Light Pollution Makes Night Sky Too Bright for Stargazing but Study Says Reversal Still Possible

As light pollution rises, the night sky is getting too bright, making it difficult to do activities like stargazing.

However, it can still be reversed through a few strategies.

The brightness of the night sky has risen by 7% to 10% a year for the past ten years, according to a study done by the Globe at Night project, a citizen science initiative involving over 50,000 observations from participants around the world.

Dr. Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, was interviewed by BBC Science Focus to discuss the implications of this trend for non-astronomers, astronomers, and animals, as well as whether it can be stopped.

The Night Sky is Too Bright

According to Brown, the brightest celestial objects, such as planets, will be visible despite any conceivable future increase in light pollution.

But even from suburban areas, let alone the center of cities, it is practically impossible to see the fainter celestial bodies, such as the Milky Way's constellation of stars.

Brown continued by saying that light pollution significantly limits the average person's ability to learn about the cosmos.

Measuring Light Pollution

Brown predicts that measuring light pollution will be challenging. Many of the earlier studies used satellites, which are great at analyzing red light but not so great at analyzing blue.

This is a problem because LEDs have replaced sodium lamps, such as those used in street lighting, in modern light pollution, which tends to be blue light.

As a result, a lot of studies must now be conducted on the ground to make up for that.

This is where the project's citizen science component comes from. Simply put, there are not enough people interested in this kind of thing globally.

To make up for that deficit, the general public must participate to a certain extent.

Light Pollution Trend

Since the 1970s, light pollution has grown to be an increasingly serious issue.

With the growth of cities and urbanization, as well as people moving from rural to urban areas, light pollution has increased in the modern era.

As more efficient lighting means less lighting is required, switching to LED lighting was considered to be a potential solution to this issue.

However, there is also a counterargument that says that with more energy-efficient lighting, people could use more of it while using the same amount of power, which would exacerbate the issue.

Light Pollution and Human Health

Humans are accustomed to sleeping at night and being awake during the day, as Brown pointed out.

It becomes more difficult for human bodies, along with their body clocks, to accurately determine what time it is as more light is added to the night sky.

This results in insomnia and all of the problems that go along with it, including tiredness, fatigue, and poor mental health.

This problem goes beyond affecting humans.

Brown says that Because predators need light for hunting, wildlife suffers greatly from the rise in light pollution.

The cycle of predation and prey, for instance, has historically been based on the light of the Moon.

Predators, however, have a constant method that allows them to prey on numerous other animals if it is always as light as though there is a full moon nearby.

Brown thinks that this could pose a serious threat to the biosphere's diversity and balance, the BBC reported.

According to International Dark-Sky Association, humans have adapted to the natural cycle of day and night that is governed by light and darkness. More no people longer experience real dark nights due to the widespread use of artificial lighting. Artificial light at night can harm people's health by raising their risk of obesity, diabetes, depression, sleep disorders, breast cancer, and other conditions.

Also Read: Mysterious Glowing Pink Sky Over Australian Town Leaves Residents in Awe

Slowing Down Light Pollution

According to Brown, when using lights, particularly street lights, and lightbulbs, in city centers, careful planning is required.

Although lighting is important, it is also crucial to determine how it will be used and what is being lit.

He said that the effectiveness of light that travels upward is useless because it does not benefit those who are on the ground.

In addition to reducing light pollution, anything that increases efficiency by shining all of that light downward also serves the original intent of those lights.

Brown also advises making sure exterior lights aren't used excessively.

Lights in the driveway, garden or other similar areas should be equipped with motion sensors or should only be left on when necessary, BBC Science Focus reported.

The study by the Globe at Night Project was recently published in the journal Science.