Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21347435w&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #474.35; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.434
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
IAU Commission 50 is responsible for protection of existing and future observatory sites from light pollution and radio interference. Some of the current international issues will be discussed. These include the increasing use of light emitting diodes for outdoor lighting, international specifications for shielding of outdoor lighting, several space-borne projects, and population growth near major observatory sites.
Light emitting diodes emit a lot of blue light that is efficiently scattered into telescopes by Rayleigh scattering. The blue part of the night sky is particularly dark when the moon is down, and is very precious to astronomers. LEDs are increasingly being used in billboards. International specifications presently being developed for shielding of lights will dramatically influence how much artificial light reaches our telescopes. Several space and atmospheric projects have been proposed that would have serious or disastrous consequences for ground-based astronomy.
Population growth is occurring near most major observatory sites. Several programs are underway to retrofit lights near important observatories. Various night sky brightness monitoring programs are progressing so we expect to have more data tracking light pollution levels at observatories as the nearby population increases.
A draft proposal for "Starlight Reserves," has been developed in cooperation with UNESCO. This includes the category "Starlight Astronomy Sites," for exceptional observational sites, including future sites.
Alvarez del Castillo Elizabeth
Wainscoat Richard J.
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