International Dark Sky Week 2015
Join us for seven days of celebration, learning and action!
Happy International Dark Sky Week! Created in 2003 by high-school student Jennifer Barlow, Dark Sky Week has grown to become a worldwide event and a key component of Global Astronomy Month. Each year it is held in April around Earth Day and Astronomy Day.
In explaining why she started the week, Barlow said, “I want people to be able to see the wonder of the night sky without the effects of light pollution. The universe is our view into our past and our vision into the future. … I want to help preserve its wonder."
International Dark Sky Week draws attention to the problems associated with light pollution and promotes simple solutions available to mitigate it.
Why Does Light Pollution Matter?
The nighttime environment is a crucial natural resource for all life on Earth, but the glow of uncontrolled outdoor lighting has hidden the stars, radically changing the nighttime environment.
Before the advent of electric light in the 20th century, our ancestors experienced a night sky brimming with stars that inspired science, religion, philosophy, art and literature including some of Shakespeare’s most famous sonnets.
The common heritage of a natural night sky is rapidly becoming unknown to the newest generations. In fact, millions of children across the globe will never see the Milky Way from their own homes.
We are only just beginning to understand the negative repercussions of losing this natural resource. A growing body of research suggests that the loss of the natural nighttime environment is causing serious harm to human health and the environment.
For nocturnal animals in particular, the introduction of artificial light at night could very well be the most devastating change humans have made to their environment. Light pollution also has deleterious effects on other organisms such as migrating birds, sea turtle hatchlings, and insects.
Humans are not immune to the negative effects of light in their nighttime spaces. Excessive exposure to artificial light at night, particularly blue light, has been linked to increased risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes and breast cancer.
But Don’t We Need Nighttime Lighting for Safety & Security?
There is no clear scientific evidence that increased outdoor lighting deters crime. It may make us feel safer but it does not make us safer. The truth is bad outdoor lighting can decrease safety by making victims and property easier to see.
Glare from overly bright, unshielded lighting creates shadows in which criminals can hide. It also shines directly into our eyes, constricting our pupils. This diminishes the ability of our eyes to adapt to low-light conditions and leads to poorer nighttime vision, dangerous to motorists and pedestrians alike.
Another serious side effect of light pollution is wasted energy. Wasted energy costs money, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and compromises energy security.
What Can YOU Do?
The good news is that light pollution is reversible and its solutions are immediate, simple and cost-effective. Here are a few simple things you can do to confront the problem and take back the night:
- Check around home. Shield outdoor lighting, or at least angle it downward, to minimize “light trespass” beyond your property lines. Use light only when and where needed. Motion detectors and timers can help. Use only the amount of illumination required for the task at hand.
- Talk to neighbors. Explain that poorly shielded fixtures waste energy, produce glare and reduce visibility. Give them an IDA brochure from the IDA website.
- Become a Citizen Scientist with GLOBE at Night or the Dark Sky Rangers and document light pollution in your neighborhood and share the results. Doing so, contributes to a global database of light pollution measurements.
- Photograph the sky and enter the 2015 International Earth and Sky Photo Contest.
- Explore Online. Join us on Facebook and Twitter (hashtag #IDSW2015), and check out our website, which features a different theme for each day of the week. Visit us daily and learn something new.
Cheryl Ann is IDA’s Communications and Public Affairs Director. She’s an outdoor enthusiast regardless of whether it is day or night. Growing up in rural Washington state, she learned to appreciate night skies at an early age. Before joining IDA, she received graduate degrees in mass communication and then taught college communication courses. Prior to her graduate studies, she worked in public relations for state and municipal agencies. Cheryl Ann has published numerous freelance articles, chapters, and a book. She’s excited that she gets to use her writing and communication skills for such a great cause. In her free time Cheryl Ann loves to explore the beautiful Sonoran Desert (Ariz.), garden, play music and take pictures.
