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The light pollution map website by Jurij Stare is a valuable tool to assess where nearby pockets of darker skies can be found. https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/help.html
A link to the mapping is on the /help page. It uses VIIRS satellite data and users can choose from a variety of overlays starting from about 2012 to recent. There is a SQM option as well. My own zenith SQM-L records correlate well with the map of my area. There are flaws with using satellite data and sometimes a high zenith reading does not necessarily indicate a good site because of the effect of bright nearby LP sources on lower elevations. Lots to explore and the app seems to be good as well.A bit of background for reassurance. None of the other environmental organisations that CfDS are hoping to work would be likely to be considered controversial, other than with the extremist political fringe. Collectively they would number millions of ordinary supporters.
The reality is that getting anywhere with government requires a professional approach (know how) that the current CfDS committee lacks. Clubbing together resources (a manyfold increase) means that the money will be available to present the most compelling arguments, in the right formats, to the right people.
The previous government missed several opportunities to introduce useful anti LP rules through DEFRA. Experiences with officials there have been largely positive but they can only do the their master’s bidding. The new government has already indicated greater willingness to listen during the LGA conference last year. We are more hopeful than before.
We have worked with the ILP for decades (I was a member myself) and helped to write their guidance on LP mitigation. The last article we wrote for the ILP journal was published only a few months before Bob Mizon died. The ILP supported and took part in our aforementioned LGA event. I think CfDS committee member Kerem Asfuroglu, an award winning professional lighting designer, may be a member of the SLL.
In general we seldom worry about festivals because they are limited in duration and we don’t want to be spoil sports. Actually, they can be opportunities to address LP with the public (eg. Lewes Light Festival). Sky beams are a different matter.This interesting research took eight different USA data sources which correlates an interest in astronomy with access to dark skies. It concludes “… increasing access to the starry night sky may also help to promote more equitable opportunities to feel wonder about the universe, which can motivate interest and engagement in science. The present findings thus begin to suggest how light pollution is not only impacting biological and ecological processes, but also human behavior, science education, and society.”
This could be another campaigning point but correlation is not causation. What was the initial spark that got you interested in astronomy? A teacher, an astronomical event, a book, TV? Did you live in a dark sky area at the time? Bob Mizon grew up in London and got hooked by a book. I became interested when seeing the Aurora from the south of New Zealand but took up astronomy as a hobby after reading a Patrick Moore book. I’m a little sceptical about causation and wonder if a survey of amateur astronomers here would be useful.
https://www.washington.edu/news/2024/10/01/qa-uw-researchers-examine-link-between-light-pollution-and-interest-in-astronomy/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-69920-4I have many concerns about the unconstrained used of near space for commercial and geopolitical advantage. From an amateur astronomer view, as Paul Leyland says, a few photometric observations could be spoiled but stacked images can still be edited. Using a smartscope recently to observe in real time I noticed that a satellite track quickly dimmed and was almost invisible in the final image.
But if the predictions of a general increase in global sky glow prove correct (see first link below), will it not reduce the contrast achievable by all instruments everywhere? One implication of this is that dark sky reserves could become a bit irrelevant.
When adding up the other potential threats (such as increasing radio noise, human rights impacts on diverse cultures, the risks of a Kessler syndrome event, the potential for military /commercial instability…), I think this is a topic that everyone should be aware of and have a democratic say about.
Are there (enough) BAA members willing to come forward and start a campaign?For more on the Kessler Syndrome see:
https://www.kesslerrebellion.comHere are some recent items of interest to give flavour of satellite proliferation issues. These are mostly about space junk https://www.space.com/space-junk-new-deadly-era-no-one-is-ready
https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/wastex-environmental-harms-of-satellite-internet-mega-constellations/Space junk is a topic that needs attention.
https://newhumanist.org.uk/articles/6295/cleaning-up-the-cosmosHere are a couple more light pollution items from the internet:
https://www.astronomy.com/science/how-to-win-fight-against-light-pollution/
And if you are into podcasts I recommend this one, even if it’s rather long.
https://lightpollutionnews.com/podcast/crap-lighting/If you want to find dark skies here are some websites that may help you https://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk , https://gostargazing.co.uk and for the overseas traveler http://spacetourismguide.com .
This is a different approach to monitoring lighting.
https://lichter.nachtlicht-buehne.de/#l=12/52.33797/13.06382In case you’ve not seen this important paper on increasing levels of light pollution. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq7781
From the DSI AGM presentation I learned that it is reckoned that LP is doubling every eight years on a worldwide basis.Just in case you thought light pollution is harmless this item links it to increased risk of stroke.
https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/03/25/bright-outdoor-light-at-night-may-increase-stroke-riskMany amateur astronomers are also interested in wildlife, plants and biosciences. Threats to biodiversity are perhaps the most worrisome aspect of light encroachment.
This item about moths from New Scientist shows how artificial light is forcing rapid evolution in short timeframes. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421950-city-moths-may-have-evolved-smaller-wings-due-to-light-pollution/A book by Tim Marshall called ‘The Future of Geography’ uses the word astropolitics to describe the topic of humans in space. We need to engage in this new political debate. For example, are people happy with the idea that the Moon and other astronomical bodies could become despoiled? Did they vote for it?
Scientific exploration is different from space exploitation. Anyone want to start an astropolitical protest movement, perhaps call it the ‘Campaign for Space Preservation’?
https://geographical.co.uk/geopolitics/the-future-of-geography-tim-marshallIt is good to see this report in the Scotsman newspaper by an expert on the impact of satellites.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/space-race-why-we-need-to-be-custodians-of-the-cosmos-as-scotland-takes-giant-leap-4561675Steve Tonkin has been interviewed by the Journal of Biophilic Design (a very interesting publication). Subjects included Steve’s background, the dark sky reserves in the UK, the core mantra “Right Light, Right Place, Right Time”, the rarity of truly dark and clear skies, and the impact on wildlife and human health. Steve makes two very important points towards the end about light and social justice and the need for lighting to make people, particularly women, to feel safe. It is a masterclass in dark sky advocacy.
Right Light, Right Place, Right Time — Journal of Biophilic DesignThis article in the ILP Journal, ‘The Political Equivalent of Tumbleweed’ by Nic Paton, is a valuable summary of the situation in Parliament with respect to the Lords report ‘The Neglected Pollutants: the effects of artificial light and noise on human health’.
The Government has largely rejected the report on the basis of ‘significant gaps’ in knowledge about the effects of artificial light. This rejection is very disappointing in that it will delay new legislation.
However, a new government may take a different view. The issue of light pollution monitoring has become particularly important and there are a number of us in the dark sky community who are investigating how we can assist government with this. Watch this space.
https://lightingjournal.org.uk/the-political-equivalent-of-tumbleweed/International Dark Sky Week is on April 2nd onward – see https://idsw.darksky.org/ If you have any events during this time please do mention the dark sky cause.
The AGM for DarkSky International is on the 21st March at 19:00; details on their website. The connection between CfDS and DarkSky International (the IDA that was) goes back a long way. Headed paper of the Campaign for Dark Skies from last century has the subheading “A Joint commission of the BAA and the IDA.”
This is an interesting academic paper by a team from Exeter, which reports on a digital lighting simulation methodology in relation to the availability of dark corridors for light averse organisms. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2023.0555
If I understand correctly, the LED better/worse? assessment is complicated depending upon geography of the environment under study. Apparently, the more even spread of LED luminaires (compared with HPS) provides fewer dark corridors. This is good for people but not so good for wildlife. Perhaps the rapid and widespread uptake of LED technology should not have taken place until the overall impacts were thoroughly understood?
