Kiera Jefferson
Light pollution is a pressing issue for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers, who have to contend with the bright lights of cities drowning out the stars. To find a dark site near you, you can use a light pollution map, which shows the amount of artificial light in an area and how bright the night sky will look. These maps are colour-coded, with white representing the most light-polluted areas, usually large cities, and dark grey representing areas with the least light pollution. There are also nine levels to the Bortle scale, which measures the quality (brightness) of the night sky for a particular location. Class 1 on the Bortle scale, for example, means that you can observe the Triangulum Galaxy with the naked eye. To find out what light pollution zone you're in, you can use a smartphone app like Clear Outside, which uses your GPS location to tell you where your night sky falls on the Bortle scale.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Light Pollution Zones | White, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Dark Grey |
| Most Light-Polluted Zones | White (large cities) |
| Least Light-Polluted Zones | Dark Grey |
| Light Pollution Map Tool | Allows plotting a specific point for Zenith sky brightness reading |
| Light Pollution Map Colors | White to red in the center of large cities, green to blue in rural areas |
| Light Pollution Scale | Bortle Scale |
| Bortle Scale Levels | 9 levels, with Class 9 as the most extreme light pollution |
| Bortle Class Examples | Class 8: High light pollution, Class 6: "Bright Suburban Sky", Class 2: Cherry Springs State Park, Class 1: M33 (Triangulum Galaxy) visible to the naked eye |
| Tools to Measure Sky Brightness | Sky Quality Meter, Light Pollution Maps, Clear Outside smartphone app, Stellarium software |
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What You'll Learn
The Bortle scale
The classes on the Bortle scale are described primarily in terms of the visibility of notable celestial objects and light sources in the sky. For example, a Class 1 Bortle sky indicates that one can observe the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) as a direct-vision naked-eye object. A Class 2 sky is a typical truly dark site, where airglow may be weakly apparent along the horizon, and the summer Milky Way is highly structured to the naked eye.
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Light pollution maps
One of the most popular light pollution maps is based on the Bortle scale, which measures the quality (brightness) of the night sky in a particular location. The Bortle scale has nine levels, with Class 9 representing the most extreme light pollution. Large cities are usually coloured white or red on the Bortle light pollution map, indicating high levels of light pollution, while rural areas are shown in green or blue, indicating darker skies.
The Bortle scale was created by John E. Bortle in 2001 and published in Sky & Telescope magazine. It is designed to help amateur astronomers understand the darkness of an observing site by using astronomical observations to estimate the overall brightness of the sky. For example, a Class 1 Bortle sky allows for the observation of the Triangulum Galaxy with the naked eye.
By utilising light pollution maps, individuals can identify areas with minimal light pollution, aiding in the pursuit of astronomy and astrophotography. These maps serve as a valuable resource for planning observation sessions and escaping the bright city lights that hinder the visibility of celestial objects.
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Light pollution zones
Light pollution maps are a useful tool for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers who want to find dark sites for stargazing and observation. The Bortle scale is a system of nine classes that measure the amount of light pollution in a given location. The Bortle scale is often used in conjunction with light pollution maps, which are colour-coded to indicate the amount of artificial light in an area and the corresponding brightness of the night sky.
On a light pollution map, large cities are usually depicted in white, indicating the highest level of light pollution, while rural areas appear green to blue, indicating lower levels of light pollution. The Bortle scale can be used to provide a more precise reading of the light pollution levels in a given location. For example, a Class 1 Bortle sky is one where M33 (Triangulum Galaxy) can be observed by the naked eye, while a Class 6 sky is described as a "Bright Suburban Sky".
There are several online tools and smartphone apps that can help users determine their light pollution zone. These include the Clear Outside app, which uses a device's GPS location to place its night sky on the Bortle scale. Another option is the Light Pollution Atlas 2022, which allows users to adjust an intensity slider to view both light pollution colours and road map details.
While light pollution maps can be a useful guide for astronomers, some sources note that they should be used as a marginal approximation when planning observing sessions away from light-polluted urban areas. For example, some red zones on the Light Pollution Atlas may correspond to grey zones on the Bortle scale, while dark red zones may be comparable to light orange zones.
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How light pollution affects astrophotography
Light pollution is a major side effect of urbanization, and it can significantly impact astrophotography. The light emitted from buildings, streetlights, headlights, and even electronic devices can hinder the visibility of the night sky, washing out the light from stars and other celestial objects. This effect can be imagined as a bright, blurry dome over a city, obscuring the view of the sky above.
The impact of light pollution on astrophotography is twofold. Firstly, it reduces the contrast around objects in the frame, making it difficult to discern faint celestial bodies against the bright background. This issue persists even with the use of larger telescopes, as the light pollution tends to diffuse the incoming light, making it challenging to capture clear and detailed images.
Secondly, light pollution affects the exposure time and image processing in astrophotography. Longer exposure times are often required to capture sufficient light, but this can lead to blown-out images or increased noise in the final photograph. While light pollution filters can help mitigate this issue, they may alter the natural colors emitted by stars and other celestial objects.
The Bortle scale is a useful tool for measuring the amount of light pollution in the night sky. It ranges from Class 1, representing truly dark skies, to Class 9, indicating the most light-polluted areas. By understanding their location on the Bortle scale, astrophotographers can make informed decisions about their equipment and techniques to mitigate the impact of light pollution.
Despite the challenges posed by light pollution, it is possible to capture impressive astrophotography images even in heavily polluted areas. Using monochrome cameras with narrowband filters can help isolate the light associated with specific gases in space, allowing for clearer images. Additionally, certain targets, such as bright nebulae, can be effectively captured without the need for filters. With the right equipment, techniques, and perseverance, astrophotographers can create stunning visuals even in the face of light pollution.
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Tools to measure light pollution
Light pollution is a pressing issue with many critical implications, requiring collaboration across multiple disciplines to address it effectively. While there are several tools available to measure light pollution, there is a need for further development in this area.
One of the most well-known ways to measure light pollution is through the use of a Sky Quality Meter (SQM). These devices provide a quantitative measure of the luminance of the night sky in magnitudes per square arcsecond (MPSAS). The SQM scale ranges from 16.00, representing the brightest sky, to 22.00, representing a dark sky. The Unihedron Sky Quality Meter-Lens (SQM-L) is a popular choice among enthusiasts. SQM devices can be handheld or permanently installed for continuous monitoring.
Smartphone applications have also been developed to help measure light pollution. Apps such as Dark Sky Meter and Loss of the Night utilise the phone's camera to record the brightness of the night sky. These apps offer a convenient way for citizens to contribute to our understanding of light pollution by submitting observations.
In addition to SQMs and smartphone apps, there are other methods for measuring light pollution. Photometers and digital cameras are commonly used, providing standardised measurements that can be compared across different locations. Wearable devices, such as wristwatches and pendants, offer a unique perspective for ecological and human-centric studies, allowing for large-scale crowd-sourced data collection.
While these tools provide valuable insights, it is important to acknowledge their limitations and maintain thorough experimental reporting to avoid incorrect conclusions. The lack of a common standard for recording measurements across different devices and locations also presents a challenge in comparing data. Furthermore, the variability of Earth's atmosphere adds complexity to the interpretation of results.
To address these challenges, researchers are working towards developing unified measurement techniques, units, and terminologies. Collaborations such as the Cabauw Lightmeter InterComparison (CLIC) workshop have proposed new standard formats for recording sky glow measurements. Additionally, DarkSky International works with communities to establish codes and statutes that reduce light pollution and educate the public about its harmful effects.
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Frequently asked questions
Light pollution zones refer to the amount of artificial light in an area and how bright the night sky will be. Zones with more light pollution will have less visible stars.
You can use a light pollution map, which will show you the light pollution levels in your area. These maps are usually colour-coded, with white and red indicating high light pollution, and dark grey and blue indicating low light pollution. You can also use a smartphone app such as Clear Outside, which will tell you your current Bortle scale class.
The Bortle scale is a way of measuring the quality (brightness) of the night sky for a particular location. There are nine levels, with Class 9 being the most extreme amount of light pollution. A Class 1 Bortle sky, for example, means that you can observe the Triangulum Galaxy with the naked eye.
