Rachel Carson, the great American naturalist, once wrote of seeing “the misty river of the Milky Way flowing across the sky” as she gazed upward on a moonless night.
More than half a century after she wrote those words, it has become harder than ever to see the stars, as cities with their 24-hour lights continue to sprawl. Many children learn about the Milky Way only through books or films, a 2010 Council of Europe report warned.
A combination of economics and preservation efforts is slowing the trend toward excessive lighting in a few areas. A “dark skies” movement, aimed at increasing the public’s appreciation of stargazing, has gained strength in recent years, while cities are rediscovering that turning off streetlights can save money.
“Everywhere, light pollution is an increasing problem,” said Andrej Mohar, an amateur astronomer in Slovenia who has lobbied for lighting regulations there. A 2007 Slovenian law aimed at barring light fixtures from sending light upward has made the night sky above the capital, Ljubljana, about 20 percent darker, he said.
An Arizona-based group called the International Dark-Sky Association has led advocacy efforts worldwide for preserving the night skies.
The issue of nocturnal light pollution is far more important to mental and physical health than most people realize. Embrace the dark! To read more, click here.