Community Light Pollution Survey
CLiPS is a community based light pollution survey. We use star counts taken by members of the public to determine the degree of light pollution in their area. Light pollution has more serious effects than ruining our views of the night sky. It is a massive waste of energy and money. Other than needing some lights pointing upwards to help aircraft, why have up to half our lights' energy going where it helps no one?
What you need:
- A cylinderical viewer: the cardboard base of a finished toilet or kitchen paper roll is ideal.
- A ruler to measure the length and diameter of the viewer.
- A pen and a piece of paper, or just a mobile phone, to write down your observations.
- A dark night with less than a third of the sky full of clouds.
- Warm clothes. Wrap up well. You'll need to spend a few minutes outside first for your eyes to adjust to the dark.
What to do:
- Aim your viewer at a random point in the sky.
- Write down the number of stars you can count through your viewer.
- Estimate the amount of area clouds take up in your viewer.
- Repeat, aiming at different points until you have made ten observations.
- Fill out the form below.
