Patrick Murphy
10-25-2007, 11:15 AM
A laser installation in the U.K. that shoots out of Blackpool Tower has been strongly criticized by a leading astronomer for "ruining the view of the sky at night". A green laser beam is emitted every 10 minutes (the story does not state how long the show runs, or what time at night it stops). The show is scheduled to run for another two weeks, until Nov. 4.
I live in Orlando, 500 yards from Universal Studios, where five fixed searchlights are aimed over my house every night until midnight, plus there is a rotating searchlight. While this display does interfere with nighttime skygazing when it is in on, I can either use a telescope when I go camping outside of the city, or I can wait until after midnight.
I am much more upset by the general washing-out of the sky by streetlights, security lights, ill-aimed building illumination, etc.
Anyone have comments? Is this any kind of threat to future outdoor laser projects?
-- Patrick
Here are three links to the story:
Astronomer's anger at Tower laser (http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/display.var.1784320.0.astronomers_anger_at_tower_l aser.php)
Blackpool Citizen, UK - Oct 25, 2007
Moore blasts tower laser (http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpool-news/Moore-blasts-tower-laser.3412260.jp)
Blackpool Gazette, UK - Oct 24, 2007
Veteran TV star-gazer blasts tower laser (http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Veteran-TV-stargazer-blasts-tower.3408030.jp)
Lancashire Evening Post, UK - Oct 24, 2007
Moore blasts Tower laser
BLACKPOOL'S brightest Illumination has been blasted by a world famous astronomer for ruining the view of the sky at night. Sir Patrick Moore has slammed Blackpool Tower for installing of a green laser beam which shoots-out light at 10 minute intervals.
The beam, which it is claimed can be seen 30 miles away, is set to shine until the end of the Illuminations on November 4.
But the man who brought astronomy to the masses in his TV programme The Sky at Night, and a former chairman of the British Astronomical Association, said the light should be switched off.
He said: "Light pollution is a huge problem. I am not saying we should turn all the lights out, that is not practical, but there are some things which are very unnecessary.
"The Blackpool Tower light is certainly something I do not think we should be doing. I very much oppose it."
Academics from the University of Central Lancashire agree.
Dr Stewart Eyres from the Centre for Astrophysics said: "We don't notice the skies getting slowly lighter, but because the light on the Tower is so big, it stands out."
Last Updated: 24 October 2007 2:33 PM
I live in Orlando, 500 yards from Universal Studios, where five fixed searchlights are aimed over my house every night until midnight, plus there is a rotating searchlight. While this display does interfere with nighttime skygazing when it is in on, I can either use a telescope when I go camping outside of the city, or I can wait until after midnight.
I am much more upset by the general washing-out of the sky by streetlights, security lights, ill-aimed building illumination, etc.
Anyone have comments? Is this any kind of threat to future outdoor laser projects?
-- Patrick
Here are three links to the story:
Astronomer's anger at Tower laser (http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/display.var.1784320.0.astronomers_anger_at_tower_l aser.php)
Blackpool Citizen, UK - Oct 25, 2007
Moore blasts tower laser (http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpool-news/Moore-blasts-tower-laser.3412260.jp)
Blackpool Gazette, UK - Oct 24, 2007
Veteran TV star-gazer blasts tower laser (http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Veteran-TV-stargazer-blasts-tower.3408030.jp)
Lancashire Evening Post, UK - Oct 24, 2007
Moore blasts Tower laser
BLACKPOOL'S brightest Illumination has been blasted by a world famous astronomer for ruining the view of the sky at night. Sir Patrick Moore has slammed Blackpool Tower for installing of a green laser beam which shoots-out light at 10 minute intervals.
The beam, which it is claimed can be seen 30 miles away, is set to shine until the end of the Illuminations on November 4.
But the man who brought astronomy to the masses in his TV programme The Sky at Night, and a former chairman of the British Astronomical Association, said the light should be switched off.
He said: "Light pollution is a huge problem. I am not saying we should turn all the lights out, that is not practical, but there are some things which are very unnecessary.
"The Blackpool Tower light is certainly something I do not think we should be doing. I very much oppose it."
Academics from the University of Central Lancashire agree.
Dr Stewart Eyres from the Centre for Astrophysics said: "We don't notice the skies getting slowly lighter, but because the light on the Tower is so big, it stands out."
Last Updated: 24 October 2007 2:33 PM