It can be easy to overdo lighting, thinking that the more the better. More often than not, this excess light is wasted light and energy with consequences such as those listed here. Screenshot of a poster at the ADSA Valuing Darkness Symposium. Photo credit: Rachel Thomson.

Conservation of the night sky is worth striving for
Urban Night Sky project member Rachel Thomson attended an international symposium in Melbourne recently.  We asked Rachel for a brief overview. Writes Rachel …

“Last week I had the privilege of attending the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance Valuing Darkness Symposium. This attendance was provided through being a successful recipient of the ADSA Dark Sky Place Making Grant due to my involvement in the Munibung Hill Urban Night Sky Place (UNSP) project.”

“To hear from so many passionate people. Some were professionals working in industry. Others from astrotourism, astrophotography, conservation societies, and local councils.”

“There were lighting designers, scientists, PhD students, primary school students, teachers, engineers, lighting manufacturers, ADSA members, Dark Sky Place advocates and members, ecologists, local government representatives and so many more – all with a united goal of reducing light pollution and protecting our dark skies.”

“It was honestly nothing short of inspiring, with strong representation from every state and territory across Australia.”

“Never have I attended a conference where I have felt so engaged and so interested in every speaker and the content of each presentation.”

“Some key takeaways:

• Satellites contribute to light pollution, the amount of satellites proposed for the future is scary
• Light pollution increases by more than 2% every year
• Brighter light is not safer light
• 18% of a cities light pollution is contributed to street lighting, so our conservation efforts extend much further than only street lights
• Digital billboards are a better solution to other styles of conventional signage lighting, but only with new anti-glare technology used
• We can use AI and smart technology to dim our streetlights based on traffic sensing movements.”

“I learnt so much during these few days in Melbourne. As with many conferences such as this forming new connections is an important part of such gatherings.”

“Our Munibung Hill Urban Night Sky Place project will also benefit from hearing how other Dark Sky Places used initiatives to tackle their challenges of getting off the ground.”

“A huge thank you to Marnie Ogg (ADSA), without whose efforts and dedication to dark skies, this event simply would not have happened. Thank you for everything you do for our planet, the community and the lighting industry! “

A more expansive report plus gallery of photos in the next issue of MM and on the UNSP project website.