Telescope Observations And Life Events

     Since late summer 2019, my wife and I have had regular business in Matthews, North Carolina, which is a town on the outskirts of Charlotte.  Our Dachshund needed eye surgery, and we take her for regular visits to the Animal Eye Clinic even to this day. (July 2025)   

     Matthews has some excellent and very attractive, full cut-off lighting fixtures.  Lighting should be “fully-shielded” and directed downward to avoid glare and excessive light pollution, as the following photos show.  However, I can’t be for sure of the temperature….hopefully 3,000k or less?  

     No one wants, or should want a bright “unnatural” daytime appearing light, which is that of a 4,000k LED light.  Unfortunately, most all of the new LED lights installed these days are 4,000k or even brighter, which is damaging to human health, wildlife and the natural world.  Unfortunately this light has now become the standard for lighting not only cities, but also for rural and even quiet residential streets. 

     Back to the lighting in Matthews:  Many of the lights have back-shields which eliminate unnecessary light shining into house windows.  This is a great feature.  Proper outdoor lighting should direct light where it’s needed only, downward and with a shield to avoid excess glare.     

     The lights in Matthews, which I’m discussing are in a “seemingly” newer business and residential area.  An example below:   

      Currently, the trend is to light residential areas and sidewalks in cities are the “short pole” colonial style fixture with 360º of 100 watt and 4,000k LED’s.

     No, I’m not suggesting that lighting is bad, but lighting should be of “intelligent” design, and used only where necessary.   And that would be using lighting of an “acceptable” wattage and with a temperature of (3,000k or less) and with “full shielding” to prevent glare and unnecessary and “excessive” light pollution!   You may try, but seems that few cities are willing to go less than 3,000K for city streets.  

     High-intensity LED lighting and all other “excessive” light pollution is proven to damage or injure wildlife, insects, and also increases the risk of cancer (especially) hormonal cancer(s) in both men and women, being prostate and breast cancer.  

Exposure to Artificial Light at Night Can Harm Your Health!

     Humans evolved to the rhythms of the natural light-dark cycle of day and night. The spread of artificial lighting means most of us no longer experience truly dark nights.

     Research suggests that artificial light at night can negatively affect human health, increasing risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, breast cancer, and more.

     Like most life on Earth, humans adhere to a circadian rhythm — our biological clock — a sleep-wake pattern governed by the day-night cycle.  Artificial light at night can disrupt that cycle.

     Our bodies produce the hormone melatonin in response to circadian rhythm.  Melatonin helps keep us healthy.  It has antioxidant properties, induces sleep, boosts the immune system, lowers cholesterol, and helps the functioning of the thyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes, and adrenal glands. Nighttime exposure to artificial light suppresses melatonin production.

     An expressed concern about exposure to blue light from outdoor lighting and recommends shielding all light fixtures and only using lighting with 2700K color temperature and below.   

Some more excellent examples of proper lighting fixtures….  

This article or post is featured on my site:  www.rogerivester.com  and listed under the title of “light pollution issues.”