Streetlight Lightpollution

Daniel Renner:
I have a light pole that is maybe 3-4 meters and I'm thinking on buying a big bucket with a stick attached to it so I can put it over the lamp when I image..

as long as you don't get arrested, I would say definitely go for it. Short of that, you can limit yourself to narrowband. I usually have a tough time imaging broadband at home for the same reason.

I was just going to start a thread and post something very similar.  I have a neighbor whose backyard light is extremely bright, it shines right into my yard when I am trying to image.   So I went over to talk to him about the issue, of course being as neighborly, kind and tactful as I should be.   He later said he lowered the light on the wall it's on, but it doesn't look lower to me.   I sense that he's going to get angry if I bring it up with him again, he seems like he's on a short fuse and doesn't have much empathy.

So I am wondering if I can buy some kind of portable barrier for my backyard and put it up near a fence so that it's blocking that one light, sort of like one of the Japanese folding barriers for indoors.  Has anyone tried this solution? 

Though the world is becoming far more aware of soil, air, water pollution and the effect humans are having on climate, we have  quite a ways to go before people start understanding the consequences of light pollution--it's not just astronomers and astrophotographers that are suffering.   I am reading a great book on light pollution by a Swedish biologist whose specialty is bats, and it turns out that many species of animals and insects are having their world turned upside down because of light pollution.  Hunting, mating, pollinating--all these nocturnal activities are being negatively impacted by the artificial light that is confusing the circadian rhythms and how our bodies naturally adjust to daytime and nighttime.   Human sleep patterns and psychological states are being affected as well.  Biologists and other scientists are now as concerned about it as are astronomers and astrophotographers.

I think that every astrophotographer is going to have to become, to one degree or another, a bit of an activist.  We need to thoughtfully explain to people that light pollution is a problem, but that it's a problem that can be mitigated fairly easily in many cases.   Motion detectors can be used to keep lights off when not needed.  Directional lighting that doesn't scatter light all over the place when it's needed only in one area is also helpful.  Turning off lights that are not necessary is part of the solution, as is not flooding an area with light when a far less bright light will accomplish the task.  

Humans have a particular fear of darkness that goes back to our earliest primitive ancestors, we just don't see as well at night as some other animals do.   We have to learn to make this fear more conscious, so that we don't let it automatically dictate everything we do relative to darkness.

Finally, I am sure many of you know the statistic:  light pollution is increasing about 9.6% every year.   80% of the planet is already drenched in artificial light.  I don't feel, nor do I want to feel, particularly political when I am out under the sky trying to image deep-space objects.   But I think it's being forced upon us by a civilization that knows no limits, that knows the price of everything and value of nothing, and where endless growth and endless profit are Gods to be worshiped and obeyed.

See:
https://www.insidescience.org/index.php/news/astronomers-encourage-cities-shield-outdoor-lighting

While I don't have streetlights to contend with, I do have a new neighbor who is leaving on two outdoor lights that were never on with the previous owner. My approach will be to first invite them over the next time I am set up. They will see the light problem. Maybe. I will also offer to pay for and install new shielded light fixtures for them. Not that hard to do.

I had that problem where I had previously lived.  I called the power company and asked them if they could install a shield and they did.
Give it a try.

PVC (the strongest you can find), UV resistant tarps from Tarps Now, zip ties and u-shaped stakes and an IPA.  Helps with wind also.    -john

I have a yard light in my backyard that is attached to my power pole, and I used to shine a narrow-beam spotlight on it when I was imaging to trick the sensor. However, last year I hired an electrician to put a switch on the light pole so now I just switch it off when I set up the telescope.

Now all we have to do is put switches everywhere on all the light poles in the city and we're good to go

Of the post on this topic that I have read so far, I am a fan of the switch on the light in question and the wind - light shield around the imaging rig. I understand that crime and home invasions are increasing here in the US, and people feel safer with outdoor lighting and cameras. With that said, most people today are installing "white light - Broad spectrum - LED lighting" these lights are energy efficient with reduced energy costs. However, they are extremely difficult to filter out at the imaging rig. Maybe offer to replace the light on your neighbors property with an older style HPS or Mercury Vapor fixture. These lights emit a narrower spectrum of light and are much easier to filter out with the numerous LP filters available to the visual observer and AP imager.

As far as a wind - light shield solution. I use a 10'x10'x6'h chain link dog pen and attach tarps to the exterior. Very effective against the wind and a very stable platform if you need to attach PVC poles and plastic or tarps for additional height on the side facing your neighbor.  

Good Luck and CS, Tim

Jeffery, 

I agree nothing is perfect! Short of an Observatory build, (I am jealous), this is just an at hoc solution for the imager who started this thread. I did attend the Nebraska Star Party this past summer and quite a few people were using a mesh type wind shield. It was black and looked "stretchy" vs using a tarp. The folks that were using this material had good reviews as to its effectiveness for wind and light shielding. maybe a hybrid solution with this material on 3 sides and something more opaque (tarp - plastic) facing the offending light… 

I use the dog pen solution because I am too old and to lazy to setup a light shield - wind break when needed. It is all I can do to setup the astro equipment when the opportunity presents itself (horrible skies in Missouri, USA). I live in a rural area not that far off the county road. This solution, for me, is more effective for blocking headlights from automobiles as I have to image from the front yard because my house is up against the tree line of the forest that is my back yard… The tarped dog pen also keeps my equipment shielded from prying eyes of the cars that pass by… Not that is a concern for most people who is imaging from his back yard.

Cheers and CS to you!!!

Tim

There are no streetlights in my street but I have neighbors on both (east/west)  sides with strong outdoor lights, so I put a shade on each telescope made of a lightweight camping mat.
Well, the strange here is, that the husbands sometimes turn off the outdoor lights when they see the telescope are out, but their wives turn it on again, as soon as they discover the darkness.

Simple.  Order a 10-100 mW green laser.  Mount it on a tripod and aim it at the light sensor on the street light.  That will shut it off for some period of time.  If you want it off for the whole night, you’ll have to keep your laser shining on it.  Just make ABSOLUTELY certain that the entire laser beam is blocked by the sensor on the light.   If it leaks by and it is intercepted by an aircraft, they will mount up a posse to come looking for you and when they find you, it won’t be pretty.   For that reason, I would recommend using the lowest power laser that will work.  1 mW or less is consider laser safe so you might try a simple laser pointer first.  Try both red and green since the sensor may be more sensitive to a specific color.

John