Large search light from McDonalds

Hello all,

I live in Independence, Missouri, I got home this morning after my shift at work (12:20AM), hoping to do some backyard astronomical observing. Guess what!? Instead of seeing the stars, I got the local McDonalds with a large search light blasting the night sky. It was so bad that I decided to drive there and see if they would turn it off. No luck. The manager told me that the light was a promotional campaign and she was not going to turn it off. I am very frustrated by your company using search lights for promotion because EVERY night I go out to look at stars, all I see are those stupid annoying lights sweeping the sky. Even when I am an hour from the city, I still see these beams of light obliterating the milky way and other stars. Not only is this use of lights annoying, it is wasteful of energy. Do they seriously think no one knows where to find a McDonalds restaurant?

Esdras M. Santiago

Probably even more annoying is that they picked this week because there would be no Moon to interfere with the visibility of their searchlight!

You might find out at what hour they turn that sucker off, and take a nap until then. The seeing will be better later, and there will be less illumination from other sources of light pollution later also. In the meantime, take solice in that it will probably only be a short term promotion (over as soon as the waxing crescent Moon starts impacting their show!).

Hugh Bartlett

Hello all,

This is my update, large search light still on… Independence, Missouri. I have emailed the clown headquarters and left messages to the business owner. I have spoken to several managers of this establishment, some very professional and others just plain jerks and the large search light is still on.

Well, when dealing the clown you better invest in a lot of patience.

I have called the city of Independence and I have been redirected from one office to another to see who can help. This led me to the office of the Prosecuting Attorney. I am waiting for his call.

What have I learned?

The large search lights are part of a promotional campaign and when they are done at this store, it … !!! Will be coming to a store near YOU… !!!

I was surprised at some astronomical Forums that I belong to, they did not post my message. Some emailed me to inform me the post was off topic or unproper, I guess because I did call the clown by his name. As you see I have not done that yet in this letter.

Thanks to all of you that took time to read my post and responded to it.

Esdras M. Santiago

Hello all,
Battle progress:

The search-light promotion that was causing lots of unnecessary light pollution are Off.

I have spoken to several managers and to the owner of this establishment. He informed me that the large search lights are off. I thanked him and continued saying, I hope this does not happen in the future. He had no comment. I told him that there are a lot of people that will benefit from the lights being off and all the responses I got from groups on line. At that time all I heard was “KLIK”.

Things I did to help it happen:
called the city of Independence and followed all leads…
emailed the McDonalds headquarters
left messages to the business owner
spoke with store managers

I do not know what finally got the lights off and I have seen more lights com up in other parts of the city.

Thanks to all of you that took time to read my post and responded to it.

Esdras M. Santiago