House of Commons Committees Sitting in 2003 and reporting on environmental issues with relevance to astronomy and the general environment.

Kirkwall, May 2003. "Our human imprint". Note the spreading condensation trails and numerous lamp standards - do not confuse with masts. Photo: John C Vetterlein.

There were two committees sitting during 2003 whose findings had consequences for astronomy. The first was the Environmental Audit Committee looking into the impact of the aviation industry on the general environment. The second was the Science and Technology Committee which looked at Light Pollution and Astronomy.

1 The Environmental Audit Committee published its findings in a 177 page document issued on 29 July 2003.

On page 3 under Conclusions and recommendations, the first paragraph states: "We regard the proposed growth in emissions into the atmosphere by the aviation industry as unsustainable and unacceptable. Were such growth to occur, it could totally destroy the Government's recent commitment to a 60% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050."

There are obvious implications in this beyond the immediate effect aircraft are having on the work of the practical observational astronomer.

For the astronomer the visible result of increased high altitude air traffic has been the formation of condensation trails. The enormous increase over the past two decades in both civil and military aircraft flying at high altitude has caused a proportionate increase in atmospheric pollution. Even a casual observer who cares to look skywards must be aware of this since on any clear day the presence of condensation trails cannot be missed. Under certain conditions the trails disperse within minutes but more generally they fan out and may eventually pervade the entire sky. (See Fig. 1) Even when these emissions are not visible their presence in the high atmosphere will be contributing to pollution.

Those of us engaged on observations of the planets and double stars in daylight often find work made entirely impossible by condensation trails.

At night aircraft lights may hamper observations. This tends to be more of a problem closer to airports themselves. However, the combined effect of aircraft and artificial satellites means that the observer is almost bound to be troubled by them at some time or another. This can have detrimental consequences where long exposure photography is concerned. On one night recently, when I was attempting to photograph Comet 2P/Encke, five artificial satellite entered the field of the camera in the course of one minute!

2 More recently the Science and Technology Committee published its findings in two volumes amounting to 300 pages overall.

There were 127 written submissions from individuals and societies. These may be accessed through the internet.

Although the Committee was asked specifically to look into the impact of light pollution on the activities ties of both amateur and professional astronomers, some of us, including the Astronomer Royal, sought to broaden the deliberations as having a much wider significance.

The Government's response to the Committee's report is disappointing to say the least. In a recent communication Bob Mizon, UK Co-ordinator, The British Astronomical Association's Campaign for Dar Skies, points out:

1 No single Government department takes responsibility for light pollution,

2 DEFRA does not afford the night sky the protection unquestioningly given to other parts of the environment,

3 guidelines and advice rather than directives and legislation are used to address this issue.

I have been concerned with the problems of light pollution now for over forty years. When I used to lecture in London on astronomy during the 1960s I found it necessary to travel at least thirty miles into the countryside of Essex and Sussex in order give students a sighting of the Milky Way. By the time I left London in 1970, the South East was more or less a no-go region for the naked eye observer.

When I first came to Orkney to work in 1970 the skies here were quite dark outside the townships of Kirkwall and Stromness. The position has changed considerably since then particulalry over the past decade.

Despite an increase in general interest in astronomy (no doubt encouraged by the media's attention to space projects and the like, as well as the availability of powerful equipment at an affordable cost) it remains a minority activity. Until a substantial number of people feel moved enough to demand that the night sky should be given the protection afforded to other parts of the environment the erosion of darkness will continue, I am afraid.

JCV
14/01/04