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International Dark Sky Week

Context

Astronomers and sky enthusiasts marked the 2022 International Dark Sky Week from April 22-30.

About

What is the International Dark Sky Week?

  • The International Dark Sky Week is an annual event hosted by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).
  • International Dark Sky Week provides a wonderful opportunity for people to discover value and beauty in the dark.
  • It’s a great time to connect with the night and learn about what is at stake if light pollution continues to increase.
  • The event aims to raise awareness about the negative impact of light pollution and celebrate the night sky.
  • According to IDA, outdoor artificial lighting at night can disrupt wildlife, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block views of the universe — when used indiscriminately.
  • Light pollution is increasing at twice the rate of population growth and 83% of the world’s population lives under the light-polluted sky

International Dark-Sky Association (IDA):

  • The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is the recognized authority on light pollution and is the leading organization combating light pollution worldwide.
  • Vision: The night sky, filled with stars, is celebrated and protected around the world as a shared heritage benefitting all living things.
  • Purpose: To protect the night from light pollution. 

What is Light Pollution?

  • The inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light – known as light pollution – can have serious environmental consequences for humans, wildlife, and our climate.
  • Components of light pollution include:
  • Glare – excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort
  • Skyglow– brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas
  • Light trespass– light falling where it is not intended or needed
  • Clutter – bright, confusing and excessive groupings of light sources
  • Light pollution is a side effect of industrial civilization.
  • Its sources include building exterior and interior lighting, advertising, commercial properties, offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated sporting venues.

How bad is Light Pollution?

  • With much of the Earth’s population living under light-polluted skies, over lighting is an international concern.
  • According to the 2016 groundbreaking “World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness,” 80 percent of the world’s population lives under skyglow.
  • In the United States and Europe 99 percent of the public can’t experience a natural night.
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