moon phases

Harrisburg Pa (AP): One unintended effect of sprawling developmenthas nothing to do with destroying once serene land or fouling nearby waterways.

Here's a hint: look up at night.

Stargazers (sic) say light pollution is ruining the night sky.

"The Milky Way used to stand out down at the observatory like it was slapping you in the face and you could see it at least 80 or 85% of the time" said Doug Grove, former president of the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg. "Now we have trouble seeing it more than 50% of the time."

Stargazers (sic), naturalists and conservationists have banded together to support legislation to regulate night time lighting in Pennsylvania.

The proposal would permit the state to designate "dark areas" where develomment could be restricted for clear night time vision.

State agencies would be required to use hooded lights that shine downward except in outdoor stadiums or places where there is a compelling satety interest. Roads except at intersections or other hazardous areas would be lit by reflectors and other passive means.

Residents would be allowed to initiate a legal process to correct lights that shine over property lines: "light trespass".

John Milliron, a lobbist for the Outdoor Advertising Association of Pennsylvania promised to "keep track of the bill" but said the state's billboard owners "can live with what we've seen thus far".

The current approach doesn't call for mandatory retrofitting of any existing lights. "I don't want this to be 'Big brother'" said Rep. Bruce Smith who introduced the bill. "I don't want to interfere with road safety and I don't want to impose a lot of restrictions on what people can do with their properties... but this is saying 'Do it properly so you're not wasting light into the sky'".

Grove said Smith's proposal is a step in the right direction. "Maybe it will eventually give back that dark sky I grew up with as a kid".

If anyone has good or bad news about light pollution in an area around the NJAA to report, let us know about it.