Aboushelib, M. F., Abozaid, A. A., Nawar, S., Hendy, Y. H. M., & Morcos, A. B. (2019). Preliminary site selection for an observatory in the Egyptian Eastern Desert. Astrophys Space Sci, 364(10), 163.
Abstract: This work aims for choosing preliminary sites that can be candidates for a new astronomical observatory that will replace the Kottamia observatory. The candidate sites have been selected to be investigated after proposing a few criteria. Concerning light pollution and elevation of the sites as the main factors, we chose the candidate sites depending on the zenith sky brightness and the elevation. The night sky brightness has been measured using a Sky Quality Meter at different altitude degrees and the values of the zenith sky brightness were compared to those of different observatory sites. Our night sky brightness observations were found to be in agreement with the satellite’s data and comparable to those of dark sites, with average values of 22.07, 22.03, 21.57 and 21.58 magSQM/arcsec2. We also have obtained the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and extinction coefficient due to the aerosol for the candidate sites using satellite data (Terra/MODIS).
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Aceituno, J., Sánchez, S. F., Aceituno, F. J., GaladÃ-EnrÃquez, D., Negro, J. J., Soriguer, R. C., et al. (2011). An All-Sky Transmission Monitor: ASTMON. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 123(907), 1076–1086.
Abstract: We present here the All-Sky Transmission Monitor (ASTMON), designed to perform a continuous monitoring of the surface brightness of the complete night sky in several bands. The data acquired are used to derive, in addition, a subsequent map of the multiband atmospheric extinction at any location in the sky and a map of the cloud coverage. The instrument has been manufactured to withstand extreme weather conditions and to remain operative. Designed to be fully robotic, it is ideal to be installed outdoors as a permanent monitoring station. The preliminary results based on two of the currently operative units (at Doñana National Park, Huelva, and at the Calar Alto Observatory, AlmerÃa, Spain) are presented here. The parameters derived using ASTMON are in good agreement with those previously reported, which illustrates the validity of the design and the accuracy of the manufacturing. The information provided by this instrument will be presented in forthcoming articles, once we have accumulated a statistically significant amount of data.
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Admiranto, A. G., Priyatikanto, R., Maryam, S., Ellyyani,, & Suryana, N. (2019). Preliminary Report of Light Pollution in Indonesia Based on Sky Quality Observation. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser., 1231, 012017.
Abstract: We observed night sky quality in several LAPAN stations (Agam, Bandung, Pontianak, Sumedang, Garut, Pasuruan, and Biak) which were conducted from April until July 2018 using Unihedron Sky Quality Meter LU-DL type. Observational data from all of the observational points were then sent regularly to a centralized database for further use. Although most of the measurements were done in overcast conditions, we were able to determine the representative clear sky brightness statistically. The results showed that the light pollution level of the most of the stations are moderate (the values at Biak, Agam, Sumedang, and Pontianak are 20.0, 19.5, 19.6, and 17.7 mpsas respectively) and the stations which are located near or in cities are high (Bandung and Pasuruan with 17.1 and 18.0 mpsas, respectively). In a particular station (Garut) the light pollution is low (20.6 mpsas), so it is good to make this spot to be a location of astrotourism.
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Ahmed, A. K., & Sadik, M. A. (2018). Study of sky brightness profiles of Baghdad and Karbala cities in Iraq. International Journal of Science and Nature, 9(1), 18–24.
Abstract: This study was used two detectors only i.e., the human eye and photometer of Sky Quality Meter (SQM-LU) during the time of sunrise and sunset. The human eye used to determine the moon's phase. The measurements of sky brightness, by using SQM-LU, performed via two locations that covered Baghdad and Karbala in Iraq from December 2016 through March 2017 intermittently. The research focused only on light perceived by detectors and not how it happens. The aim of research is to find a mathematical formula (i.e . brightness contrast) between the sky brightness against the solar altitude by taking moon illumination as the standard reference. Analytical software based on the Python's PyEphem astrometry library was developed to calculate the solar altitude at the two locations. Finally, the formula of sky brightness obtained from this work is an important key that contributed to finding the simulated sky brightness, when the sun's altitude is known.
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Albers, S., & Duriscoe, D. M. (2001). Modeling light pollution from population data and implications for National Park Service lands. George Wright Forum, 18, 56–68.
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