We Took a Dark Sky for Granted – Now It’s Gone
It has all happened so quickly.
In just a few decades, we have “removed” the night sky.
A staggering two-thirds of the human population cannot see the Milky Way at night, due to light pollution.
In some countries, it’s even worse – up to 90% of people in the UK cannot see the glory of a cloudless night sky.
Astronomers say “hardly any” of the next generation will be able to see the beauty.
Your children and grandchildren will probably never be awed and enchanted by a dark sky, a majestic panoply of comets, constellations and galaxies. They will be completely isolated from the rest of the universe behind a bank of artificial light.
But does it matter?
Is it just astronomers whingeing, or is there a real problem?
“If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracles of technology.
We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it”.
— Lyndon B. Johnson
Why We Need Dark Sky
Light pollution causes many more problems than we think.
Cancer Risk: Because more of us are sleeping in more light at night, light pollution may suppress natural melatonin levels in humans at night. The hormone melatonin normally impedes cancer cell growth – without it, we are more vulnerable to cancer.
Waste: From an environmental point of view, there’s wasted energy. Skyscrapers are lit up all night while they’re empty. Generating that energy causes pollution which affects our health and that of the planet.
Spill: Many people live close to sports grounds with floodlights shining into their bedroom window. Many streetlights are badly designed and light up surrounding houses as well as streets. Then there are billboards and advertisements. And brightly-lit buildings whose lights fall where they shouldn’t. They can affect our sleep, which causes serious health problems.
Safety: Many buildings and also homes have lights “for security” – but the lights cause harsh glare which reduces our ability to see properly. This results in traffic and pedestrian accidents.
Wildlife: Night tells so many animals when to eat, when to sleep, when to hunt, when to migrate or even when to reproduce. Our artificial lights confuse animals. Glow-worms, which need a dark environment to thrive, have declined rapidly over the past 30 years. Frogs no longer sing their mating chorus in artificial light. Light pollution can disrupt the navigational ability of many animals including turtles, fish, birds and butterflies.
Places with Dark Skies
Many places around the world are trying to reduce their light pollution.
In 2015 for example, astronomers in the Czech Republic pushed through the world’s first country-wide law to reduce light pollution.
The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) identifies “Dark Sky Communities” where there is little light pollution – and residents who care about keeping it that way. It takes a lot of hard work for a town to get Dark Sky status (night time light levels must be recorded, there’s a huge lighting audit, and all residents must work to reduce the amount of light pollution present).
And then there are wonderful, naturally isolated and very special places around the world which offer the most breathtaking dark sky experiences.
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) suggest their Top 10 places – how many of them have you seen? Download the list here – it’s free.
My Personal Dark Sky
Growing up in rural Ireland, the night sky was wonderful – when it wasn’t raining of course! I remember being entranced by Halley’s Comet when it paid a visit and was visible from our back garden (1986).
Living in various parts of Africa, there were ample opportunities for enjoying the rise of the Milky Way, our own galaxy. Even when I lived in a large city, high altitude and an arid climate meant beautifully clear skies most nights, although there was of course some light pollution.
And now that I live on a tiny tropical island, the very last thing I do, every single night before bed, is go outside and look up at the stars.
It is a magnificent sight.
What about you?
Can you see stars, and the Milky Way?
Has light pollution increased where you live?
Let me know in the comments below.
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Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download the best dark sky places – there may be one near you! Click here to download.
P.P.S. Of course, it’s not only light pollution that causes problems for night skies. You also need good weather. And you won’t see as many stars at night if there’s a full moon. Or if you live in the far North or South the polar twilight may prevent total darkness.
