Date: November 27, 2010
Title: Podcast Against Light Pollution
Podcaster: Thomas Hofstätter
Organization: :: The Hidden Space Project :: at http://hidden-space.at.tf.
Description: This podcasts discusses the topic of light pollution affecting humans as well as animals and the whole environment. Großmugl, a small city in Lower Austria, therefore has decided to reduce the amount of light pollution to protect the heavens. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions to the podcast, feel free to write me an email to hidden-space (at) gmx (dot) at or visit me at my website at www.hidden-space.at.tf!
Bio: Born in 1993 near Vienna, Austria, Europe. Upper High School with focus on Computer Science.Interested in extreme small and extreme big, devious and uninvestigated things. My main aim is to bring astronomy to public and to establish secular interest in astronomy, physics and mathematics. Host of :: The Hidden Space Project :: at http://hidden-space.at.tf.
Today’s sponsor: This episode of “365 Days of Astronomy” is sponsored by — no one. We still need sponsors for many days in 2010, so please consider sponsoring a day or two. Just click on the “Donate” button on the lower left side of this webpage, or contact us at signup@365daysofastronomy.org.
Transcript:
Hello and welcome to this episode of 365 Days of Astronomy. My name is Thomas Hofstätter and I am the hoster of :: The Hidden Space Project :: at www.hidden-space.at.tf.
[Leon:] And I’m Leon Dombroski from the state of Connecticut in the United States.
In this episode, we are going to talk about the global problem of light pollution. It affects not only amateur astronomers but all humans, animals and plants. Some cities therefore have decided to help reducing the amount of light pollution.
[Leon:] As mentioned in some podcasts before, starlight is an important possession that humans own. Due to the increasing amount of light pollution, fewer and fewer stars can be seen at tonightís sky. Light pollution is mostly caused by street and building illumination. Looking into the skies in a city, you will see a few hundreds of stars, if you are lucky. Elsewhere you would be able to see up to some hundred thousands.
Thatís the reason for professional astronomers to build up their telescopes at extreme conditions as can be seen at the Mauna Kea Observatories or the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Nevertheless, in some decades, people will only be used to see the moon and perhaps some of the brighter planets as the only celestial objects.
[Leon:] According to scientific investigations, light pollution has a great impact on the environment. Nocturnal animals, for instance, loose their complete environmet and therefore their number is to decrease in huge steps. But also humans are affected by the huge amount of light pollution. It can be measured that sleeping disorders are more common in cities where there is a higher amount of light pollution than in others.
An interesting point at this topic is, that most of the light pollution can be avoided by simple modifications that also help us to save energy and therefore money. Using special lampshades for street lights helps to concentrate the light on the street, which means that they donít have to be that bright.
[Leon:] Advertisement signs and building illumination are other facts that cause light pollution. Most buildings are brightened from the ground to the top, which means that some of the light shines directly into heaven. If the building had been illuminated from the top to the bottom, the light would just illuminate the ground.
Around the world, amateur astronomers are fighting against the problem of light pollution. During the summer vacation this year, the UNESCO Commission approved a paper by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) claiming that tonightís sky is a valuable commodity that needs to be protected.
[Leon:] Groflmugl, a small city in Lower Austria, Europe, has decided to run for the title of an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Scientists of Vienna have found out that next to Groflmugl, the skies are darker than other areas in the world.
Although the city lies near Vienna, Austria, the light of the Austrian capital doesnít affect the light pollution that much. Itís one of the few places in Austria (except for the alps) where you can still see the Milky Way.
[Leon:] To promote the dark sky, the city major together with scientists of the Kuffner Sternwarte in Vienna has decided to shut up even the street lamps. The illumination of the church is also shut up at some times.
Citizens also have the chance to participate in the project by modifying e.g. their outside illumination or turn it off. Yet, Groflmugl has become a target for amateur astronomers of the local area due to the fact that you can see the bands of the Milky Way. Thatís not possible in the closer area.
[Leon:] Due to financial problems, other cities around the globe have decided to reduce or even turn off completely their street and building illumination. By doing so, they can save money and protect tonightís sky.
[Leon:] The International Dark-Sky Association does another big step protecting tonightís sky by providing information on this topic.
That’s it for today. I hope, you enjoyed it. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, write me an email to hidden-space (at) gmx (dot) at or visit me at my website at www.hidden-space.at.tf.
Thanks for listening and clear-skies!
[Leon:] Good bye for now!
End of podcast:
365 Days of Astronomy
=====================
The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Astrosphere New Media Association. Audio post-production by Preston Gibson. Bandwidth donated by libsyn.com and wizzard media. Web design by Clockwork Active Media Systems. You may reproduce and distribute this audio for non-commercial purposes. Please consider supporting the podcast with a few dollars (or Euros!). Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org. Until tomorrow…goodbye.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks