The Night Sky and Light Pollution - What Happened to the Milky Way?

Do you remember going outdoors on a clear winter night and looking at the brilliant sky filled with stars? Or lying on a blanket in the summer with your best friend and gazing at the sky? You could see the Milky Way leaving a creamy streak across the sky with twinkling stars everywhere. Have you looked up at the sky lately? Chances are, unless you live in a very unpopulated area, you won't see the Milky Way because light pollution in the U.S. has made it invisible in about two thirds of the country.

Do you remember the star studded sky?

Growing up in the country, even in New Jersey, I remember coming home from the movies late at night and seeing the incredible night sky. When we came to our house, there was no light on, and chances were that you didn't really need a light because the moon and the stars provided enough light to find our way to the door. Although our neighbors weren't close, none of them had bright halogen lights in their yards or security spotlights lighting up every corner of their house and shining like beacons into the air. Now and then someone left a porch light on, but it was low light, just enough to light the steps and the front door.

Today, it's common for every house to have bright lights lighting up their driveways, porches and lawns all night long. Even without street lights, it would be easy to see your way through the average housing development by the light of the burning lights on each house.

When you drive out to the country where there are no houses, you'll likely see the glow from nearby towns, cities, football fields, malls and car dealerships lighting up the night sky. You may see a few of the brightest stars, but it's unlikely that you'll actually see the Milky Way.

It's sad to think of our children growing up and never actually seeing the beautiful night sky that we enjoyed from our back yards. Unless they are lucky enough to go camping in a National Park or in some remote region, the light pollution will obscure much of the beauty of the night sky.

Light pollution is not only annoying for those who love to enjoy the beauty of the night sky. Biologists and ecological groups say that the glow emanating from cities and suburbs disrupts the biological rhythms of wildlife and can interfere with the behavior of nocturnal animals.

Light pollution that occurs at unnatural times and places can have a dire effect on animals. In an article for the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, a collaboration of scientists, biologists and ecologists showed that false cues from polarized, or reflected light, can trigger animals to make mistakes that can cause injury and even death.

Light Pollution Harms Sea Turtles, Migrating Birds and Other Wildlife

In one example, baby sea turtles use reflected light from the ocean as a beacon to head to the sea. When there are bright street lights on the shore, the turtles can migrate the wrong way and die. Many birds, insects and animals can mistake urban lights reflecting off dark shiny horizontal surfaces for natural moon or starlight reflecting off water. This can cause them to make deadly mistakes in laying eggs, nesting or migration.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that four to five million migrating birds die each year because the are disoriented by bright lights on tall buildings.

The term scotobiology describes the study of biology as directly and specifically affected by darkness. Scientists have found that many organisms require periods of darkness in order to function naturally. Even short periods of bright light interrupting the required dark period can prevent some plants and animals from behaving in the required manner. Light pollution can interfere with breeding, control flowering in plants and affect winter dormancy. In humans, it can effect the immune system.

Recent studies in humans has found that light at night interferes with natural circadian rhythms. Light at night has even been found to interfere with natural circadian rhythms and the human body's internal clock claims an article published by the Journal of Neuroscience. In an article by Davis S, Mirick DK, Stevens RG. in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute entitled Night Shift Work, Light at Night, and Risk of Breast Cancer, researchers found that light at night suppressed the production of melatonin and increased the risk of breast cancer.

It has been shown that the absence of darkness at night contributes to insomnia and restless sleep. This can also cause increased stress levels and health problems that are associated with stress.

We can blame light pollution on city lights and lights of shopping malls and car dealerships, but it isn't just that. Every light that we shine into the sky contributes to the light pollution of our planet.

Light Pollution is My Pet Peeve!

As an RVer and camper, light pollution is one of my biggest pet peeves. Just when you think you are leading a life that brings you closer to nature, you park next to someone who leaves spotlights on all night or pull into a campground with street lights as bright as day.

At our home base in a quiet little cul-de-sac off the beaten path, a few neighbors have installed halogen lights on every corner of their house that light up the whole street. Unshaded porch lights are commonly left on all night, and it's impossible to sit outside on our porch at night without being blinded by glare from someone's lights. It's little wonder that the environment is harmed by these lights - I know I hate them!

Proper Use of Lights Can Reduce Light Pollution

Of course, no one expects everyone to shut off all their lights, but there are simple things you can do to reduce light pollution. Use hooded light fixtures that point light down where it's needed rather that into the air or at the neighbor's house. Use lower wattage bulbs. Turn off lights when they're not needed. Be aware of what your lights are doing. See shaded box at right for more tips.

Because of light pollution two thirds of the U.S. population can't see the Milky Way. One porch light isn't going to mean that much, but millions of lights, porch lights and security lights, street lights, flood lights, parking lot lights, business sign lights - they all add up to light pollution that affects our environment and ruins our enjoyment of the night sky.

Is it worth it to you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright ©2011 Stephanie Henkel