Light pollution has become a growing environmental problem; a problem that not only makes observing stars and the Milky Way difficult, but can also affect wildlife and the circadian rhythm of humans.
According to Eetna via TechSpot, based on a study, the average brightness of the night sky increased by about 9.6 percent per year between 2011 and 2022. At this rate, sky brightness roughly doubles every eight years.
One of the main factors in this increase is the expansion of artificial light on the ground. Cities and residential areas have become brighter than before thanks to technologies such as LED lights. In addition, active satellites in Earth orbit have added to the problem; they reflect sunlight and interfere with astronomical images.
The scope of this issue is very broad. According to another study, about four out of five people in the world live under light-polluted skies. Thus many people may never have experienced the real, star-filled night sky that was once visible.
The consequences of light pollution are not limited to the loss of the ability to observe stars. Many nocturnal animals use moonlight for navigation, and artificial lighting can disrupt this process. On the other hand, constant exposure to lit environments may affect the circadian rhythm of humans and other living beings.
Some regions have taken action to address this problem. For example, the town of Flagstaff, Arizona has enacted laws to control the amount, type, and direction of nighttime lighting, and the state of New York is also considering similar restrictions. However, such regulations mostly target ground-based lights and do not solve the light-pollution problem caused by satellites. As a result, natural night darkness may gradually become a rare and luxury privilege.