Directory of Light Pollution Resources

Home > Society > Issues > Environment > Light Pollution

Light Pollution (also called obtrusive lighting, photopollution and luminous pollution) is not the opposite of heavy pollution, but is pollution caused by the increasing use of urban, and now rural, outdoor lighting which has deemed many countries practically unsuitable for observations using astronomical telescopes. This form of pollution affects the polluter's pocket as well as astronomers; drivers (by dazzling them); neighbours or nearby residents, and wildlife (both plants and animals). People are only just beginning to realise that there is a problem, even though it has been around for half a century now, and has been gradually getting worse and more rural. The sites in this category are helpful to people who are affected by or wish to tackle a lighting problem, or people who wish to help by installing more environmentally-friendly lighting. Good lights are not too bright, and do not blot out the sky; they save energy and give us back something like the dark skies that people enjoyed long ago. The light from the rest of the universe takes hundreds, thousands or millions of years to reach our eyes. What a pity to lose it in the last moments of its journey through a wasteful source of light near you. So, think before you install your next light. (Last two paragraphs adapted from old Campaign for Dark Skies homepage) If you are interested in combating light pollution contact one of the many regional dark-sky (i.e.: anti-light-pollution) groups listed.

Please read the FAQ's for further information

Subcategories

• Chats and Forums
• Lighting
• News and Media
• Opposing Views
• Regulation

Resources in This Category

• 9th European Symposium for the Protection of the Night Sky

  http://www.darksky.ie/2009-symposium/
  Videos and abstracts of the scientific presentations from the symposium that took place in Armagh, Ireland in 2009.

• Atlas of World Light Pollution

  http://www.lightpollution.it/dmsp/
  A comprehensive atlas of satellite images and artificially created maps of different light pollution measurements covering the globe.

• Conference on the Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting

  http://www.urbanwildlands.org/conference.html
  Comprehensive information about a conference on ecological effects which took place in February 2002 including abstracts and references on the topic.

• Dark Skies for Northern Ireland

  http://www.darkskies4ni.co.uk/
  Explains the problem in Northern Ireland with photographs; maps of its extent, and information on its effect on residents and crime. Includes a message board, help on installing friendlier lighting fixtures, links and correspondence on regulation with a local MP.

• Dark Skies Northwest

  http://www.darkskiesnorthwest.org/
  News, video, slide-shows and images. Includes outdoor lighting codes, mailing list subscriptions, member information and links to further regional information.

• Dark Sky Finder

  http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/
  An overlay of a light pollution map on the Google map of North America. Also lists hundreds of possible observing sites.

• Dark Sky Meter

  http://www.darkskymeter.com/
  A citizen science app for iPhone that allows users to measure the brightness of the night sky using the phone's camera.

• Del Mar Fans and Lighting Education Center

  http://www.delmarfans.com/educate/basics/lighting-pollution/
  A commercial lighting site with a detailed primer on light pollution and best practices.

• EU COST Loss of the Night Network (LoNNe)

  http://www.cost-lonne.eu/
  An interdisciplinary network of European researchers studying artificial light at night.

• Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP)

  http://www.flap.org/
  Information on how light pollution affects birds, and what steps must be taken to save the lives of birds by reducing lighting.

• GLOBE at Night

  http://www.globeatnight.org/
  An international citizen scientist project to measure the degree of light pollution all around the world using the human eye. Contains star charts corresponding to different light pollution levels, and allows visitors to download a map of past observations in their area.

• Hawaiian Astronomical Society: Why You Can't See the Stars

  http://www.hawastsoc.org/pollution.html
  Features links and information on light pollution relevant to Hawaii.

• Huachuca Astronomy Club (HAC)

  http://www.hacastronomy.com/
  News and information on lighting ordinances in Southeast Arizona.

• Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting

  http://www.illinoislighting.org/
  Illinois organization serving to promote responsible outdoor lighting. Includes a very large collection of light pollution links.

• International Astronomical Union Working Group on Light Pollution

  http://www.ctio.noao.edu/light_pollution/iau50/
  Explains how the working group is helping to combat the problem at the moment and how anyone can help. Also includes various links and general information.

• International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)

  http://www.darksky.org/
  A non-profit member organization that teaches others how to preserve the night sky through factsheets, law references, pictures, and web resources.

• IYA Lightmeter wiki

  http://kuffner-sternwarte.at/hms/wiki/index.php5?title=Lightmeter
  Information about the International Year of Astronomy light meter in a wiki format.

• Light Pollution Fact Sheet

  http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/resources/light-pollution/
  A basic fact sheet on light pollution, with terms explained in layman's language. Provided by the Prairie Astronomy Club.

• Light Pollution Literature

  http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/kyba/literature.html
  Up to date bibliography of research on light pollution and animal responses to light. Includes links to many journal articles.

• Light Pollution Monitoring Network powered by GADS (Italy)

  http://www.sqm-network.com/index.php?lang=en
  Provides data taken worldwide with Sky Quality Meters, and contains instructions for users that want to join the network.

• Lighting in the Countryside: Towards Good Practice

  http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919132719/http:/www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/lighting
  Comprehensive online UK Government publication outlining the government's policy on the issue. Also a good general introduction to the problem.

• Loss of the Night App

  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cosalux.welovestars
  A citizen science app for Android devices that allows users to estimate the brightness of skyglow by observing which stars are visible.

• Loss of the Night citizen science project

  http://lossofthenight.blogspot.com/
  A blog about the Loss of the Night app. Also occasionally features examples of good and bad lighting from around the world.

• Midwest Citizens for Responsible Outdoor Lighting

  http://www.trianglealumni.org/mcrol/
  Information about lighting regulations in the Midwest USA, with many links including a very large bibliography of papers related to the biological impact of light at night.

• NOAA DMSP homepage

  http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/dmsp/
  Provides information about the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, including yearly global light pollution measurement data which can be downloaded

• North Carolina IDA (NCIDA)

  http://www.ibiblio.org/ncida/
  Includes images, information and local legislation relevant to North Carolina.

• Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council (POLC)

  http://www.polcouncil.org/
  Comprehensive information on the latest lighting situation in Pennsylvania with pictures, links, and guidance on how anyone can help. Home of Pennsylvanians for an Outdoor Lighting Control Act (POLCA).

• Rate Your Skyglow - Visual Observing

  http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-resources/stargazing-basics/rate-your-skyglow/
  A guide for comparing skyglow observations to the Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness.

• Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Light Pollution Abatement Program (LPAP)

  http://www.rasc.ca/lpa
  Describes the program, and contains information about Canadian dark sky parks in both urban and pristine areas.

• Santa Clara Valley Lighting & Lick Observatory

  http://mthamilton.ucolick.org/public/lighting/
  Offers lighting suggestions for Santa Clara Valley to preserve the observing capabilities of Lick. Includes a primer on light pollution and astronomy.

• Sensible and Efficient Lighting to Enhance the Night-time Environment (SELENE), New York

  http://selene-ny.org/
  SELENE is working to eliminate inappropriate lighting in New York. Extensive website with facts and information about helping to fight for better lighting legislation in the city.

• Sky Quality Protection Technical Office of the Canaries

  http://www.iac.es/servicios.php?op1=28&lang=en
  Includes pictures and animations, and information on full-cut-off lighting, technical specifications, energy efficiency, and other forms of astronomical pollution, as well as the applicable laws in the Canary islands.

• Skyglow across the Great Lakes

  http://www.geocities.ws/helpwithlights/
  Four Images of sky glow from both sides of Lake Michigan in the USA.

• Soltactics

  http://www.soltactics.com/
  Soltactics is a commercial site that sells a shuttered skylight. It is designed to close at night to eliminate the light pollution radiated upwards by traditional skylights.

• The Fraser Valley Astronomers' Society

  http://www.fvas.net/
  A local astronomy site with comprehensive information about the local darksky park including directions; as well as videos on the problem, and information about its effects on health and astronomy.

• Understanding, Assessing and Resolving Light-Pollution Problems on Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches

  http://aquaticcommons.org/115/
  Comprehensive report by the Florida Marine Research Institute into the effects on turtles with relevant lighting specifications to be implemented near nesting sites.

• University Lowbrow Astronomers: Light Pollution Issues

  http://www.umich.edu/~lowbrows/light/dexter-issues.html
  Information and links relevant to South-East Michigan, United States. Covers local regulation.

• Verlust der Nacht

  http://www.verlustdernacht.de/
  An interdisciplinary research project in Germany that considers light pollution from technical, social, ecological, and health perspectives.

• Virginia Outdoor Lighting Taskforce (VOLT)

  http://www.volt.org/
  Promotes the use of safe and efficient outdoor lighting. Comprehensive website with everything there is to know on the problem in Virginia and the latest on VOLT's campaign for better lighting ordinances.

Related Categories

• Home > Society > Issues > Environment > Energy
• Home > Society > Issues > Environment > Pollution

Other Languages

• Italian
• German
• Czech
• Dutch
• French

 

Home > Society > Issues > Environment > Light Pollution

 

---

 

Thanks to DMOZ, which built a great web directory for nearly two decades and freely shared it with the web. About us