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Thread: Dark skies coming!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
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    Dark skies coming!

    News item today about the County of Essex
    turning off most streetlights between midnight
    and 5am. This will be interesting if other
    areas follow. Must be the rising energy costs
    that have sparked such a move. Folks are
    advised to take a torch if out late. Mmmm....
    wonder if torches with pepper sprays will
    come to market? No No must not be cynical!

  2. #2
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    It would be nice if this started a trend. More often I see people who leave their porch lights on overnight or have floodlights for their yard.
    Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.

  3. #3
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    It would be interesting if instead of lights
    people invest in security items like passive
    infrared detectors and cameras. It might be
    a new urban sport trying to catch burglars
    unawares! But it needs instant police
    attention to work so perhaps not. BTW your
    avatar makes me nervous

  4. #4
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    Sunrise for Essex at the moment is - about 5.00am
    Its well light at 4.00am at this time of year, currently 8.50pm(ish) with the sun still beaming down on Bristol(good ol high latitudes, fantastic at this time of year, grim in winter).

  5. #5
    Bristol at high latitudes? Heh...

    Nice to see the sky darkening night by night... soon the stars will be visible again.

  6. #6
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    Well, higher perhaps... I was a bit concerned about the astronomy implications of my last post though

  7. #7
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    they'll turn off their lights, but will they turn off their air conditioners??

  8. #8
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    When I moved out here in the country, the electric company asked me if I wanted a yard light. I said "only if you put a switch on it so I can turn it off". They said "no problem", but did not put in the light! I'm not complaining.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Ozzy
    they'll turn off their lights, but will they turn off their air conditioners??
    Air conditioners? In Essex?

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kaptain K
    When I moved out here in the country, the electric company asked me if I wanted a yard light. I said "only if you put a switch on it so I can turn it off". They said "no problem", but did not put in the light! I'm not complaining.
    There's a lot of talk in this area about city people moving out to the country and being uncomfortable with the darkness, so they light up their yards like the Fourth of July. I always wonder about people who move to the country but who want to take the city with them.
    Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by ToSeek
    There's a lot of talk in this area about city people moving out to the country and being uncomfortable with the darkness, so they light up their yards like the Fourth of July. I always wonder about people who move to the country but who want to take the city with them.
    Urban paranoia being exported to suburbia and exurbia.

  12. #12
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    I'm looking forward to 12 billion years into the future or so...think how dark the skies will be then (though not from Earth)...

  13. #13
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    Air conditioners? In Essex?
    Give it another 10 -20 years.

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