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Help To Map Light Pollution

Posted by kdawson on from the thousand-stars-in-the-sky dept.

jcgam69 writes "October 1 marked the first day of the Great Worldwide Star Count, a half-month citizen science project that will harness thousands of observers across the globe to help map light pollution."

2 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Here ya go: by bakana · · Score: 1, Troll

    I'm sorry, light pollution sounds like such a made up term. I fail to see how light pollution has any relevance to my life. Is it simply because you can't see stars at night? Tell me there is something more substantial than that. Even after reading the wikipedia article on it, I can't figure out why this phrase would interest people.

  2. Re:Support the idea but ..... by Quarters · · Score: 0, Troll

    You wouldn't save energy by replacing your omni directional bulb based reading lamp with one that just focuses the light on your book. The level of brightness of a given bulb does not increase in one area if you block it from emitting in other areas. If your omni directional bulb was 60w to start with your unidirectional bulb would also have to be 60w for you to receive the same level of illumination on your book (all other things being equal). The only way you'd reduce energy waste and make economic sense would be to replace your standard 60w filament based omni directional bulb with an omni directional CFL bulb of equivalent lumen output at a lower wattage. That would, of course, do nothing to curb the light pollution created by that lamp. For that there is this amazing invention called the "lamp shade". Don't worry, very few lamp shades require energy to work. You won't be making any extra waste by using one.