Light Pollution and Night Skies.
Light Pollution:
We are aware of different kinds of Pollution like Air Pollution, Water and Land Pollution, etc. But have you heard of Light Pollution?. Light Pollution refers to the excessive external artificial light misdirected into the night sky by human activities disturbing the natural darkness of the sky. If not taken care of properly, it can have adverse effects on human life, the Biosphere, and even on astronomy and space research. Some negative effects of Light Pollution are listed below.
Human Life:
We humans have evolved for thousands of years according to the Day and Night cycles of Earth. The Light Pollution disrupts the circadian rhythm and makes it difficult to sleep or stay asleep which could lead to sleep disorders and reduced sleep quality. The after-effects of disturbed sleep are known to cause stress, anxiety, and even depression. Research shows that Cardiovascular diseases, vision impairment, and certain types of cancer can be caused by light pollution. And even a lot of energy gets wasted while the light is getting released unnecessarily in the night sky...
Nocturnal and migratory birds use stars and their orientations and the dark sky to navigate while migrating. Lightened Night Skies mislead them leading to collisions which may be fatal. Every year thousands of birds are found dead and Light Pollution can be blamed for this. Moreover, birds tend to be attracted to Artificial Light known as ‘Fatal Attractions’ which may disrupt their migration cycles and cause them to be trapped in urban areas. The natural behavior of birds such as Nesting, Breeding, and Mating cycles may be altered. This can have an effect on ecosystems as well like pollination and the abundance of insects.
Astronomy and Night Skies
By now we have seen the effects of Light Pollution on different aspects of Nature. But let’s come back to the topic – How does Night Sky get affected by Light Pollution? The excess Light that gets ejected into the atmosphere makes the night brighter than before making it difficult for astronomers and space researchers to see the stars and faint and distant Galaxies at night. In the olden days, when there was almost no Light Pollution, people were able to see an arm of the Milky Way Galaxy no matter if we were on Earth. But how many of us have actually seen the beautiful night sky loaded with thousands of Stars and Constellations?
There are places on Earth though where the Original Night Sky can be seen and one such place in the Southern Hemisphere – the largest Night Sky reserve – ‘‘The Aorki-Mackenzie '’ Dark Sky Reserve is where you can see the Original dark sky. But you can see at your place as well and it can done by shutting all the lights in the area and Voila! The beautiful night sky is right above you!
Measures to Control Light Pollution
The reason why Light Pollution is different from other pollutants is that it can be reduced in a really short span of time. Shutting the lights is just Temporary. But some ways to reduce Light Pollution are minimizing the use of lights, controlling the light entering the sky, and replacing the use of Bright White lights with Dim and Warm Lights.
Note: Views expressed by the author are personal
Pic Source: Pixabay
Manognya Akella
View Details
Like
3 Comments
Repost
You may also like
EdGe
Published 4h
Your Complete Guide to Telangana's Law Entrance Exam
The Telangana State Law Common Entrance Test (TS LAWCET) 2025, conducted by Osmania University on behalf of the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE), is the gateway to 3-year and 5-year
EdGe
Published 1d
GITAM Admission Test
Everything You Need to Know to Apply for GITAM University’s Prestigious ProgramsGandhi Institute of Technology and Management, widely known as GITAM University, is a premier private deemed university
EdGe
Published 1d
Shaping the Guardians of the Nation
The National Defence Academy (NDA) stands as a testament to India's commitment to producing world-class military leaders. Located in Khadakwasla, Pune, NDA is the first tri-service academy in the world,
EdGe
Published 2d
Here’s How You Can Still Build a Rewarding Career in Healthcare
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is often seen as the ultimate gateway to a medical career in India. For lakhs of students every year, not clearing NEET feels like a roadblock to their
EdGe
Published 2d
Best Books for JEE Advanced – Toppers' Trusted List 📚
When it comes to JEE Advanced, your books need to go beyond basic NCERT and focus on depth, application, and problem-solving stamina. Here's a subject-wise breakdown with tiers
EdGe
Published 5d
All About Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is one of India’s most prestigious academic institutions, renowned globally for its excellence in statistics, mathematics, computer science, and quantitative
EdGe
Published 6d
Course Options After 12th in India
📘 40+ Best Choices for a Successful CareerChoosing the right course after Class 12 is one of the most important decisions in a student’s life. It sets the foundation for your future
EdGe
Published 6d
Percentage vs Percentile
✅ Percentage:A percentage is a number out of 100. It tells you how much you scored out of the total marks.✅ Percentile:A percentile tells you how you performed compared to others.
EdGe
Published 7d+
Top 20 Medical Colleges in India
India is home to some of the world’s finest medical institutions, both government and private, that admit students into MBBS and related undergraduate programs through the NEET (National Eligibility
EdGe
Published 7d+
All About SASTRA
SASTRA University: A Premier Destination for Quality EducationSASTRA Deemed University, officially known as Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy, is a top-tier institution located
EdGe
Published 7d+
All About SRMJEEE
The SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Examination (SRMJEEE) is a national-level entrance test conducted by SRM Institute of Science and Technology (formerly SRM University) for admission to its B.Tech programs
EdGe
Published 7d+
All About VITEEE
Vellore Institute of Technology: A Premier Destination for Engineering ExcellenceVellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is a premier deemed university in India, established in 1984 by Dr. G. Viswanathan.
Related Blogs
Karunakar. T
Published 7d+
Lead us into ‘light’
The darkness was absolute. Nothing could be seen. I stretched my arms trying to find something, anything. My groping hands touched the wall. I started feeling my way around moving forward gingerly. The
Dr. Ravi Saripalle
Published 7d+
Leadership is Light, not Heat!
Leadership is Light, not Heat! Spectacular Picture of the Sky at 2 PM IST 20-12-2022! Let’s build a Healthy Space Competition as No Geography defined!Dear Friends and StudentsToday afternoon,
VENKATESH PANYAM
Published 7d+
Sunflowers Trait
Dear students when you score low marks or when you fail to get what you want, you may feel bad and want to give up. Wait a minute, don’t lose hope. Talk to your parents, or friends or teachers, and
Sri Chaitanya Ayyagari
Published 7d+
Chemical engineering: For a better tomorrow
Role of Chemical Engineer in Pharmaceutical Industry:As the world is slowly recovering from the Pandemic of COVID crisis. We all know how much damage COVID 19 virus has done to humanity. Scientists
ELCSLAB @ Lendi
Published 7d+
CLIMATE CHANGE AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
“Let us nurture nature to have a nurturing future”…...Climate change is recognized as a most serious threat facing humanity.No one is immune to its effects.The impact of climate
ELCSLAB @ Lendi
Published 7d+
FITNESS IS NECESSARY FOR ALL...
Fitness is necessary for all...The maintenance of health and fitness helps a person to be in the general state of health and well-being. It provides ability to perform physical actions without being