Sky Shorts: It’s time to protect our night sky

A look at light pollution over time in the United States. Submitted Photo

By Suzie Dills Special to The Canton Repository

Excerpt:

A few weeks ago, from April 5-12, we celebrated International Dark Sky Week, to raise awareness of the negative effects of light pollution and dark sky defenders connect to protect the night sky. Light pollution is caused by improper lighting fixtures resulting in invasive light glow that fades the stars and reduces the average person’s ability to view the Milky Way.

International Dark Sky Week was created in 2003, by a then-high school student, Jennifer Barlow from Virginia, and has grown to an annual worldwide event. The event is held during the New Moon, when skies are at their darkest and stars are more visible. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to turn off their lights and enjoy the beauty of the night sky.

Sadly, 83% of the world’s population lives under a light-polluted sky. Light pollution does not only affect our ability to see the night sky but has other serious and harmful consequences. One consequence is disruption to wildlife. Plants and animals depend on the Earth day-night cycle to govern life-sustaining behaviors. For instance, lights, at night, attract and disorient migrating birds causing not only exhaustion but collisions with buildings. Sea turtles hatch at night and are drawn to artificial lights, away from the ocean.

Read the full article here.