatars I've seen. Thats nearly 15 years of net experience to compare to. Thought I better add mine to give the thread some balance, you know the whole yin yang thing.

Yeah, the comet looks ok but looking through your photos, you have an amazing shot of, what that... yes Volkswagens. Twins are they?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80065621@N ... otostream/

riblit · Post by **riblit** » 22 January 07 12:55 pm

That's a great shot Spindoc, Another reason I should have added my tripod to the list of things to take.

Zytheran · Post by **Zytheran** » 22 January 07 11:45 pm

On the other hand, with clear skies after some rain...

you can get ok photos over a city.

Cached · Post by **Cached** » 22 January 07 11:53 pm

stunning pic.

LazyLeopard · Post by **LazyLeopard** » 23 January 07 4:53 am

Great shots, folks. Where were you when you took them? I sent my sister out with her kids to go look for it, and they eventually spotted it from the Zig Zag in Gooseberry Hill WA. Me? I'm stuck in cloud-bedraggled, wind-torn, cold, dark Blighty, and missed out. However someone at my local astronomical society managed to grab some shots one evening.

The Spindoctors · Post by **The Spindoctors** » 23 January 07 10:48 pm

Cool. I'm glad city slickers are getting a view. I've only seen a total of a minute from Sydney. Hopefully, we'll all see some more before it goes away.

If · Post by If » 23 January 07 11:12 pm

Forget the comet. (Great piccy though). Bring back the old SpinDoc avatar. I used to think he was a young bloke. Age pollution is not good either

noorat · Post by **noorat** » 24 January 07 8:29 pm

http://noorat.no-ip.info/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=282

here's another

Richary · Post by **Richary** » 27 January 07 7:12 pm

I was in the Mornington Peninsula for a week but a combination of smoke or cloud prevented any viewing. Then back in Adelaide cloud.

But last Monday night went driving down to Kingston SE in the evening and had a beautiful view of it about 9pm in the middle of nowhere. Got a reasonable photo a couple of nights later in town there, funny the early one with glow in the sky and streetlights worked better than later when it was dark (must be the digital camera auto settings).

Adelaide I think there is too much glow in the sky.

Geof · Post by **Geof** » 27 January 07 9:15 pm

How big is that pic. It's been loading for a good few miniutes and still aint here

.

Was talking to some astronomy buffs and they where telling me how they "deal" with street lights

Ahh the darn site contains flash

Oh well not for me

I was able to see the comit from near home and there was a fare bit of light comeing up from the southern suberbs. Id bet it would look great from well out country.

Zytheran · Post by **Zytheran** » 27 January 07 11:07 pm

Out interest and to deal the nuances of digital cameras I ran of film through the old camera and took various long exposure shots. Yes, the light pollution is well and truly visible in the glare in the sky compared to where McNaught took his photos which was out in the country. Even so, they still show about 40 degrees of tail and all the tail detail.

I'll upload when I scan in the negatives.

TeamAstro · Post by **TeamAstro** » 28 January 07 12:19 am

Glad you guys have posted this topic.

check our resource: http://www.assa.org.au/lightpollution/

there is also an international dark sky association, but the above link will help you understand this topic a lot more. Check out the pages - there are some pictures if you can't be bothered reading....

clear skies (know you know why I say that!!!)
Astro

some excellent comet shots here: http://petelee.smugmug.com/gallery/2350775

Geocaching Australia

Why light pollution sucks

Why light pollution sucks

Comet, what comet ?