Dark As Day?

We astronomers, professionals and amateurs alike who depend upon dark night skies for the pursuit of our celestial passions, have long been lamenting their slow demise. In fact, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) was founded specifically to promote the preservation of dark skies in general and advocate for the use of public lighting systems that minimize light pollution.

So I had a mixed reaction to a February 27th, 2006 article in The Orange County Register describing recent evidence that light pollution is having detrimental ecological effects on Southern California flora and fauna. On the one hand, it's discouraging to learn that the wasteful artificial lighting in our sprawling suburbs is having a significant negative impact on animals and plants whose survival depends upon night-time darkness. On the other hand, I was encouraged to see this growing problem reported in a major newspaper. As the IDA has learned, raising awareness is the first step to making changes that will benefit everyone - astronomers, stargazers and (increasingly) nocturnal critters in and around our cities.

Hopefully, the mounting evidence will spur us all, individually and collectively through our governments, to make better lighting choices - just as we must actively make better water, air and land use choices. Preservation of a dark sky should become as important as preservation of clean water to drink and clean air to breath. Our children have as much right to The Milky Way as to a breath of fresh air. I contend both are essential for a long and meaningful life.

The article cites a recently published book entitled "Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting". The book is reported to be a broad summary of current scientific research in this area, identifying mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, and plants that appear to be affected by the brightening of our suburban nights.

Perhaps we're slowly learning that a dark night can be as good for the biosphere as it is for the soul. I hope we're not learning it too late.