Meghan Hodges
Light pollution, caused by artificial light reflecting in the sky, has led to 83% of people, including 99% of Europeans and Americans, living under light-polluted skies. This has resulted in a reduced number of stars visible to the naked eye and has impacted astronomy and the health of many organisms. To address this, various methods have been developed to measure light pollution, including smartphone apps, the Globe at Night citizen science campaign, and more rigorous, long-term monitoring using SQM devices and the International Year of Astronomy Lightmeter. Additionally, organizations like DarkSky International certify lighting products and work with communities to establish codes to reduce light pollution. Furthermore, scientists have developed methods like Outdoor Site-Lighting Performance (OSP) to quantify and optimize lighting designs to minimize light trespass, and researchers have proposed a Unified System of Photometry to standardize street lighting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Understanding the magnitude of light pollution | Measure the brightness of the night sky |
| Tools to measure light pollution | Handheld sky quality meter (SQM), Dark Sky Meter app, Loss of the Night app, permanently connected SQM devices (SQM-LU, SQM-LU-DL, SQM-LE), International Year of Astronomy Lightmeter, DigiLum luminance meter, Mark Light Meter |
| Impact of light pollution | Harmful to astronomy, health of many organisms, reduces brightness contrast of the night sky, sleep deprivation |
| Light trespass | Unwanted light entering one's property, strong light entering the home from outside |
| Preventing light trespass | Flat-lens cobra luminaire, "zero upward light" |
| Measuring light pollution | Night sky brightness (NSB), Skyglow, panchromatic imagery, luminance measurements, all-sky brightness, astronomical spectroscopy, photometry |
| Light sources | Commercial and residential districts, street lighting, automobile headlights, airport terminals, satellites |
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What You'll Learn
Use a smartphone app like Dark Sky Meter or Loss of the Night
There are several ways to measure light pollution at your property line. One way is to use a smartphone application like Dark Sky Meter or Loss of the Night. These apps are helpful tools that can aid in measuring light pollution and provide educational insights about the night sky.
Dark Sky Meter
The Dark Sky Meter app is an award-winning application that helps users measure night sky brightness with just a press of a button. It measures sky brightness using your smartphone's camera and shares the data (optionally) with scientists around the globe. The app is easy to use and provides instant information about the night sky quality. It is a great tool for those interested in monitoring light pollution and understanding its impact.
Loss of the Night
The Loss of the Night app is another useful tool for measuring light pollution. It turns your eyes into a light meter, allowing you to become a citizen scientist. The app is based on Google's Sky Map and uses your eyes to make measurements. You simply look for certain stars in the sky and report whether you can see them or not. This app is both fun and educational, and it also raises awareness about light pollution and its potential impact on the environment and nocturnal ecosystems.
By using these smartphone applications, you can contribute to scientific research and help raise awareness about light pollution. These apps provide a convenient and accessible way to measure light pollution at your property line and can help you understand the brightness of the night sky in your area.
It is important to note that while these apps are useful tools, they may have limitations and potential errors in measurement methodologies. Therefore, it is always recommended to refer to multiple sources and tools to gain a comprehensive understanding of light pollution and its impact.
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Participate in citizen science campaigns like Globe at Night
Globe at Night is an international citizen science campaign that aims to raise awareness about the impact of light pollution. The campaign invites citizen scientists to measure and submit observations of night sky brightness. This is done to help understand the impact of sky glow, which is caused by artificial light reflecting in the sky and bouncing off different types of particles in the atmosphere. This phenomenon reduces the visibility of stars and the Milky Way, and also has adverse effects on the health of many organisms.
Participating in Globe at Night is easy and does not require any special tools. Observations can be reported through a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Participants can also optionally use a handheld sky quality meter (SQM) device. The campaign provides directions on how to use this device. There are also several smartphone apps that can be used to measure night sky brightness, such as the Dark Sky Meter app and the Loss of the Night app.
To participate in Globe at Night, it is recommended to follow these steps:
- Wait until the campaign dates, which are usually announced in advance.
- Go outside more than an hour after sunset, preferably between 8-10 pm local time. Ensure that the moon is not up.
- Allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for about 10 minutes before starting your observations.
- Use a night sky app on your phone to locate the constellation from your location.
- Visit the Globe at Night Report page to submit your observations. The app will automatically input the date, time, and location if you are using a smartphone. Otherwise, you can manually type in this information.
- Choose the star chart that most closely resembles the constellation you observed.
By participating in Globe at Night, you can help contribute to a better understanding of light pollution and its impacts. This campaign empowers individuals to take action against light pollution and advocate for darker skies. Additionally, your contributions can help inform communities and professionals in establishing codes and statutes that reduce light pollution and protect the night sky.
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Measure night sky brightness (NSB)
Night sky brightness (NSB) is an indicator of light pollution. It is the brightness of skyglow, a combination of scattered light from artificial lighting and natural emissions. The measurement of NSB is fundamental to astronomy, as artificial light pollution adds to the 'background' against which astronomical objects are seen.
There are various methods and tools available to measure NSB. One way is through satellite-based observations, where nighttime satellite imagery of the Earth is used as raw input data for the number and intensity of light sources. This data is then put into a physical model to calculate cumulative sky brightness. The Operational Linscan System (OLS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) are examples of instruments that acquire low-light visible data suitable for light pollution studies. In addition, photographs taken by astronauts on the International Space Station provide high-resolution data on light pollution sources such as street lighting and automobile headlights.
Ground-based networks of monochromatic sensors are also used to measure NSB. The Sky Quality Meter (SQM) is the most widely used radiance sensor for monitoring NSB. Other devices include the DigiLum luminance meter, Mark Light Meter, and various SQM subtypes with different hardware interfaces. These low-cost automatic devices can provide large geographical and comprehensive temporal coverages with high accuracy.
Smartphone applications such as Dark Sky Meter and Loss of the Night are also available for measuring NSB. These apps use the phone's camera to record the brightness of the night sky or guide users through measurements made with the human eye.
Citizen science projects like Globe at Night also contribute to NSB measurements by recruiting ordinary people to conduct simple visual studies of the night sky. These projects encourage a large number of participants from around the world to estimate the extent of light pollution.
While these different tools and methods are available for measuring NSB, it is important to acknowledge their limitations and ensure thorough experimental reporting to avoid incorrect conclusions.
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Use a flat-lens cobra luminaire
Light pollution is a pressing issue, with about 83% of people worldwide living under light-polluted skies. Excessive artificial light can have adverse effects on humans, wildlife, and the climate. To measure light pollution, you can use smartphone apps like Dark Sky Meter or Loss of the Night, or participate in citizen science campaigns like Globe at Night. More rigorous methods include using SQM devices or the International Year of Astronomy Lightmeter. To reduce light pollution, a flat-lens cobra luminaire is a highly effective solution.
The flat-lens cobra luminaire is a full-cutoff fixture that ensures light is directed only below the horizontal plane, reducing wasteful upward light pollution. This modern design has largely replaced older drop-lens cobra luminaires, which emitted a significant portion of their output directly into the sky. The flat-lens cobra luminaire offers several advantages in reducing light pollution. Firstly, it minimizes wasteful upward light emission, which not only contributes to light pollution but also wastes energy. By directing light downwards, the flat-lens cobra luminaire improves efficiency and reduces active loss, benefiting electric companies and consumers alike.
Additionally, the flat-lens cobra luminaire improves lighting quality and distribution. Its downward-facing design and specialized optics ensure light is spread precisely where it is needed, enhancing visibility for drivers and pedestrians while minimizing dark spots and glare. This precision illumination is especially beneficial in high-traffic areas such as parking lots, streets, and sidewalks, where safety and security are priorities. The flat-lens cobra luminaire's ability to direct light effectively also helps prevent light trespass, where unwanted light enters neighbouring properties, causing issues like sleep deprivation.
Furthermore, the flat-lens cobra luminaire is designed for durability and long-lasting performance. Its housing, typically made of die-cast aluminum or polycarbonate, protects internal components from weather conditions and physical impacts. The lens, crafted from tempered glass or polycarbonate, shields the light source and optimizes light distribution while minimizing glare. Modern flat-lens cobra luminaires also utilize LED modules, which offer high efficiency, long lifespans of over 50,000 hours, and reduced carbon footprints compared to traditional streetlights.
Overall, the flat-lens cobra luminaire is a highly effective tool in the fight against light pollution. By directing light downwards, improving lighting quality, and enhancing durability, it minimizes wasteful upward light emission while providing efficient and precise illumination. This luminaire plays a crucial role in reducing light pollution's adverse effects on the environment and human well-being, contributing to darker skies and improved visibility where it matters most.
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Employ panchromatic imagery
Employing panchromatic imagery is a method of measuring light pollution that offers several advantages over traditional approaches. Panchromatic imagery provides a more comprehensive assessment of light pollution by capturing a broader range of the light spectrum compared to luminance measurements in restricted passbands. This is particularly relevant given the dynamic nature of the night sky spectrum, which is expected to continue evolving.
Panchromatic imagery can be obtained through various tools and technologies, each with its own advantages and limitations. For instance, drone imagery is useful for locating light installations and identifying their types and spectra. Drones with onboard GPS receivers can pinpoint every instance of light in a scene, providing valuable data for ground-based validation. However, drone imagery may not always capture high-resolution images or directly acquire spectra and illuminance measurements.
Satellite sensors, such as SDGSAT-1 and Qimingxing-1, launched after 2021, offer high-resolution multispectral nighttime light images with global coverage. These sensors can detect short-wavelength (blue) light, which has been linked to health issues. However, satellite imagery also faces challenges due to the intricate nature of light pollution sources, viewing angles, and atmospheric conditions, which can lead to discrepancies in measurements.
To address these challenges, collaboration is needed to standardize measurement techniques, units, and terminology. This includes refining low-cost imaging tools and ensuring thorough experimental reporting, such as providing details on instrument location and aiming. By improving the accuracy and comparability of measurements, we can enhance our understanding of light pollution and develop effective solutions.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to measure light pollution. You can use a smartphone app such as Dark Sky Meter or Loss of the Night, or a handheld sky quality meter (SQM) device. Alternatively, you can participate in Globe at Night, a citizen science campaign that aims to understand sky glow and its impact.
Light pollution is created by artificial light reflecting in the sky and bouncing off different types of particles in the atmosphere. This phenomenon is known as sky glow, which reduces the brightness contrast of the night sky and makes it difficult to see stars. About 83% of people live under light-polluted skies, and 80% of North Americans cannot see the Milky Way galaxy due to light pollution.
Light pollution can have several adverse effects. In astronomy, it can reduce the accuracy of observations of dim celestial objects and worsen the visibility of stars and the Milky Way. It can also impact the health of various organisms and ecosystems. Additionally, light trespass occurs when unwanted light enters someone's property, causing issues such as sleep deprivation.
Light pollution can be reduced by using appropriate lighting technology and following lighting standards and ordinances. The International Dark-Sky Association has developed model lighting ordinances to protect citizens' rights against light trespass. Flat-lens cobra luminaires, which direct light only below the horizontal, are effective in reducing light pollution. Organizations like DarkSky International work with communities to establish codes and statutes that minimize light pollution.
