Croydon astronomers looking forward to one of the heavens’ most spectacular displays faced two problems last week - the moon and light pollution.
The annual Perseid meteor shower, which sees shooting stars streak through the sky at a rate of up to 120 per hour, reached its peak last Tuesday and Wednesday nights. But with a half-moon topping up Croydon’s all-night glow, some skywatchers in the area saw nothing at all.
Paul Harper, chairman of the Croydon Astronomical Society (CAS), said: “One of our observers in central Croydon could barely see anything. He saw the moon, Jupiter, and that was it.”
Light pollution has been on the agenda in Croydon for a number of years. The CAS was consulted when the Skyline project to light up Croydon’s buildings was introduced and Croydon Council has taken steps to change street lighting. But Mr Harper said progress has been too slow.
He said: “We are gradually noticing a difference but it’s still a big problem. When the council first started installing new light fittings to push light downwards they were so powerful the light was just bouncing back off the ground.”
Mr Harper said Croydon Council was not the only culprit, however, with home security lights and sports floodlights a particular problem.
He said: “Obviously, you need to be able to see, but some people are installing lights so powerful they completely obliterate the area with light.”
A spokesman for Croydon Council said: “The Council’s lighting strategies seek to ensure an overall reduction in the amount of lighting energy used throughout the borough and seek to control the spill of light upwards and onto land and buildings where no light is required or where an absence of illumination is desirable.”
He added that the council takes into account light pollution in planning applications and in its street lighting decisions.
Mr Harper said it was unrealistic to expect Croydon’s night sky to mirror that in areas like Scotland.
But he said: “Here, you’re very lucky to see the Milky Way. A lot of people are amazed when they see it in a power cut.”
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