Light pollution is “the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light,” according to the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), the leading champion in the fight to preserve dark skies. This pollution comes in many forms: the interior and exterior lighting of buildings, advertising billboards, sports stadiums, factories, streetlights, commercial properties . . . the list goes on.
Until the recently, humanity — and nature — lived according to the ebb and flow of sunrises and sunsets, with nighttime landscapes illuminated solely by the gentle light of the Moon and the stars. We slept when it was dark and rose with the Sun. With the advent of electricity and 24-hour lighting, we’ve lost touch with our circadian rhythms.
A groundbreaking 2016 study found that a whopping 80% of the world’s population lives with the consequences of skyglow, the brightening of the night sky due to street and house lights. If you live in the United States or Europe, you're likely worse off: Skyglow and other detrimental effects of light pollution hide the Milky Way from an eye-watering 99% of the population. Visit NASA's Blue Marble Navigator to see at a glance how bad light pollution is in your area.
Light pollution doesn’t only blot out the wonders of the universe. It also severely disrupts wildlife and the ecosystem — nocturnal creatures become confused, birds fly into windows, it even affects the growth patterns of trees, besides also harming our health.
Organizations such as the IDA are heavily invested in preserving our night skies and in raising awareness on the harmful effects of light pollution. And the IDA specifically encourages you to get involved in their efforts during International Dark Sky Week. Here's how you can do so.
This year, International Dark Sky Week kicks off on April 22nd, which also happens to be Earth Day, and is scheduled to culminate with the new Moon on April 30th.
The purpose is simple: to highlight the negative — and sometimes downright harmful — consequences of light pollution. But it’s also a platform for fostering inspiration, to encourage seeking solutions, and ultimately, to celebrate the night.
This upcoming week is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about light pollution, what the IDA and like-minded organizations do to raise awareness, and what you can do to help by attending events (both in-person and virtual).
International Dark Sky Week is a good place to kick-start your light-pollution-combating efforts. You could start by inventorying your home lighting to ensure you have the right types of bulb and avoid contributing to light trespass, unnecessary light that spills from your property into your neighborhood. Check out the IDA’s recommendations for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.
You can also be proactive locally. You'll find advice on how to approach a neighbor to discuss their lighting. Just remember: Always be polite. Visit the IDA’s Public Outreach website to find material such as brochures, infographics, and videos that you can share in your community and with your friends and family.
Take on a more active role and join the IDA Advocate Network. After following a few preliminary steps you’ll be invited to join the IDA’s global communication platform, which will give you access to exclusive resources as well as opportunities to learn more about dark sky conservation.
Your efforts needn’t come to an end on April 30th. Combating light pollution is an ongoing, global endeavor — and it might even become a lifetime passion for you.
But first, turn off the light, step outdoors, and watch the night sky turn on.
The Longview Public Library is hosting a Star Party on Thursday, April 21st at 8pm at 222 W. Cotton St.
Members of the Astronomical Society of East Texas will be present with telescopes to aid viewing.
This is a weather permitting event. Should be skies become cloudy or the possibility of rain develop, the event will be postponed at this time to May 5th. If this happens, we will post it on this website.
The Mineola Nature Preserve in conjunction with The Astronomical Society of East Texas will present a STAR GAZING at the Mineola Nature Preserve on Friday, March 25th. This is a free program and everyone is invited. The activity begins about 9:30 PM and will end about 11:30 PM. The location will be the amphitheater next to the pavilion. The program is a group exercise in identifying objects in the night sky that can be seen with binoculars or the naked eye (Naked Eye Astronomy); bring your binoculars. Try to arrive by 9:00 pm to get acquainted with your surroundings.
This is a weather permitting program. In the event of inclement weather or cloud cover, the program will be cancelled. A “CANCELLED” notice will be posted in the “Calendar” page of the Society’s website: www.asetexas.org/calendar on the date, view our Facebook page: Astronomical Society of East Texas and a sign, “No Star Gazing” will be posted at the Preserve entrance.
Please keep an eye on the weather and dress appropriately for it. We have had significant amounts of rain lately, so wear clothing to ward off the mosquitoes. If you bring mosquito repellant, DO NOT bring AEROSOL sprays; use wipes instead.
Door prizes will be given at the end of the program.
For more information on this event and the Society, contact us at info@asetexas.com or text to 903-520-7338.
If you missed the Lunar Eclipse from this past month, here is a NASA time lapse video of the event.
