Tag

Light Pollution

All articles tagged with #light pollution

environment20 days ago•3 min saved

Global Night Sky Brightens as Artificial Light Expands by 16%

A Nature study using satellite imagery finds artificial nighttime lights increased worldwide by about 16% from 2014 to 2022, with the United States having the highest total luminosity in 2022 and regional variations driven by conflict and disasters (notably Europe dimming during the Russia–Ukraine energy crisis). The rise in light pollution affects wildlife by disrupting sleep, navigation, and feeding, and can disrupt human circadian rhythms; the issue is reversible and individual actions—such as dimming outdoor lighting and using shields—can help, with tools like the Light Pollution Map and DarkSky resources available for guidance.

via USA Today|

#artificial-lighting #circadian-rhythm #environment

science29 days ago•5 min saved

Threat to Atacama's Dark Skies as Light Pollution Spreads

The Atacama Desert, a premier astronomy hub hosting the ELT and major observatories, faces rising light pollution from mining, energy projects, and urban development. Scientists warn that even small increases in artificial light can degrade decades of data and hinder the search for Earth-like planets, spurring calls for stricter protections and regulatory updates after a near-miss green-energy project near Paranal highlighted governance gaps.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#astronomy #atacama-desert #dark-skies

science1 month ago•42 min saved

Chile’s Atacama Desert: Dark Skies at Risk from Modern Development

The Atacama Desert in Chile hosts some of the world’s most powerful astronomical facilities thanks to exceptionally dark skies, but growing urban expansion, mining, wind farms, and a canceled nearby green-energy project have spotlighted how light pollution and regulations threaten these observatories and their ability to study the universe—spurring calls for stricter sky-preservation rules to safeguard projects like the ELT and the search for Earth‑like planets.

via Yahoo|

#astronomy #atacama-desert #extremely-large-telescope

environment1 month ago•3 min saved

Earth’s night lights rise, but the glow flickers with policy and conflict

NASA-funded study of 1.16 million satellite images shows artificial night lighting increased about 16% globally from 2014–2022, but regional shifts were volatile: Europe dimmed significantly due to efficiency rules and energy shortages, Venezuela dropped after economic collapse, while Asia continued to brighten; the United States saw mixed signals with West Coast growth and East Coast dimming; gas flaring in central US highlighted energy waste; overall radiance rose but with a patchwork of bright and dim regions, reflecting policy, economy, and conflict.

via The Guardian|

#artificial-light #energy-efficiency #environment

space1 month ago•79 min saved

Global night glow up 16% since 2014, with pockets of dimming from conflict and policy

A Nature-published study using NASA’s VIIRS satellite data finds Earth’s night-time artificial lighting brightened by about 16% from 2014 to 2022, driven mainly by developing regions such as India, China and parts of Africa, indicating rising electricity access and activity. Yet some regions dimmed due to wars, disasters, or effective energy-saving policies (e.g., Ukraine, France), producing a flickering pattern rather than uniform brightening. The results highlight regional variability and note LED lighting can affect satellite measurements, with dimming areas expanding in certain regions even as overall brightness rises.

via Space|

#energy-policy #light-pollution #night-sky-brightness

technology1 month ago•7 min saved

Startup Proposes 4,000 Orbital Sky Mirrors to Shine Daylight After Dusk, Draws Astronomers’ Fears

A California startup, Reflect Orbital, plans a constellation of up to 4,000 low-Earth-orbit satellites each carrying large tilting reflectors to redirect sunlight toward Earth after sunset, potentially delivering daylight-like illumination for hours. A demonstration mission (Eärendil-1) is in the works, with ambitions to scale to tens of thousands of satellites, raising major concerns among astronomers and ecologists about night-sky brightness, wildlife impacts, and orbital congestion before any large-scale deployment.

via Indian Defence Review|

#light-pollution #orbital-safety #reflective-surfaces

photography2 months ago•21 min saved

Satellites Flood the Night Sky: A Photographer’s Heartbreak and a Widening Light-Pollution Crisis

A 30‑minute composite by Alan Dyer shows satellite trails across the night sky, illustrating how the rapid growth of orbital satellites is increasing light pollution for astrophotography. A 2025 survey found 90% of astrophotographers affected; with Starlink's 10,000th satellite launched and estimates of tens of thousands more, experts warn the practice could degrade night-sky photography unless shooters time sessions to minimize satellite trails.

via Digital Camera World|

#astrophotography #light-pollution #night-sky

space2 months ago•3 min saved

SpaceX Reaches 10,000 Satellites, Night Sky Art Exposes Light Pollution

SpaceX hit a milestone by launching its 10,000th satellite into low-Earth orbit, and photographer Joshua Rozells captured the night-sky impact in a 343-frame composite that highlights satellite trails. The image amplifies concerns about satellite light pollution affecting astrophotography and astronomy, and it spotlights regulatory gaps while acknowledging the benefits of widespread internet access.

via PetaPixel|

#astronomy #astrophotography #light-pollution

lifestyle2 months ago•33 min saved

Ad truck glare sparks neighborhood debate on light pollution

A Reddit post shows a bright, illegally parked truck in an apartment parking lot used to sell advertising, drawing concerns about light pollution and wasted energy. Studies have found light pollution rising about 10% annually since 2011, contributing to higher energy use and carbon emissions. The piece suggests actions like switching to LED bulbs and closing blinds to reduce stray light and its environmental impact.

via Yahoo|

#advertising-truck #energy-waste #environment

environment2 months ago•7 min saved

Bat-Friendly Red Streetlights Spark Denmark’s Urban Ecology Experiment

In Gladsaxe near Copenhagen, Denmark replaced standard white LED streetlights with red LEDs along Frederiksborgvej to protect a nearby bat colony and reduce light pollution, balancing driver safety with wildlife. The project is part of a broader EU Lighting Metropolis program advancing greener urban lighting aligned with UNDP sustainable-city goals.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#bat-conservation #denmark #environment

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Northern Lights Could Dazzle U.S. This Weekend, NOAA Forecasts Geomagnetic Activity

A NOAA‑issued G1 geomagnetic storm watch due to a high‑speed solar wind could bring the Northern Lights as far south as the U.S. border this weekend, with the best displays in northern states and parts of Canada. For optimal viewing, seek dark, north‑facing spots away from city lights between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.; the near‑90% illuminated moon may wash out faint auroras, so long‑exposure photography can help capture them.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#aurora-borealis #geomagnetic-storm #light-pollution

space2 months ago•5 min saved

Sky Mirrors in Orbit Could Light After-Dark Earth, Sparking Astronomers' Alarm

A California startup, Reflect Orbital, proposes a constellation of up to 4,000 sunlit satellites with large mirrors to redirect sunlight toward Earth after sunset for several minutes, testing with the Eärendil-1 demonstration (an ~18-by-18-meter reflector at ~600 km). The system would illuminate targeted areas briefly while in sunlight, potentially extending usable daylight for activities like solar power or night operations; future versions could have much larger mirrors. While the concept could aid nighttime tasks, astronomers warn it could brighten the sky and disrupt observations, worsen light pollution, and increase space debris, making the success of the initial demonstration crucial for determining whether the idea advances.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#astronomy #light-pollution #satellites

environment3 months ago•7 min saved

Dim the Night: How Darker Gardens Boost Wildlife

Experts say outdoor lighting disrupts nocturnal wildlife and pollination, so dimming or using motion-activated, warmer lights can protect insects, birds, bats and plants. Embracing evening gardening with moon gardens or night-blooming plants keeps the outdoors usable after sunset, boosting biodiversity and garden health.

via The Washington Post|

#biodiversity #environment #gardening

space3 months ago•78 min saved

Dark skies saved: Chile plant near Paranal cancelled

A $10 billion plan to build a light-polluting green hydrogen plant near ESO’s Cerro Paranal observatory in Chile has been cancelled by AES Andes, relieving astronomers who warned the project would degrade the world-renowned dark skies and threaten facilities like the VLT and ELT. ESO calculations suggested up to a 35% increase in light pollution, which could undermine cutting-edge observations, prompting widespread concern in the astronomy community. The cancellation allows Paranal and Atacama-region telescopes to continue operating under optimal sky conditions while AES Andes shifts focus to renewable energy projects.

via Space|

#aes-andes #dark-skies #eso

spacescience4 months ago•4 min saved

Night-Sky Brightening: 4,000 Orbital Mirrors Target Earth Illumination in 2026

A California startup, Reflect Orbital, plans to deploy about 4,000 55-meter-wide mirrors in low Earth orbit to reflect sunlight back to Earth at night, with Earendil-1 launching in April 2026 to illuminate nighttime solar-power sites and other critical areas. The project has sparked backlash from astronomers, environmentalists, and sleep researchers due to potential sky brightness and telescope interference, as well as concerns about wildlife disruption and governance since private entities would control illumination. Simulations suggest beams could be bright enough to affect observations, and atmospheric scattering could spread light beyond the target zone, raising questions about data loss and fairness across borders.**

via The Daily Galaxy|

#astronomy #ethics #light-pollution