International Dark Sky Week
- Category
Science & Technology
- Published
11th May, 2022
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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.
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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.
