Before light pollution hid many of the stars and other objects, the night sky inspired people to wonder and dream, create art and stories, and also helped them travel across the globe. For astronomers, enthusiasts, and casual viewers of the night sky, the stars continue to inspire people to dream big and stay curious. Without a dark night sky, we wouldn't have works of art like Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night, sent missions into space, or even have the Discovery Center. Thankfully, humankind has had a long relationship with the stars and has used them to travel, express themselves, and tell their stories. What do you love most about spending time under the night sky?

For thousands of years, people from every part of the world have been studying the stars. Ancient Egyptians and Babylonians to notable astronomers like Galileo and Carl Sagan have looked to the stars to try and understand our place in the universe and how it all works. As the world’s oldest science, astronomy has captivated the minds of many. The hundreds of objects that have been seen in the night sky since ancient times, like planets, stars, and galaxies, have given people the foundation to research and learn. Today’s Astronomers would not know as much as they do without the study of these objects. But with light pollution increasing at a rate twice as fast as the world’s population, dimmer objects are vanishing from our view and studying astronomy, as an amateur or professional, is getting harder.

Sitting up in the International Space Station, astronauts get to look out over the Earth to find a dazzling view of towns and cities twinkling in the night. Images, like this one from NASA, showcase the towns and cities where people live. This image and others like it look beautiful, but they are actually a result of light pollution. All of the light that is shines toward the sky from billboards, security lighting, and other sources not only creates skyglow, but also wastes billions of dollars in energy every year.

Monsters in the closet. The bogeyman under the bed. Criminals sneaking around in the dark. Our eyes need time to adjust to the darkness, until that happens, we can’t see into these dark corners or unlit alleyways. Nighttime for many people, especially children, bring feelings of anxiety and make imaginations run wild with scary scenarios. This fear of hidden dangers and the unknown, has led people to brighten the darkness to help ease fears and make the night feel safer. By adding night lights around the house, installing bright security lights on homes and buildings, or adding more light poles to streets and walkways, people experience less darkness and unknowns. But, does extra lighting actually make us safer or is it just to help ease our fears?

When lightbulbs were first invented in 1879, they opened the doors for people to be able to spend more time awake and outside of their homes at night. People were able to work longer hours, spend more time at stores, restaurants, and sporting events, and travel more safely in the dark. The invention of the lightbulb over 140 years ago has helped give us the ability to do anything at night that can be done during the day!

Imagine you’re camping on a warm summer night just after sunset. The evening is peaceful and calm, far away from the bustle of the city. In the distance you see the tiny flickers of fireflies, trees swaying in the breeze, and the shimmer of hundreds of stars. You hear fire crackling, crickets chirping, and birds singing. Although your far from the city, light pollution from car headlights, electric lamps, and streetlights is still affecting every animal, plant, and insect around you.

Scientists measure all different kinds of pollution, including air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination, and plastic pollution. But how do they measure light pollution? When outdoor light fixtures emit light, the light gets scattered into multiple different directions. Some of this light escapes directly into space, some gets reflected off of the atmosphere to create skyglow, and some gets reflected off of the ground and up into space. Two ways that light pollution data can be collected is through satellite imaging and ground-based studies that can be done by anyone.

Happy first day of our International Dark Sky Week virtual celebration! The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is using this week to bring awareness to light pollution and the various effects that it has on humans and the natural world. Each day of this week we will be uploading a new blog post with different activities, story times, or infographics that explore a different aspect of light pollution. Some of the topics we will be covering include impact on natural ecosystems, health and safety, and astronomical research. Join us on social media and on our website all week long to learn more about light pollution and ways that we can all help to make a difference.

From stars and meteor showers to fireflies and owls, the night is full of awe-inspiring sights. Depending on where you live though, enjoying these sights can be hard due to light pollution. Follow along April 5 - 12 as we virtually celebrate International Dark Sky Week with videos, blog posts, and activities you can do at home. Each day we will be exploring a different aspect of light pollution and how we can all make a difference to protect the night.