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A. Upgren (Wesleyan University)
Astronomy has been adversely affected by light pollution, the amount varying a lot from place to place, and with time. The adverse sky glow, the major light pollution impact for professional astronomy, can make a major difference in the astronomy that can be done at an observing site, and hence a real fiscal impact on the observatory as well. It has been growing in its impact, rapidly at some observatories. Amateur astronomy and the public’s view of the night sky are also affected. In addition, there are negative aspects on most aspects of the nighttime environment, vision, ambiance, energy waste, and even human health and the ecosystem. What is done to improve any one of these also helps greatly to improve on all of them. The main problems are lack of awareness (even in the astronomy and the lighting community) and the lack of action. This seminar is designed to help with those problems. Attendees should go away well informed of the problems and of the needed solutions, and one hopes with the desire for action. Such action is critical for minimizing these adverse impacts.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #2
© YEAR. The American Astronomical Soceity.