Light pollution can also interfere with indigenous peoples’ ability to share and practice culture. Depending on the power source, artificial light can contribute to climate change by wasting electricity. It reduces contrast between heavenly bodies and the sky and dims the visibility of diffuse sky objects like nebulae and galaxies.Īrtificial light affects earth-bound life by such things as disorienting some animals and plants, and messing with humans’ ability to get a good night’s sleep – queue link to chronic sleep deprivation and its litany of health problems including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental health issues and accidental injury. There are myriad reasons to measure and improve our understanding of light pollution.įrom a science perspective, astronomy is adversely affected by atmospheric light at night. “Together, our observations will map how light pollution varies across Australia’s cities and regions, and make a Guinness world record attempt for ‘Most users to take an online environmental sustainability lesson in 24 hours’.” “We’re expecting thousands of people to join us on Australia’s longest night, to help researchers create a map of Australia’s darkest skies, and learn about light pollution and its effect on people, animals, and astronomy,” says Marnie Ogg, CEO and founder of ADSA. It’s a great way to get involved in a growing global movement: citizen science. Whatever the weather and wherever you are, they’d like you to look to the night skies on Sunday 21 June to help them measure light pollution around the country. Looking for something to do on the longest night of the year? The Australasian Dark Sky Alliance (ADSA), ARC Centre of Excellence in All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) and their partners might have a little job for you.

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