APOD: Yuri's Planet (2013 Apr 12)

[APOD Robot]

Yuri's Planet

Explanation: On another April 12th, in 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alexseyevich Gagarin became the first human to see planet Earth from space. Commenting on his view from orbit he reported, "The sky is very dark; the Earth is bluish. Everything is seen very clearly". On yet another April 12th, in 1981 NASA launched the first space shuttle. To celebrate in 2013, consider this image from the orbiting International Space Station, a stunning view of the planet at night from low Earth orbit. Constellations of lights connecting the densely populated cities along the Atlantic east coast of the United States are framed by two Russian spacecraft docked at the space station. Easy to recognize cities include New York City and Long Island at the right. From there, track toward the left for Philadelphia, Baltimore, and then Washington DC near picture center.

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[RichardSRussell]

It would be interesting to post, right next to this one, a shot of North Korea at the same time of day from the same altitude.

[nujjer]

I guess the big difference that Yuri would have seen (or not seen) is the amount of light pollution we make, and also the energy we waste.
But hey, we can let our kids and grandkids sort that out.

Assuming that this is a true-ish colour image, see how the whole country's lights are the same colour; the twin-lines-of-sodium that fall pretty much on our sweetspot of maximum retinal sensitivity. Probably.

[Boomer12k]

Mandelbrot sets, reaching to other Mandelbrot sets, connecting to other Mandelbrot sets....

:---[===] *

[Bill C]

Just below the Tidewater lights are the lights of Kitty Hawk where one century ago man first left the Earth in flight.

[StargeezerJack]

Appropriate. One day after Darkened Cities, an artist's view of nighttime over large cities, the APOD is a real image of nighttime Earth: overwhelming light pollution and a sky few people see anymore. Thank you APOD editors for showing us two possible futures. Ah, but which one will we choose? I choose dark skies and starlight. You? Will we learn in time to save the Milky Way? Or will we allow the corporations and the money-mongers amongst us to dominate and control us all? Ask questions. See Answers. Earth First In Things, Thoughts, Deeds, Decisions.

http://www.darkskyinitiative.org

[BMAONE23]

and because the earth isn't basking in sunlight, flooding the CCD with photons, there are stars in the sky

[rstevenson]

Yes, light polution is a problem. But the same lights that cause the problem also help prevent vandalism and other crimes. So the solution is not to turn off the lights. As is often true, a problem created by technology requires a more subtle technological solution. We need to find a way to light our nights without obliterating the night sky.

Rob

[Redbone]

I'm on the map!

http://snekpete.com/stuff/iss.jpg

[neufer]

I'm on the map!

It's really not a good likeness, Freddy.

[Chris Peterson]

Yes, light polution is a problem. But the same lights that cause the problem also help prevent vandalism and other crimes. So the solution is not to turn off the lights. As is often true, a problem created by technology requires a more subtle technological solution. We need to find a way to light our nights without obliterating the night sky.

While the subject has never been tested rigorously, there is strong anecdotal evidence that darkness reduces crime, not increases it. Criminals generally prefer to work in the light, like everybody else. It is also very likely that street lighting produces more accidents than it eliminates. And the evidence is solid at this point that human exposure to light at night is unhealthy.

Of course, the solution is not to turn off all the lights. But many of them can and should be turned off, and when we've reduced the lighting to the minimum that we actually require, we can make sure that those lights point only at what needs to be lit- not the sky.

[neufer]

Yes, light polution is a problem. But the same lights that cause the problem also help prevent vandalism and other crimes. So the solution is not to turn off the lights. As is often true, a problem created by technology requires a more subtle technological solution. We need to find a way to light our nights without obliterating the night sky.

While the subject has never been tested rigorously, there is strong anecdotal evidence that darkness reduces crime, not increases it. Criminals generally prefer to work in the light, like everybody else. It is also very likely that street lighting produces more accidents than it eliminates. And the evidence is solid at this point that human exposure to light at night is unhealthy.

• Does More Lighting = More Safety?
  Today’s streetlamps are dumb.

• The Adventure of the Six Napoleons

“I wish to call your attention very particularly to the position of this house in the garden of which the bust was destroyed.”

Lestrade looked about him.

“It was an empty house, and so he knew that he would not be disturbed in the garden.”

“Yes, but there is another empty house farther up the street which he must have passed before he came to this one. Why did he not break it there, since it is evident that every yard that he carried it increased the risk of someone meeting him?”

“I give it up,” said Lestrade.

Holmes pointed to the street lamp above our heads.

“He could see what he was doing here and he could not there. That was his reason.”

“By Jove! That’s true,” said the detective. “Now that I come to think of it, Dr. Barnicot’s bust was broken not far from his red lamp. Well, Mr. Holmes, what are we to do with that fact?”

[rstevenson]

While the subject has never been tested rigorously, there is strong anecdotal evidence that darkness reduces crime, not increases it.

I'll see that anecdote and raise you one. When I stopped turning off our front house lights when I went to bed, the minor acts of vandalism that had been damaging my garden, the front of my house, and my car, ceased. At least our local idiots don't like light. (Probably they fear the increased light would allow them to be identified on video, which is, I hope, true.)

Rob

[Chris Peterson]

I'll see that anecdote and raise you one. When I stopped turning off our front house lights when I went to bed, the minor acts of vandalism that had been damaging my garden, the front of my house, and my car, ceased. At least our local idiots don't like light. (Probably they fear the increased light would allow them to be identified on video, which is, I hope, true.)

The discussions I've seen have centered on more serious crime, particularly violent crime like muggings and other street assaults, as well as burglary.

Do you think the vandalism you experienced was completely random, or directed specifically towards you or your neighbors?

[neufer]

While the subject has never been tested rigorously, there is strong anecdotal evidence that darkness reduces crime, not increases it.

I'll see that anecdote and raise you one. When I stopped turning off our front house lights when I went to bed, the minor acts of vandalism that had been damaging my garden, the front of my house, and my car, ceased. At least our local idiots don't like light. (Probably they fear the increased light would allow them to be identified on video, which is, I hope, true.)

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[LocalColor]

April 12th Holiday - Yuri's Night - Commemoration of Yuri Gagarin being the first human in space.



Moscow at night.

Also:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m22e0 ... 1_1280.jpg

[rstevenson]

Do you think the vandalism you experienced was completely random, or directed specifically towards you or your neighbors?

Not random, but not personal either. The sidewalk out front is a commonly used one, so it's more a matter of opportunity. I'm going to look into the sort of motion-activated light that Art mentions above. A light that turns on suddenly is probably even more of a deterrent, if I can localize the area that is being sensed.

Rob

[alter-ego]

Do you think the vandalism you experienced was completely random, or directed specifically towards you or your neighbors?

Not random, but not personal either. The sidewalk out front is a commonly used one, so it's more a matter of opportunity. I'm going to look into the sort of motion-activated light that Art mentions above. A light that turns on suddenly is probably even more of a deterrent, if I can localize the area that is being sensed.

Rob

I recommend them. During a rash of break-ins in our neighborhood over the last few months, I installed a set of LED motion-sensitive lights. Not 150W-class illumination, but enough intensity where you want it. I like them. They have a threshold sensitivity adjustment too, so that small animals don't set them off.

[emc]

Happy first man in space day!

[emc]

I have a good friend named Yuri, maybe that's a popular Russian name.

[henrystar]

"Constellations of lights connecting the densely populated cities along the Atlantic east coast of the United States" should be the FIRST phrase of the caption. Forgive me, you the creators should not bury the news. You do this almost always! Cure yourselves please!

[geckzilla]

It's only one paragraph long, henry.

[saturno2]

Yuri Gagarin, the first human in the space
The Universe is of all
The knowledge of the Universe, too

[solserenade]

Appropriate. One day after Darkened Cities, an artist's view of nighttime over large cities, the APOD is a real image of nighttime Earth: overwhelming light pollution and a sky few people see anymore. Thank you APOD editors for showing us two possible futures. Ah, but which one will we choose? I choose dark skies and starlight. You? Will we learn in time to save the Milky Way? Or will we allow the corporations and the money-mongers amongst us to dominate and control us all? Ask questions. See Answers. Earth First In Things, Thoughts, Deeds, Decisions.

http://www.darkskyinitiative.org

Right on - Great post!

I choose darkness. It's a battle (though I'm blessed, relatively, with rather dark skies) - but my point:

I have no exterior lights on timers, etc. - "safety light"

Every external light (only 3) are low-watt and shaded carefully to project only down and an angle. *Including* respect for neighbors (even if a valley away) who are "horizontal" from my position.

I'm one of those saps that gets sad thinking about people unable to ever get a sense of the Earth even being in space - that it rotates, travels along, etc. - maybe even stop and think about WHY? ("What's up with the Ecliptic? I go to SuperCuts".)

Not to mention simple navigation, sublime beauty, perspective (a t.v. alternative), peace, Aurora/spaceweather/optics, etc.

......

Ya put up a thick enough veil, all that is no longer available, save for old pictures.

[solserenade]

Just below the Tidewater lights are the lights of Kitty Hawk where one century ago man first left the Earth in flight.

What are the Tidewater lights? And by "lights of Kitty Hawk", do you mean lights of a town Kitty Hawk? (or the site itself)

Do you mean right above the lower-right solar-panel? The mass of light to the south of Kitty Hawk, on the coast, confuses me.

thanks.