Neighbour porch light

An umbrella is an interesting idea, except for the fact that I don’t own one lol!

In some cities, light pollution is becoming recognized as another type of pollution, as is noise and air pollution.

Check with your city zoning laws.   Without escalating conflict, try talking with your neighbors and explain that while they have the right to have light on their property at night, you have the right to not have their light shining into your yard.   The sad reality is that most people have never given thought to the idea of light pollution.  Light at night has proven so useful and practical that people do not understand there's a big downside.  I am reading a book now by a biologist who writes about light pollution's effect on flowers, insects, birds, fish and other animals.  It's impacting their mating, pollinating, hunting and migration habits and causing confusion and changes in their behavior.  

There are also in some cities (we have one here in San Francisco) neighborhood arbitration boards that help neighbors resolve conflicts without having to resort to legal battles and other escalatory measures.  Try showing your neighbors some high quality astrophotographs and help them appreciate what you're trying to do.  If they have any curiosity or sensitivity at all, they'll recognize the immense beauty and mystery of deep space objects. You might be able to win them over and help them to understand why light pollution is a problem and that your desire to have a dark imaging environment is not irrational. 

I have a neighbor who shines a very bright light into his yard that is unshielded and floods my yard at night sometimes.  I've tried talking and emailing him about it but he doesn't care nor does he recognize my right not to have his light in my yard.  My next step is to ask him to come to neighborhood arbitration to see if is willing to shield his bulb and make it less bright.  It's the only light in my neighborhood that has been a problem for imaging.

There's a lot that can be done to mitigate light pollution but as the world's population continues to explode it's getting more difficult.  Directional lighting, lights with motion detectors, shielding, less bright bulbs, turning off lights when not needed–all these fairly easy solutions will not only cut down on light pollution but will save energy as well.  

I remember a few months ago driving home from a Bortle 3 site and passing by a large car lot around midnight that had these huge light poles shining dozens of very bright lights on the cars in the lots.  I thought what a terrible waste of energy.  They could use motion detectors that would make the lights only to go on if someone is in the lot!

My neighbors now have 3 massive white lights on their back porch illuminating my (and their) entire yard.  I really don't know why people think they need such bright lights.  At least put it on a motion sensor.

Just another reason backyard imaging is becoming less and less possible.

Last year I purchased a Sky Box from John Love that I never got around to setting up.  When I bought it I didn't really intend it for backyard use but I might finally put it together now.

A skybox can really help for things like this.

I made a shade from a lightweight camping mat and an elastic rubber band. 
The shade can be easily be moved around to find the best possible position and no extra weight to the telescope .

Now that looks like a cheap, lazy solution that I can manage!

Years ago I read an article about a guy who made himself portable observatory walls, either in Astronomy or Sky and Tel magazine. They were made from 2x2’s and 1/8” tempered masonite. He designed in such a way as to have 4 sections of 2 panels each that were hinged. The pairs of panels would hook together with simple screen door hooks. This would then form an octagon. Also in the design were shutters that could extend or retract in the upper section of each of the 8 sections to block or allow a better view. Was going to make myself one but never got around to it. My driveway, where I do most of my shoots has a streetlight about 40 feet from me. Lucky it’s in the NW part of my sky where I don’t do much shooting. This might be a solution for anyone looking to set something up that can be easily stored when not in use, just fold the 2panel section and the can lay flat. The height of the wall section can be designed for your particular situation. 2’ wall sections, I believe, if memory and my math serves me, would form a structure with an 8’ dimension inside, plenty enough for most setups. A beauty of it is you can have a door anywhere you need all the way around, just unhook a section and it hinges open, and with the top sections can either slide or I think his folded down with hinges also. Anyone with any skill with a saw can easily make this and it’s pretty low tech and cost. I just thought it was a good idea and will be making myself one when I get a smaller rig. Also one other thing, you wouldn’t even need to set the whole thing up, just what you needed.

The lights on my street in a Bortle 9 city...
I believe they can be seen from space!

Got 2 just like it. One in MY front yard and one due south just across the street. But at least I’m just in a bortle 6 area.

Yeah, had the same problem here.

my goal was to block the light from all sides - 360 degrees.
(i have light from all around: my room, neighbors, street lights, nearby factory, etc)

so i needed to make lens hood.

this is what i've used:
- a round box of pringles chips
- a spray-can of mate black paint.

make pringles chips can empty (you can do it!)
wash it thoroughly with soap
dry for a day or two
sand from inside to improve adhesion
- spray a tiny layer of paint
- let dry
- repeat

6-8 layers of paint inside will do the job of eliminating all reflections.

you can cut the box to the proper length when it does does not interfere with image.

it also makes your setup a bit longer, so neighbors and your ex will respect you more.

IKEA has a so-called privacy outdoor screen named SLÄTTÖ. I am sure anyone with rudimentary carpentry skills can make something similar, and at dimensions suiting his particular needs.