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34 Comments
- cody50, on 10/12/2007, -0/+31Its a shame that this isnt likely to happen in the USA. It sounds like something lots of people would enjoy.
- slicedoranges, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21In short, this sort of thing would never happen in the USA. It would end with lawsuits. Don't ask me how, but they'd find a way to sue.
- DIGGerPhelpsND, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17Even if crime jumps 10,000% in Reykjavik, 100 x 0 equals still zero crime.
- MG111, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16That's impressive. A major operation just for stargazing? Kudos to Iceland.
- NoOneButMe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15Anyone remember the big blackout in the Northeast a few years back? Probably as close to something like this that'll ever happen in the US.
- Daisuke, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15It not only would be really nice, it would also save a lot of money (I would imagine.) Unfortunately, everything is so rigid here that the chances of this happening without someone "sponsoring" it (ie, paying off the local gov't) are slim to nil.
- oblongmouth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12@devindotcom.
Reykjavik isn't exactly a backwater village you know: 250,000 people = a lot of organisation.
It wouldn't happen in the US (or here in the UK) because there's no financial gain, not because it would take a lot of organisation. - osbjmg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12In the US, that would mean a crime spree.
- nach0, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Isn't this in a Simspons episode?
- devindotcom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9The problem is it takes a lot of organization - lights need to be turned out, but what about hospitals and police stations? What about the highways? I'd like nothing more than to be able to see the night sky, but in a major metropolitan area it's awfully hard to do. I'd say your best bet is to take a trip out to the country - it's worth it in August when there are a ton of shooting stars.
- FearNLoathing, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I was stuck in Manhattan (The Village, specifically) during that east coast blackout. I think it would be awesome if once a year they randomly cut power for the weekend :)
- toppur, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Only street lights were turned off, house lights were still on so the city wasn't even that dark. And it was cloudy, so you couldn't even see the stars! A lot of people were disappointed...
- whippetlegs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6The whole thing was a bit of an anti climax, alot of shops and hotels left the lights on the whole time so the city wasn't plunged into darkness.
- Applemacmad, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This would be a godsend for amateur astronomers, if only they would do it in the UK
- squirrelza, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5There won't be any, because the criminals can't see you!
- kennyvader, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3In Basel (Switzerland) every Februrary there is a festival called Fasnacht which opens with a 4am lantern parade in total darkness. On the precise stroke of 4am every single street light, road sign, parking meter etc goes out, it's really quite something to witness even that. A couple of hours later as dawn comes they turn everything back on again so the trams can start running etc. They have been doing this for decades - apparently there is some way that they can wire up things like the street lights and parking meters to all flip out at the same instant, and it's not that complicated or need thinking about years in advance - my Dad (who's an electrical distribution engineer) tried to explain it to me but I didn't really understand, anyway he was determined that it was quite easy to do and did not require fancy modern electronics in switching cabinets all over the city.
Hotels and bars etc all turn out every single external light too, on fear of huge fines from the city council, but they are allowed light indoors. You see a few shops who have accidentally left their lights on overnight that get their entire frontage blacked out with plastic sheeting by the council workers (and the bill afterwards). You don't get idiots driving because the roads are all closed anyway. - bdwoolman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Chance to see the Northern Lights even at this time of year. I was just in Iceland and saw them faintly. Would be nice to have the lights out. Great place. Give it a visit. Don't miss Myvaten or The Blue Lagoon.
- Amything, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Big problem was idiots in cars all over the place as well.
- dahamsta, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Americans aren't sitting in the dark already?
(I'm kidding, I'm kidding!) - Twango, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4What a wonderful idea. They must not have much of a crime problem.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3here's an idea... go outside the city... i lived in the "country" and the night sky is amazing.
- ICSU, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Just go hiking into mountains. I saw the milky way this summer after many months...
- ivachen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If it happened next year's birth rate will be shooting up the roof... Think New York blackout 1977 =P
- devindotcom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@oblongmouth
You're totally correct. I guess what I mean to say is that it's a major thing to pull off, so we can't just say "OK, do it!" But of course you're right, I didn't mean to imply Reykjavik was some podunk place. - megaloid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Just having visors on all of the streetlights would make a huge difference at night in the U.S. Besides, there are millions of antiquated streetlights that need replacement with more modern technology, much as we have done with the LED traffic signals.
- Clearz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"In short, this sort of thing would never happen in the USA. It would end with lawsuits. Don't ask me how, but they'd find a way to sue."
Its obvious that people would spill their coffee on themselves in the dark and sue. - robertgoodwin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Very cool idea, but only 30 minutes? It would take half of that for my eyes to adjust.
- smokeblender, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Im from Iceland. Me and a friend of mine were driving when the lights went out :) It was awsome. So we parked the car and walked to highground to watch the city.
- chkltcow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Regardless of distant light pollution, like everyone else has said, you have to worry about localized idiots. Every time I set up my telescope in my backyard for a nice starry night, I'm blinded by my neighbor's porchlights. Most seem to leave their lights on 24/7, and most look to be either bare bulb or have absolutely NO diffusion or shielding on them. Blinding, when you're trying to get your eyes dark adjusted to see stars.
Obligatory link to a group dedicated to saving your starry nights from harsh lighting: http://www.darksky.org/ - KingOfNoPants, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Reminds me of a Hey Arnold episode...
- jmbillings, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Actually, it isn't always that simple... http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/crime.html?7O
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1This could never happen in the United States. Some ignoramnus would start wailing about "Big Guvament" trying to control him and take his rights way ( all while living along happily with the patriot act, the monitoring of phone calls, web searches, etc )
- toxicredm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1OK, so the crime aspect has been discussed, but I still have a question. If people are sitting in their houses in the dark, how are they supposed to look up at the night sky?
- MikeMacMan, on 10/12/2007, -12/+4In other news, crime jumps 10,000% after all lights are shut off....
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