‘People Really Want to See the Stars’

The Growing Campaign Against Nighttime Light Pollution 

By Julie Peterson*

The Milky Way over the Grand Canyon. ©NASA/Robert Q. Fugate 

Gazing up at the twinkling night sky can be awe-inspiring; its breathtaking complexity and enormity, its beauty and tranquility, are beyond compare. 

People feel a connection to the sky. Stars have shaped beliefs and cultures, guided travelers, tracked the seasons, “illustrated” myths and legends through constellations, and allowed people to relay timeless stories to their children. 

Today, even as advanced telescopes and other technologies give astronomers closer and deeper views of the universe, there is increasing alarm about what is not being seen in the night sky. Many stars aren’t as visible to the naked eye as they were a few years ago. Go back a few decades, and the difference is truly shocking.  

Poorly designed outdoor lighting bathes the planet’s night sky in artificial light, and the problem is getting worse. Because of this phenomenon, there's a growing campaign to preserve dark skies so future generations can appreciate their immeasurable cultural and scientific value.