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Description Light Pollution is ubiquitous wherever there is electricity. The NOAA mosaic image of the earth from space with lights shining across the six habitable continents has become a popular computer wallpaper. That light seen from space could be considered a complete waste of money and energy. After all, who are we leaving the lights on for anyway? Redirected and low-diffuse lighting is popular in areas where large and expensive ground-based telescopes need the darkness to carry out their work (such as Tucson, Arizona). Astronomers have their profession to worry about, so they have led the way with the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) (link below). Some may argue that crime is the major reason for lighting, but there are numerous ways to mitigate this; the IDA has a great collection of links to tackle this problem. The US alone spends an extra $1.5billion a year on lighting the skies where it is not needed. Lighting also affects the migration patterns of birds and the nesting and hatching of sea turtles.
Helpful Websites
The International Dark Sky Association Good Neighbor Outdoor Lighting (IDA) Reducing Crime and Light Pollution from the IDA (Link 1) (Link 2) Some information from the UK Parliament The Citizens for Responsible Lighting The AAS Committee on Light Pollution, Radio Interference & Space Debris Skyglow across the Great Lakes Outdoor Lighting Resources - Efficient Outdoor Lighting Benefits Us All The New England Light Pollution Advisory Group International Commission on Illumination Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting
Helpful Reports
Light Pollution report from the UK Understanding, assessing, and resolving light-pollution problems on sea turtle nesting beaches
Helpful Books
"Light Pollution" by Mizon "Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting" by Rich
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