Light Pollution, Protect the Night Sky

Energy & Infrastructure
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It’s easy for it to escape our notice, but we are losing the night sky :point_down:

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Source on both images: Light Pollution in the United States - Vivid Maps

Light pollution is increasing at 9.6% per GloberatNight.org 2023 report.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

(these links take a minute to load :point_down:)

  1. Deleterious impacts on human health
  2. Energy Waste
  3. Loss of heritage for future generations: light pollution blocks our view of the universe
  4. Impact on safety (light glare)
  5. Ecology Impacts

POLICY IDEA:

I am suggesting any one of the following approaches that would demonstrate the federal government’s/Trump administration support of this issue:

  1. The federal government could lead the way on this issue by considering retrofitting light sources on federal lands with accessories that minimize their light pollution impact. There are many options that have been developed for this purpose :point_right: “Dark Sky Approved Products”

  2. Put support, if warranted, behind a current bipartisan bill on this issue, known as the Dark and Quiet Skies Act ( S.4952), championed by Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Mike Crapo (R-ID). As of 8/1/24, this was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, Transportation.

    a) Supporting bipartisan bills would be a good thing for this administration that will have many, many opponents in the District.

    b) Dark Sky International’s analysis of this bill

  3. There are 18 states with existing light pollution laws. The new administration could consider ways to support the states in their own initiatives on this topic, and encourage other states to create their own initiatives on this issue. Here is a map of states with light pollution laws :point_down:

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IMPACTS OF LOW LYING SATELLITES:

A big issue that suggests the federal government is necessary on this, involves the rapid proliferation of low lying satellites. Unfortunately, this includes Starlink, which recent events have shown is helping a lot of people with their communication needs in rural areas, or areas hit by extreme weather. Low lying satellites do have a deleterious effect on light pollution. Dark Sky International has said the following about this issue:

As we stand on the brink of a new frontier in satellite technology—with projections suggesting an increase from the current 9,000 satellites to over 500,000 by 2030—the urgency for proactive measures has become paramount. [There is a] need to address the rapid expansion of satellites, which threatens the integrity of our global night skies…

Dark skies enrich rural economies, preserve Indigenous knowledge, protect nocturnal ecosystems, and inspire wonder. Our cosmic view is a shared heritage that we all have a stake in protecting.”

– Ruskin Hartley, CEO, DarkSky International

Please see: Space.com article: Starlink satellites: Facts, tracking and impact on astronomy

IMPORTANT INFORMATION SOURCES:

IMPORTANT WEBSITES:

  1. Dark Sky International
  2. CieloBuio : an Italian coordination for the protection of the night sky
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As a taxpayer this would really make me mad. That would be expensive and it is the federal government telling the states what to do. If you want to look at the stars go to Alaska go to Northern Canada go to Greenland go to places that don’t have light pollution but the government retrofitting that’s not something that should a priority for spending. If your individual State wants to waste money on it that say that’s cool the voters can take care of that problem in your individual state. Thank you for bringing light to the issue that it has been red twice that is disgusting and I am glad to know that those in office are wasting the people’s time.

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My bedroom window faces a car dealership and 24x7 SuperWawa and rude neighbors who leave their porch lights on all night. And because of the non stop chemtrails, the light pollution off of a milky sky means I have no night sky. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I can’t tell if its dawn because its never gets dark. I miss seeing what the sky should look like at night.

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I would like to propose that motion lights should become industry standard rather than lights that are left on all night long to cut down on light pollution.

There’s a dark sky location that I go to for astrophotography in Arizona, but a new solar company came and for some reason its all lit up at night and nobody is there and it is out in the middle of nowhere, I can’t take pictures there anymore.

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Interesting idea!

Sorry to hear it…we really can’t lose the dark sky like this. There’s got to be a way to make it better.

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We strongly support your policy proposal. Message back if there is more we can do to support you. I am promoting the link to this and trying to get out the vote. We work with Dark Sky International in Southern California

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Thank you for your support of this proposal!

Policies for the People recommends the following course of action if you find a proposal that speaks to you:

"If you are confident in a proposal on P4P, whether yours or someone else’s, and have sufficient social proof of its efficacy from your P4P colleagues, we encourage you to contact your local congressperson with the proposal now. A full list of Congressional Reps be found here: Find Your Representative | house.gov

P4P encourages democratic interaction wherever possible. If you are able to visit your Representative’s District office, this could be another opportunity to get proposals close to your heart into the legislative agenda."

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If you would like to approach your representative in CA to bring this to their attention, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

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