219 pages, 139 illustrations
Light-pollution is the modern scourge of optical astronomy. More and more observing sites are being lost as the glare of city lighting blots out the night sky. Professional astronomical observatories are located far from
219 pages, 139 illustrations
Light-pollution is the modern scourge of optical astronomy. More and more observing sites are being lost as the glare of city lighting blots out the night sky. Professional astronomical observatories are located far from cities, but amateur astronomers often do not have this luxury.
This book considers the two available strategies open to astronomers - get rid of the light pollution by lobbying Authorities and Standards Organisations, and minimise its effects by using the correct instrumentation. The book contains an extensive detailed catalogue of deep-sky and other objects that - despite what one might believe - can be seen from variously light-polluted sites, for practical observers.
From the reviews of the first edition:
"I learnt a lot from this book about light pollution and the problems it causes for astronomers around the world. a ] A set of rules set by the Tucson/Pima County Lighting Code I found to be very interesting reading indeed, and if we could get some of them implemented over here our skies would be a lot darker. Leta (TM)s look forward to the day when we get what we wish for." (Mick Murphy, Astronomy & Space, April 2003)
"Light pollution (LP) is the bane of all astronomers, and it has been increasing steadily for decades. a ] Well, does the book work? Yes, it most certainly does if you want to know about LP and how to fight it. a ] There are plenty of good photographs, many in colour. a ] All in all, I thoroughly recommend the book to anyone with a passing interest in LP. It has everything you need to know on the subject, as well as who to contact and where." (Bob Dryden, The Deep Sky Observer Magazine, Issue 128, 2002)
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