Is Light Pollution Ruining Your Starry Night?
By: Joanne | June 10, 2008 | Category: General
Saturday night I found myself lying on a blanket and staring up at the starry sky. Whenever I do this, I invariably think of all the people who are robbed of this simple pleasure because of light pollution. According to NASA, two thirds of the world’s population can’t see the Milky Way in the night sky because of light pollution.
There are many sources of light pollution, like street lamps, sports fields, billboards and parking lots, but exterior home lighting is a primary source. Light maps clearly show how urbanized areas give off the most light at night.
The good news is that there are things that you can do to ease your personal impact on global light pollution. We’re learning to consider energy efficiency when buying new light fixtures, but don’t forget to consider light pollution when selecting exterior lighting for your home or business. The International Dark Sky Association even has light fixture design recommendations to help consumers make dark sky friendly lighting choices.
So the next time you’re counting stars and gazing at constellations on a summer night, don’t forget that the starry night sky is something we could lose if we’re not careful in our choices.
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If you want to see the stars, move to the country and leave everyone else alone.
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I used to live in the city where it was so light at night you really didn't even need headlights to drive. At that time I didn't think much about missing the stars until I would travel somewhere where you could really see the night sky. I do live in the country now where I can enjoy night sky, and much more of the natural world too.
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Thomas
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http://www.dealtoplay.com
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