Daniel De Lige
Dr. Winslow
NS-1123-01H
5/3/2024
Light Pollution
Light pollution is the phenomenon in which artificial lighting from humans is so strong it
affects the natural outdoor light levels. Light pollution can be seen clearly by comparing sites
from within a populous city such as New York City, Oklahoma City, or Boston, with a more rural
area such as a farming town or an Amish community. This phenomenon deeply affects
astronomical research as well as making the sky drab and ugly. Building observatories and then
having cities grow around said observatories ruins much of the value that one could attain. Light
pollution affects what we are able to see in the night sky.
Seeing is important. If we cannot see, we cannot observe, and if we cannot observe, we
cannot gain knowledge. In Bethany, Oklahoma there is quite a bit of light pollution, and one can
see very few stars. It would be unfruitful to try and observe the stars here because of the light
pollution. One knowledge of the stars is the gate kept by where they live.
One impact of light pollution that my father talked about is not on the skies but on the
human body. Artificial lighting can deeply affect human sleep schedules and circadian rhythms.
Human bodies are adjusted to natural day night cycles and artificial lighting disrupts this cycle
by making the brain think it is day when it is night. This means that people get less sleep and
lower quality of sleep. Light pollution confuses our bodies, and being under artificial lighting
constantly and cellphone use are the causes of this. My father has been taking steps to help keep
his sleep schedule by using yellow lights, and adjusting the light level with the time of day. This
has improved his sleep dramatically.
There are steps we can take to reduce light pollution, using FCO lighting for street lamps
and parking lots, not having billboards, and simply turning off lights we are not using. These
steps can and will help, but there is still a need for safety and security for people at night. In our
modern society people have to work and be able to see at night. The question becomes, how do
we balance the needs of our astronomers and the want of beautiful night skies with the needs of
our modern society to be constantly moving. If we reduce our need to always have lights on, use
energy efficient lighting, and plan our lighting to not be pointed up at the sky, we can keep our
beautiful night skies and our modern bustling society. This will not eliminate light pollution in its
entirety, but it will help maintain some semblance of night sky.
