Have any of you been in an anchorage where most of the boats have LED anchor lights?? You may have noticed that the stars seem to have disappeared!!
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Interesting observation Joe. I guess not enough boats in our area have changed over or else our anchorages are not as crowded. The LEDs look white or blue while the incandescent have a yellow tinge. The LED are definitely brighter so I can see if there are enough in an anchorage the dimmer stars would be hard to see.
When I got La Reina she had an incandescent bulb at the mast head. When the anchor light or the running lights were on I could see the tabs at the back of the Davis Wind indicator. I eventually changed the bulb to a Dr. LED bulb. The fitting was not changed. The led light does not shine up at all and I can no longer see the wind indicator tabs. It is difficult from on board to tell if the light is on. It is better to do a check at night when I am at a marina and can get some distance away.
Mark Powers
https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1%7C65136%7C2312540%7C2312566%7C2312567&id=928833
They also have an LED replacement.
Bill M.
I noticed this about 6 or 7 years ago when they first came out, Mark. They may have gotten better or maybe the ones in that anchorage had unusually bright ones.
Regards,
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
I heard a program on the radio (CBC, Quirks and Quarks), where they discussed the fact that astronomers were having difficulty using optical telescopes because of all the light pollution from cities. They were/are lobbying cities to switch to lights that were designed to only cast light down and reduce or eliminate light being cast upward. Seems like a similar problem but on a much bigger scale.
Mark Powers
Many communities have ordinances prohibiting light from going up or shining off your property. There is also an international Dark Sky movement.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA