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The magnificent night sky — why it must be protected from light pollution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2011

Richard J. Wainscoat
Richard J. Wainscoat*
Affiliation:
University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA email: rjw@ifa.hawaii.edu
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Abstract

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The view of the night sky from most of the populated regions of Earth is now seriously compromised by light pollution. An entire generation of citizens is now growing up without ever having the opportunity to gaze upon the magnificent night sky from a dark location. Much of modern astronomy involves study of faint objects, often with brightnesses similar to or fainter than the night sky. Astronomers are therefore extremely vulnerable to increases in sky brightness from light pollution. Despite their remote locations, the dark night skies over the major optical observatories are increasingly threatened by growth of artificial light at night.

Keywords

light pollutiontelescopesobservatoriessky brightness
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 5 , Symposium S260: The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture , January 2009 , pp. 442 - 448
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2011

References

Luginbuhl, C., Walker, C., & Wainscoat, R. J. 2009, Physics Today, 441, 32CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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Rich, C. & Longcore, T. 2006, (eds.), Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting (Washington, Covelo and London: Island Press).Google Scholar