Ground observers reveal skyglow is accelerating beyond satellite estimates, dimming the night sky for a generation
A 2023 Science study analyzing 51,351 naked-eye reports from Globe at Night finds artificial night-brightening is increasing about 9.6% per year, faster than satellite records showed, which could reduce the number of visible stars for a growing portion of the world’s population (roughly 6.5%/yr in Europe and 10.4%/yr in North America). The mismatch arises because satellites measure radiance differently from how the human eye perceives star visibility, especially with blue-rich LEDs and light scattered by the atmosphere. The overall message is that light pollution is advancing quickly and solutions like shielding and smarter lighting could help retain the night sky for future generations.