Comments on “The Space Chronometer”

COMMENTS ON “THE SPACE CHRONOMETER” Alongwith others, Chris Coles has proposed that we allow vast structures to be put into earth orbit for the purposes of nighttime displaysvisible from the ground over a large part of the globe (Leonardo22, No. 2,201213 , 1989). Having met with quick, stiff and effectiveresistance to the idea from professional astronomers, he has gone on to call for wider debate of the issue.This is surely to be welcomed. For it is an issue affecting us all and it is high time moves were made to spread a wider appreciation of the undisturbed night sky. I dearly hope Colesgets the debate he seeks but that the effect is to strengthen o p position to this outrageous proposal. It is not unlikely that Colesgenuinely has no conception of the nature and degree of the offence in question . There is a sadlywidespread lack of appreciation of the night sky, as evidenced by the virtual silence of opinion accompanyingthe growth this century of light pollution from urban lighting.Coles argues as if the astronomers ’ objection is no more than a technicalityaffecting a small professional minority that can and should be overcome so as to make the night skies available to the artist. He seems not to have considered the possibility that the undisturbed celestialvista is of relevance to all humanity, that it is a unique and preciouspart of our natural environment. The very fact that his particular projectwas to be an orbiting clock indicatesa level of insensitivity.Has he overlooked that it is the heavens themselveswhich provide us with the original and exquisite clock?Does he not know that some see beauty in nature? Would he attempt to “paintthe lily, to throw a perfume on the violet”? Could Coles empathizewith an analogous outrage if, say, it was decreed that henceforth all classical music be performed with the accompaniment of rewing petrol engines? If so,would this provide him with a clue to seeing his problem differently ?Finally, has he not questioned the very idea of imposing artworks on people-no matter what they are or look like? For the astronomers, ‘lightpollution ’ is defined as a purely quantitative interference with their recording instruments.It is perhaps highly fortunate for the rest of us that astronomers are very sensitiveto this issue. It has provided a holding charge against would-be offenders.But what if the astronomers gave up the fight and, as Coles suggests,located all their telescopeson the far side of the moon? Humanity in general would then have to awaken to the threat and would have to enlarge the argument to describe the full offence. It would involve us in basic and important questions about art versus nature, and about freedom from environmental interference. In the attempt to give the force of moral imperative to this cause, Coles argues spuriouslythat progress is the future and that the future must be the most whiz-bang futuristic of our present options. Has he not noticed strong contemporary trends toward heightened awareness of the natural environment?Maybe this is our better future. And maybe we will awaken in time to prevent those who would otherwise commercializeour skies with heavenlyadvertising.It is time to begin talking about this, and time to assist the efforts of, for example, David L. Crawford [11of the International Dark-Sky Associationin promoting awarenessand positive action. The imposition of displays on our night sky would constitute an unprecedented interference with our natural environment. It is not an ecological threat measurable by chemistryor biology so much as an aesthetic desecration and ideological intrusion. Such pollution is cerebral rather than physical , but no less profound for that. The issue takes its place in our newly emerging respect for nature which must encompass fundamental questions of attitude and value that reach beyond an initialcrisisagenda of toxicity and extinctions. The lesson learnt from other pollution issuesis that wider public awareness is an often crucial part of achieving a remedy. We should begin now to discover the value of an undisturbed view of the universe and to teach it through positive action. Let us begin putting adequate shades on public lighting and encourage folk to spare a thought for stargazers.Let us begin...