Light Pollution: A Growing Urban Problem

Light pollution is one of the most disruptive man-made influences on astronomy and our ecosystem.  Light pollution is known to hinder and change food webs allowing light tolerant species to out-compete specific nocturnal species.  Light pollution can affect the human sleep cycle and cause undue stress and increase the frequency of headaches.  Chronobiologists (remember de Mairan of M43 fame) have been researching this phenomenon more intensively lately and have disturbing results.

Ecological damage aside, light pollution has a major negative effect on astronomy.  Misdirected light can cause significant sky glow and drown out any hope of seeing deep-sky phenomena.  A lot of people will grow up without ever seeing the Milky Way.  Lots of urban areas overuse light for commercial benefits at a great cost to the natural environment.

Below is an image I took in February 2017 showcasing the Calgary Auto Mall and Deerfoot Meadows drowning out all but two bright planets: Venus and Mars.

Venus and Mars above significant light pollution

Astronomers have used several methods to fight against light pollution but it is a losing battle.  Light pollution filters that filter out common urban light spectra can only do so much.  Education is perhaps the strongest way to change urban sensibilities.  Light should be directed to the ground and not wasted by directing it in all directions or, even worse, into the sky.  Thanks Las Vegas.  If you see examples of responsible or irresponsible urban lighting please submit pictures so they can be displayed on our Facebook page.  If you would like to follow the Royal Astronomical Society's Light Pollution Twitter feed check it out: @RASC_LPA.

The Calgary Centre's Webpage is given below:

http://calgary.rasc.ca/lp/index.html

Even driving 20 minutes outside of the city to the observatory makes a world of difference.  You can probably see an entire stellar magnitude dimmer away from the city.  If you would like to see how much light pollution there is in your jurisdiction check out the map below.

Light Pollution Map