I learned the constellations 15 miles east of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1961 and 62.  If I were growing up there today, I would never know astronomy.  There are too many lights.

 Astronomy http://jimcolyer.com/papers/entry?id=2

HI,

I too have the street lamp problem, and my green Laser pointer does work, but only for a few minutes at a time, first look for the sensor can, it is usually on the top of the light housing, there will be a small port or opening in this can, they usually mount it so that the small port is either facing north or east, but this depends on the People who install the sensor in the first place.

during the day stay back at least 75 feet from the offending lamp use a pair of binocs to find that sensor, it usually shaped like a small can or dome on top of the lamp. walk around the lamp at that distance and look for the sensor can and its small opening on one of the sides, It works with my green laser, Im not sure that the red dot ones are strong enough. the problem is it just comes back on in a few minutes.

I Now resort to tarps as a light shield. I thought about shooting it out, but then again I do like my freedom. LOL

Dennis

this is one of the main reasons I live in the middle of no where...LOL

not a single street light or light pollution in any direction.

my main trouble are the tall trees...LOL

Show off.  When I get the cash, I'm moving up to Alaska.  No light pollution at all.  May be a bit cold though...

.223, Is a high velocity Rifle Round, same as a M-16 round.

this will not only go thru any light but also Most Concrete block walls!

I believe a 22 is more appropiate. LMAO

.223 is Over kill, unless youre trying to shoot something Several hundred yards away, and You dont have to worry about what its going to hit after it passes thru the offending Light, LOL

Dennis

Spacedock7 wrote:

I've talked extensivly with an importer of these green lasers and he said not to leave them on for more than 60 seconds as they will overheat the cystal and cause premature death to the laser. Just what I was told, nothing to back it up.     Rick

My boyfriend and I have 2 green lasers and have had them running for 2+ hours, no harm done :) Maybe blue lazers would, but even then I doubt it.

Why are street lights even used. Cars have head lights, and pedestriens can carry a flash light. If people are that conserned to walk with out street lights they can pack some heat.

When asking a neighbor is not enough has anyone done anything to shut them off. Will a laser pointer work on a regular light if it has a sensor for night. If not there is only one think i could think of. i could try to just unscrew the bulb and shake it around until the filament is broken. Haah he will just think his light has blowen, and probably wont notice its out because he has no reason to have it on in the first place. 

   I live in the suburbs or Detroit, MI and have to contend with some bad light pollution, including one damnable expressway cluster of lights, which ruins the western sky low on the horizon!

    I have about 60% of the night sky that is useable--the East (over Lake St. Clair) is actually quite good.

   I am doing all that I can.  I am buidling a warmroom/scope shed with removable roof panels to block out light and preserve night vision (and to stay warm!).  I've got a dew shield for my sct, and a light filter.  I think I'm should probably build a "light screen" to block those street lights though--I can't ask the electric company to turn them off!

    As winter approaches, I am noticing I can see with the naked eye to about magnitude 4 on a clear night.  Much better than the 200-300 stars I can usually see!  But it will have to do.  I can't drive 20 miles on the spur of the moment to do astronomy...

A person from my astronomy club has one offensive streelight. To deal with it, he places a tall stepladder (not the extension ladder type; a stepladder is the two-legged type that can stand on its own) near the bottom of the lightpole, then climbs up, and with a stick, he lowers a very opaque barbecue-grill cover onto the streetlight. This completely blocks out the light for the duration of his observing session. Then he removes the cover when finished.

His goal was to be completely non-destructive, so this was a good solution for him. Obviously, this method may only be practical if your problem is with only one or maybe two lights. It may depend on how much extra energy you have to climb up and down the ladder.