Dark welcome for comet

Press, 4 December 1985, Page 20

Dark welcome for comet

Is Halley’s Comet worth the hazards that a black-out of street lighting in Christchurch might bring? The question is receiving mixed replies from Christchurch local authorities. The Heathcote County Council and the Riccarton Borough Council are in favour. The Waimairi District Council is still considering. The Christchurch City Council has reservations. The Paparua County Council, against objections, has agreed to a black-out. Turning off the street lights of the city would vastly improve the view of a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event. To be worth while, however, the measure will have to be coordinated over the whole city. Little will be achieved if lights go off at different times, or on different days, in different areas. Disadvantages have been pointed out by the police, the Ministry of Transport, and representatives of shift workers. More traffic accidents could be expected, especially if people are moving round the city to early morning comet parties. Thieves would have an advantage during lights-out, especially if the times are known well in advance. The risks are probably worth taking. The comet was last visible from Earth in 1910; it will not be back till 2061. New Zealand is perhaps the best-placed country in the world, this time, for comet gazing. Other communities

have already decided to risk a black-out, including Dunedin and Invercargill in the South Island. One suggestion comes from the Canterbury Astronomical Society, which would like to see all street lights off from midnight to 12.30 a.m. from March 30 to April 16 next year. That may not be the best time of night to see the comet, but it is early enough to make viewing possible for almost everyone, and it would not be necessary to have the street lights turned off every night. Two or three nights would be sufficient and, with an eye on the weather, these could be announced on the day. A “brown-out,” with street lights dimmed, as suggested by the City Council, is probably not enough. Short, total darkness will serve best. It might prove less hazardous than leaving the city’s lights on so that dedicated cometwatchers are stirred into driving well out into the countryside. The idea of deliberately putting the streets into darkness will not win everyone’s support. Nevertheless, given due notice most people could cope with the black-out. Provided that the nights for a brief shut-down of street lighting were limited to two or three, sufficient people would be about for the event to make everyone cautious. Well managed, and fully publicised, the occasion should not produce any ill.