Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket,
Never let it fade away!
Catch a falling star an’ put it in your pocket,
Save it for a rainy day!
I was thinking about falling stars and moonlit nights, humming the words to the the Perry Como tune of years gone by, as I motored home from our garden club meeting on Monday, remembering a childhood where I could look up and still see the stars.
Most of our garden club meetings involve programs ranging from members trying their hand at Ikebana to local meteorologists, country water conservation to beekeeping. I always leave with an appreciation for our program chairs who find such interesting speakers and topics, and bring a little bit more knowledge to stuff into my pocket and save for a rainy day.
Such was the case after Monday’s meeting. Our speaker was from the Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting who talked about how our overabundance of artificial lighting effects worms and bats and moths, to name a few, who need the moon and stars, or the deepest darkness, to thrive, navigate, or go forth and multiply.
Drew Carhart spoke of how we light our way; from parking lots to city streets to the light that floods out of our homes, he illuminated a conservation minded group of women on changes that we can make, some rather simple, to become better stewards of our planet.
One of the remedies Mr. Carhart spoke about was the way we use artificial light. Most parking lot lights direct the light upward, which does a magnificent job of lighting up the sky rather than the parking lot. By directing the same amount of light downward, the night sky is amore noticeable, and walking to our parked cars a bit safer. I’d never really thought of this before, so used to things being the way they are that I am. As I thought about it, I realized that this is what happens to me driving along many streets at night. There are ample enough street lights, but, I can’t always see the lane markers – because the light is shining upward, not on the road. When I turn on the driving lots (fog lights), they illuminate the road, not the distance, nor the sky, and I’m able to navigate better. You can see some examples by clicking here.
I am over simplifying what was an hour lecture. My purpose of posting this is to encourage you to visit the website, investigate what similar resources are in your area, and to look for small things you can do to light up your little corner of the world, without lighting up the entire night sky.
Okay. I’m turning the computer off now, pulling the shades down to keep my own light in. I would go outside and try to catch a falling star, but, snow is falling instead of stars, so, I think I’ll just direct my attention to how quiet it gets when there is snow all around.
Parts of the neighbourhood where I lived in the UK took ‘light pollution’ very seriously and had changed street lighting to focus down, not up. We’re quite light-conscious at home and love star-gazing, so appreciate a proper, dark place to do this. It’s an important issue and one worth raising here and many other places too. Bring on the night. Axxx
That is terrific, Annie, and a simple enough solution that we should all embrace. We are much too close to the City of Chicago, but, still there are small things that can be done in hopes to make a change. Bring on the night, indeed!
Catch a Falling Star is one of the songs on my I-phone that I listen to as I go to sleep. When I was a child, we would sing this over and over as we participated in our catch an release with fireflies.
Light pollution is a problem. I live in the country and enjoy the beautiful night sky on a regular basis. I have had some city friends get out of the car at night, look up and just say “Oh…..” They are startled by the beauty that they aren’t used to seeing.
When my son went to college and lived in a near campus apartment, I asked him if he ever missed the quiet of home. His reply was that what he missed most was seeing the stars. A very poetic answer for a young man that likes to speak in mono-syllables. But, it was very telling. We would often stay out late on warm summer evenings and enjoy the stars. It is a time for youngsters to talk to parents about things that not so easily said by the light of day.
From our dark corner of the county, we can see the glow coming from a small town fifteen miles away. I’m guessing that in that small town, they can’t see the night sky as well as they might. I’m glad to hear that some city dwellers are becoming more aware of the problem and finding solutions for too much upward light. Recently, there have been some billboards put up near our town. I am shocked at how much light they produce. Homeowners near them petitioned the billboard company to turn the lights off or down at 10:00 pm. They have had some success.
What a great song to sing with fireflies!
I envy you your night sky. Even though we are semi-rural here, we are too close to the city and two major expressways to get much star power here, but, I still look and enjoy the sky more when we are out further.
That was so perceptive of your son – and what he was missing. It is easier to talk of some things in the darkness. Children here miss out on that as there is so much light from the city, our city, shopping malls. We could see so much more when we were children around here.
This presentation did show ways to cut down on light pollution, however. Most of our street lights, shopping center lights, and all are directed upward so that, as the man said, it illuminated the belly of the airplanes more than what is below. If we can just start to conquer the up lights, it will be an improvement.
We have a huge UPS billboard that we can see through the trees. Sigh. At least we have trees. It was a very good presentation and I am hopeful that slowly, we can, as Annie said, “bring back the night”!
I have a friend whose husband is a state policeman who trains others. She told me that trainees from cities like Chicago are brought to Cass County to experience the dark. They say that in the city, there are dark areas, of course, but not the vast areas that we have here.
That’s interesting, Janet, and your friend is correct. We live in the same state, but, we don’t really see the same sky. I replied to Andra (below) that there was a picture our presenter showed, at night, a sidewalk and streetlight. Because of the light shining upward, none of us could see the man standing right under it. It’s always encouraging to know that departments work together on an interstate level, especially in training.
As a child, growing up in the western ‘burbs, we could see many more stars than a child could now in the same burb. It’s disheartening to think about, but, you know me, I’m still trying to catch a falling star.
This is a relatively simple thing yet, who even knows that lighting is an environmental issue? I certainly didn’t, at least not until you told me about this speaker when I saw you at the coffee shop yesterday! There definitely needs to be some public education on this subject so that people can modify what they have and rethink future purchases. Also, I hope the Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting is working with city and suburban governments to get them to reconsider how we’re lighting our streets and buildings. Thanks for spreading the word Penny!
By the way, Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ is one of my favorite paintings and it was a pleasure to see it here!
I know what you mean, Janet. These issues always seem to filter out slowly and take forever to educate not only the public, but legislators. This Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor LIghting is doing its best to inform and educate, but, until municipalities buy into the need for changes . . . Check out their website if you haven’t already. It is pretty interesting.
Mine too. “Starry Night” came to mind as I was writing this and is one of those paintings that doesn’t need a caption.
I imagine you see more stars at your cottage in Ireland than you do here, don’t you?
One night we woke up around 3am to a clear sky and saw more stars than I’ve seen in years. It was the first time Eoin had ever seen a sky like that and it was almost frightening for him. But what I remember is how much that sky reminded me of this painting! Van Gogh captured the awesome beauty and a feeling of movement in the universe in a way that a photo couldn’t even touch!
I meant to say, “One night at the cottage…” because we could never see a sky like that in Elmhurst!
I thought you meant cottage, Janet, knowing the night sky in Elmhurst. Did you blog about this? How magnificent that must have been, and yes, a bit overwhelming for a young boy who had never seen it before. It is really amazing how the sky reminded you of Van Gogh’s painting and how he captured “the movement in the universe”. i wonder how many of us miss that sensation since we never really see that in the sky above us now.
When I was picture lady, I enjoyed introducing this painting to youngsters.
Fascinating, Penny. Charleston is a very dark city, and I think it is because a lot of our light is directed upward. I’m going to notice that more from now on.
The presenter showed a picture of a dark street and street light. Because of the way the light was shining, upward, we couldn’t easily see the man standing directly under the light. There are, of course, big changes that should be made, but so many little ones, like entryway lights to houses, that can begin to make a difference. As you say, Andra, fascinating.
This is just a fascinating topic! I haven’t previously noticed how the light is usually focused upwards, but I have noted that it sometimes feels like there is just too much of it! Like you, I’ve noticed it when driving. And then at times I’d like to take a photo and the outdoor lighting is overpowering. I have never thought of how it might affect bats and other night creatures. I look forward to studying the website, Penny. I’m so glad you shared it. And I also love the Perry Como reference. As soon as I saw the title of your post I could hear his voice!
I sensed you might find it so, Debra. So many night creatures need the dark, or follow the stars and moon in their own cycles, and are directly affected if there is light when there shouldn’t be. Even those solar powered ground lights (and yes, we have them, sigh) are detrimental to beetles and worms. There is a picture on the website from the space station of the US and I was astounded at how lit up we are at night, not only in the dense population areas, but in the western states that are far less populated. I was going to download (or is it upload?) a youtube of Perry Como singing the song, but, thought my dear readers would already have it humming in there head just by the words.
This is such an important issue Penny. Our street lights in Auckland have been modified to make sure that they all point down. When I’m at the bach I love being able to see the stars. It makes me realise how much I miss real darkness when I’m in the city.
New Zealand is far ahead of us here in these measures, Juliet. Down lighting is a rather simple solution to a part of the problem. How I envy you your stars and night sky at the bach. Here, on the Cutoff, we don’t have real darkness. I don’t know how much I miss it until I get further out from the city lights. I imagine you and Mira looking up in wonder at the night sky at the bach. It is a good and real thing to imagine, Juliet, and I’m grateful for our online, blogging connection.
One of the great joys of family holidays in France…before we bought our home in Caunes, was star gazing. My step son…now 32, still regards it as one of the best bits about his vacation time with us. Our 3 kids have great memories of clearing up after long drawn out evening meals eaten outside, by candle light…blowing out the candles and lying on the ground, just watching the night sky. Now they are teaching their own children of these delights.
I have never thought about the direction of street lights before…but am pretty sure someone in Hebden Bridge will be onto it… I will search them out.
As for the Perry Como song….. it evokes all sorts of memories of my mum, singing it, with her friend Mary, who lived next door to us. Mary had 3 girls, and I used to join them to play, and our mums sang it to us. This was their favourite party piece ! J.
What a wonderful vision that draws in my mind, Janice. Isn’t it heart warming that your step son regards these moments as he does? It is a precious gift you were able to give him, and all of the kids, and so lovely to hear they are giving it to their own. I love hearing this.
Let us know what you find out in Hebden Bridge.
What a fabulous memory to have of your Mum and Mary! Big girls and little girls, catching all those stars! Isn’t it grand how such a simple song can evoke such memories. Thank you, Janice, for sharing it. Hope you are doing okay. You are almost done with your treatments.
I remember years ago camping out on the desert somewhere near Barstow California. Nobody around and far enough away from city lights and smog…we could not believe the sky… and thought about how it was the way that it “is supposed to be.”
It is the way it “is supposed to be”. You were so right, Sallie, to think that now those lights are probably dimming even that desert view. If we can clean up much of the smog that polluted cities like LA and Chicago, surely we can turn the lights downward, or off. What a lasting memory that is for you. I’m so glad you shared it.
Well, what a coincidence, Penny. Only today I was listening to how our Brecon Beacons are going to become an international dark sky reserve. Dark skies are one of the most velvet luxuries or our existence – thanks for this fabulous link!
That’s pretty exciting Kate, and quite a coincidence. Isn’t it fun, how one thing leads to another? I looked up Brecon Beacons, and that led to more information about the International dark sky reserves, which led to the discovery that Death Valley is one. Who knew? I love your phrase of “Dark skies are on the most velvet luxuries of our existence . . .” what a beautiful and rich way to describe our skies at night. In the midst of all the uncertainty in our fragile world, this all gives me hope.
Dear Penny, thank you for sharing this new information with us. I’ll go to the web site. Peace.
You are welcome, Dee. I hope you find it interesting – and get a chance to count the stars.
I’m not sure about our local street-lights, Penny, but I think they mainly shine downwards. There are also fewer of them than there were, as the local authority is saving money by not having all of them lit any more and it does make a difference to the visibility of the night sky.
I live about 30 miles north of the Brecon Beacons and our night sky is also very dark, though we can see a faint glow on the horizon from the neighbouring small towns. But looking upwards the stars are wonderfully bright as they are at our French cottage, though not in Scotland where we’re actually in the village and have streetlights.
I’m sure they do shine down, Perpetua. The UK is far ahead of the US on these environmental issues. It is encouraging to hear that a money saving incentive has also resulted in a clearer night sky.
Oh, how I envy you your home location, being so close to the Brecon Beacons. I did some online investigating after reading Kate’s comment (above), and I know that I would love to gaze at the night heavens from the Brecon Beacons. Your vantage point from two of your three locals certainly attests to the issue of light pollution. Thank you so much, Perpetua, for your wonderful comments here. Penny