Talking about the environment with astronomy
https://edu.inaf.it/in-english/about-environment-with-astronomy/
For the Earth Day 2025, we present you a collection of educational activities on the Earth and topics such as global warming and light pollution.
The dramatic state of light pollution and sky glow in Belgium (figure for some upcoming work).
A Stunning Image of the Australian Desert Illuminates the Growing Problem of Satellite Pollution
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/04/a-stunning-image-of-the-australian-desert-illuminates-the-growing-problem-of-satellite-pollution/
#sky #ciel #stars #etoiles #lightpollution #pollutionlumineuse #satellites #starlink #pollution
Interested in #LightPollution? Here are 10 accounts you might like to follow:
@JohnBarentine
@andreas_jechow
@gkalinkat
@raulclima
@Quick
@smorrell
@plecotus
@remiboucher
@Airam_Rguez
@cathperezvega
"The ideal of a dark and quiet sky is one many astronomers fight to protect. ... Preservation of the night sky across the electromagnetic spectrum is an extension of the stewardship of a human environment that now goes beyond our planet and reaches toward the cosmic ocean. It is also key to the future of astronomical discoveries."
https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/online/44173/Threats-to-the-dark-and-quiet-sky
I'm pleased to have a byline in Physics Today on this 'Quick Study' about #DarkAndQuietSkies. Thanks to my editor, Jennifer Sieben, and Jeff Warner for us of his amazing image that accompanies the story.
https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/online/44173/Threats-to-the-dark-and-quiet-sky
Just submitted an abstract to the Artificial Light at Night conference #ALAN2025 
In case you haven't written one yet - there's still time, the deadline is tomorrow! https://artificiallightatnight.org/alan-conference-2025/submit-an-abstract-for-alan-2025/
Threats to astronomical observatory sites around the world from light pollution are growing, but the existing skyglow standard for site protection dates to nearly a half-century ago. Astronomers are considering a new standard to replace it given advances in lighting technology.
Read more about what's at stake for astronomy and how this effort developed: http://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/toward-a-new-standard-for-astronomical-observatory-site-protection
New paper shows that moth numbers are reduced in areas with higher levels of #skyglow compared to areas with lower levels of skyglow, regardless of whether one is near streetlights or not: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126068
It's worse than previously thought. "INNA would increase light pollution above the Very Large Telescope (VLT) by at least 35% and by more than 50% above the south site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory."
Last night, Sicco Bauer and I made simultaneous observations of the GOES 12 satellite through an #eVscope. Sicco was in Dresden, I was in Bochum (~450 km apart).
We both see a dramatic brightening of the satellite as it passes through the (different) field of view.
It's maybe not surprising, because the satellite is so far away that the angular difference is <1 degree. But still, it's cool that this can be done, and shows the utility of the setup.
Finally, in "Insect communities under skyglow: diffuse nighttime illuminance induces spatio-temporal shifts in movement and predation", Dyer et al. show that the movement of insects shifts from day to night when #LightPollution is present, and again it seems that the effect begins at skyglow-like light levels.
The first is "Artificial light at night decreases plant diversity and performance in experimental grassland communities" by Bucher et al.: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0358
Here they showed that both growth and species diversity was negatively affected by the addition of #LightPollution, and that the impact starts at skyglow-like light levels.
Incidentally, the same approach was used by German U-Boats during #WorldWar2, which prompted the US military to undertake what is likely the largest #LightPollution study ever conducted: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA954894
Plants and animals are different [citation needed], but we've both evolved on the same Earth. So the physiology of animals is also affected by exposure to #LightPollution, and this extends to humans and #HumanHealth.
We have the problem that we spend most of the day indoors under artificial lights (much darker than natural day), and then spend the evening indoors under artificial lights (much brighter than natural night). Especially for night owls, this lack of a clear day/night signal screws up our internal #Circadian clocks. These clocks control things like metabolism, so messing with them causes #health problems: https://doi.org/10.1177/23727322231193967
This is my favorite photo for demonstrating the impact of #LightPollution on physiology. The image was taken by shows a soybean field illuminated by a badly directed streetlight.
What's happening here is that soybeans are supposed to grow leaves in the early part of summer, and as nights get longer, they should make #soybeans and turn brown. In the green area, the plants don't understand what time of year it is, and it's therefore a complete loss for the farmer.
The reason I love the photo so much is because you can see the shadow of the light mast on the field.
The photo was taken by Dwaine Eddie McGriff & Ben Tankersley, and originally posted to Xitter (the post no longer exists).
The problem could be entirely solved by using a streetlight with strong backlight shielding (i.e. shining the light only on the roadway).
(4/17)
We know that when artificial light shines directly from a light source onto living things at night, it affects their behavior and physiology. But what about the diffuse glow of the night sky, does that affect the environment?
Turns out it does. Read more in this brief thread 
#Skyglow image by @andreas_jechow
Félicitations to everyone involved in today's announcement of Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park in #France as the world's newest International Dark Sky Place. 
This Friday (5th) at 1430 UTC (9:30am EST) I'll be talking dark skies as part of the Environmental Fridays lecture series. The Zoom event is free and open to the public. More information is available on their website: https://www.theenvironmentalfridays.com/
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