Darkness and the night sky

Mark DiVecchio

Special to the Village News

Chapter 3 – What we can do to keep the sky dark

Resolving the light pollution problem is as simple as turning out the lights when possible.

Many municipalities and states are now establishing dark zones for the purpose of creating areas without artificial light. They are doing this for the benefit of both human and wildlife inhabitants. Light pollution is often ignored when it comes to protecting the environment, but it should be something that is on the top of everyone's list.

Light pollution hinders astronomy, harms the planet, wastes money, and threatens the health and safety of all life.

Light pollution is excessive or inappropriate outdoor lighting. Common forms include:

• Glare – excessive brightness causing visual discomfort

• Urban sky glow –brightening of the night sky

• Light trespass – light falling where it's not intended or needed. Solutions to light pollution are simple and save money.

What you can do

• Use fully shielded, dark-sky friendly fixtures. That means lights shine down, not up.

• Only use lights when needed. Install timers and dimmer switches, and turn off lights when not in use.

• Use the right amount of light. Too much light is wasteful and impairs vision.

• Use long-wavelength lights with a red or yellow tint to minimize negative health effects.

Help make change

• Get informed. Visit http://www.darksky.org to learn more.

• Spread the word. Talk to friends, neighbors and government officials about light pollution.

Acknowledgment: This series was produced with help from the International Dark Sky Association, http://www.darksky.org.

Anyone interested in supporting FBA's Dark-Sky initiative can sign their on-line petition at https://chng.it/Gr6ZhXbb.