Facing Noctalgia: The Pain of Losing the Night Sky to Light Pollution

The night sky is becoming brighter due to increasing light pollution from human settlements and satellites in space. Astronomers coined "noctalgia," which means sky grief, to describe the pain associated with this loss of access to the night sky. Light pollution joins other forms of environmental pollution, like air and water pollution and carbon emissions, as a growing concern.

Adverse Effects of Excessive Light From the Ground and Above

Light pollution primarily originates from ground-based sources, with electricity-powered lighting significantly contributing to it. While some illumination is essential for safety, a substantial portion is wasteful. The lack of awareness about light pollution has led to indiscriminate lighting, with illumination directed towards unintended areas and the night sky.

Ironically, the shift to efficient LED lighting often exacerbates the problem, as it encourages leaving lights on continuously without considering the cost or replacement. Only in remote deserts, wilderness areas, and oceans can one find skies as dark as those our ancestors knew.

Recent satellite communication developments, such as SpaceX's Starlink system, have flooded Earth's orbit with satellites that scatter and reflect sunlight, increasing the overall brightness of the night sky worldwide. Some estimate that our darkest night skies, found in remote regions, are now 10% brighter than they were half a century ago.

This loss of the night sky has cultural and tangible consequences. Human traditions and cultural knowledge rooted in the night sky, used to create constellations, heroes, monsters, and myths, are fading away. These traditions have deep cultural significance and serve as cornerstones for entire societies. The loss of this heritage is a loss of our humanity.

Additionally, many animal species are affected as well, with their circadian rhythms disrupted due to the brighter night sky, making them vulnerable to predation or hindering their ability to locate prey.

Noctalgia: Addressing Sky Grief

Astronomers have introduced the term "noctalgia," which signifies "sky grief" and symbolizes our collective distress over the diminishing access to the night sky due to light pollution.

Researchers even linked the term noctalgia to various global stressors, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it's evolving variants, long COVID, and the unfolding climate crisis. Specific populations and communities are disproportionately affected, leading to burnout among activists and young individuals. Fortunately, strategies similar to those for combating climate change can be employed.

Initiatives include establishing dark-sky reserves in remote regions, where communities commit to reducing light pollution and collaborating with community and business leaders to implement night-friendly lighting solutions, like automatic shutoff devices and downward-pointing lights. These efforts aim to mitigate the impact of light pollution and preserve our connection to the night sky.

Overall, the solution to combat noctalgia primarily requires political will. Several methods exist to reduce light pollution, especially ground-based pollution. Implementing these measures can halt and potentially reverse the increase in light pollution, as noted by the authors. Preserving access to the night sky is vital, and addressing light pollution is a tangible step toward achieving this goal.

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