It's the same way in Salinas. From outside of town the AutoMall looks like a well lit ball park. It is discernable from miles away - like a white-light beacon. It's just criminal.
Michael Linnolt <ml@No-Spam> wrote:Last nite I was driving back to the bay from Tahoe after a wonderful
skiing trip, and late at night the shies were clear, and I could note the
changes in sky conditions as I headed back into town. Most of the Tahoe
area is very dark, once you get out of the immediate vicinity of the towns
lining the lake shore. Similarly for Hwy 50 as you head back west. A
little LP in Placerville, but the trouble begins around Cameron Park and
El Dorado. By the time you are down in Folsom, the skies are actually
worse than around SF! I could only make out the belt stars in Orion!
I was horrified to see the worst LP-er is the Folsom Auto mall
complex. This area is several hundred acres of totally unshielded mercury
lamps in a densely packed arrangement. This was late on a Sunday night,
when nobody is shopping for cars! The glare light was so intense, I had
to drop my sunvisor and the neighboring apartment complexes were
illuminated so brightly they had no need for outdoor security
lighting. Funny. A few lumens saved, I guess.
Doesn't this violate some ordnance or something? Its just such a gross
violation and intrusion and total waste of energy, unbelievable. Anyone
know who to contact in Folsom to try to put a stop to that? Lucky I dont
live anywhere near that, but if such things were to come anywhere around
SJ, say goodbye to observing at Coe!
Mike
Received on Mon Mar 7 18:38:44 2005