We can all help protect the night sky from artificial light pollution. The week is an opportunity to focus on what we are missing, but what we can reclaim – starry night skies. Image courtesy: Dark Sky International
There are good reasons for wanting Goldilocks light
Light that’s not too bright, not too white – light that’s just right. Light that protects the night.
ONE WAY to have a good night, is to have good light. And the way to get good light is to buy right. And the way to buy right is to be aware that light pollution is doing us all harm. This means we need to be: not only aware, but sufficiently well informed when we purchase light bulbs and plan to install new light fixtures; that they will serve our intended purpose and not spill over into the night sky, or trespass across someone else’s path, or interfere with their life – and that includes wildlife.
In particular, nocturnal animals require darkness to live as they have evolved to do, over millions of years – long before humans came on the scene with artificial lighting, that is literally flooding their world.
International Dark Sky Week, April 21-28.
The Week provides us with an opportunity for learning, sharing and caring about the best way of do lighting so that we can get Goldilocks light – light that not too bright, not too white – light that’s just right.
Right for the night, right for our sight,
more yellow, less blue, more warm, less cool.
More directed, more shielded, less spill, less open, more efficient, and more cost effective. Where possible, motion activated, rather than left running all night long – serving no useful purpose – wasting energy and money, polluting the night sky, producing sky glow and light that spills over fences and into bushland, Light that plays havoc with the natural rhythms of dark night dependent wildlife. Check the new weblink for all the reasoning behind why we need to refocus on what it means to have good light that is fit for purpose and not spilling in all directions – blinding us to the spectacle and wonders of the night sky.
