Light Pollution Environment Issues

Light Pollution (also called obtrusive lighting, photopollution and luminous pollution) is not the opposite of heavy pollution, but is pollution caused by the increasing use of urban, and now rural, outdoor lighting which has deemed many countries practically unsuitable for observations using astronomical telescopes. This form of pollution affects the polluter's pocket as well as astronomers; drivers (by dazzling them); neighbours or nearby residents, and wildlife (both plants and animals). People are only just beginning to realise that there is a problem, even though it has been around for half a century now, and has been gradually getting worse and more rural. The sites in this category are helpful to people who are affected by or wish to tackle a lighting problem, or people who wish to help by installing more environmentally-friendly lighting. Please read the FAQ's for further information

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• Eastern Michigan University (EMU) Astronomy Club: Light Pollution - Essays on the causes and effects of light pollution, as well as information about local regulations to combat the problem.
  
• A Solution for the Problem of Light Pollution? - A short page explaining how lighting can be made to reduce the astronomical effects of pollution by Manchester Astronomical Society.
  
• Indiana Council on Outdoor Lighting Education (ICOLE) - Comprehensive information on the abatement of light pollution in Indiana including general links and resources as well as updates.
  
• Rose City Astronomers: Oregon Dark Skies - Includes a information about the effects of light pollution and local darksky sites.
  
• Sydney Outdoor Lighting Improvement Society [SOLIS] - Includes a range of general information about how anyone can improve their outdoor lighting as well as information on how the group is combating the problem in Sydney.
  
• Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council (POLC) - Comprehensive information on the latest lighting situation in Pennsylvania with pictures, links, and guidance on how anyone can help. Home of Pennsylvanians for an Outdoor Lighting Control Act (POLCA).
  
• Virginia Outdoor Lighting Taskforce (VOLT) - Promotes the use of safe and efficient outdoor lighting. Comprehensive website with everything there is to know on the problem in Virginia and the latest on VOLT's campaign for better lighting ordinances.
  
• Minnesota Astronomical Society: Light Pollution - A light-pollution map of Minnesota, a news story about local light pollution and information about what can be done locally.
  
• Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Light Pollution Abatement Program (LPAP) - Explains how the problem is and can be tackled in Canada with the LPAP. Contains helpful Canadian information.
  
• New Hampshire Citizens for Responsible Lighting (NHCRL) - Includes local information relevant to New Hampshire and NHCRL newsletters. Minimal web content.
  
• The Fraser Valley Astronomers' Society - A local astronomy site with comprehensive information about the local darksky park including directions; as well as videos on the problem, and information about its effects on health and astronomy.
  
• Edmonton Area Light Pollution Awareness and Abatement - Explanatory information, links, news, photographs, a mailing list, FAQs and personal stories from this region of Canada.
  
• New Jersey Astronomical Association: Light Pollution - A short explanation of the problem.
  
• Dark Skies Northwest - News, video, slide-shows and images. Includes outdoor lighting codes, mailing list subscriptions, member information and links to further regional information.
  
• Institute of Lighting Engineers (ILE), UK - Forerunner in light pollution control in the UK. Publishes lighting codes and guidance available via the website. Website content is minimal.
  
• New England Light Pollution Advisory Group (NELPAG) - Everything to do with the problem in New England. Lots of links. Includes information on how to subscribe to the NELPAG forum.
  
• Dark Skies Locator - Use this site to find a light-pollution-free location. View conditions from various cities around the world.
  
• International Commission on Illumination (CIE) - Technical information and guides to the design of non-polluting lighting. Includes links to similar regional organizations.
  
• Dark Skies for Northern Ireland - Explains the problem in Northern Ireland with photographs; maps of its extent, and information on its effect on residents and crime. Includes a message board, help on installing friendlier lighting fixtures, links and correspondence on regulation with a l
  
• Office for the Protection of the Quality of the Sky of the Institute of Astrophysics of Canarias - Includes pictures and animations, and information on full-cut-off lighting, technical specifications, energy efficiency, and other forms of astronomical pollution. Also includes the laws applicable in the Canary islands.
  
• Lighting in the Countryside: Towards Good Practice - Comprehensive online UK Government publication outlining the government's policy on the issue. Also a good general introduction to the problem.
  
• Light Pollution Fact Sheet - A basic fact sheet on light pollution, with terms explained in layman's language. Provided by the Prairie Astronomy Club.
  
• The Croydon Astronomical Society: Light Pollution - Information about the problem in Croydon.
  
• Dark Skies for the Adirondacks - Online community of New York anti-light-pollution campaigners with photographs, newsletters, legislation and other local resources.
  
• Atlas of World Light Pollution - A comprehensive atlas of satellite images and artificially created maps of different light pollution measurements covering the globe.
  
• Outdoor Lighting Resources - good and bad lighting images with explanations, a local survey with results, a local lighting ordinance, and local news articles by an astronomer from Michigan, United States.
  
• LightPollution.org.uk - Discusses effects of light pollution on the environment and contains articles and links to news items.
  
• Illuminating Engineering Society of North America - The IESNA is the authority on the lighting industry in the USA, Canada and Mexico and one of the forerunners in the control of this form of pollution. Information available on manufacturers, acceptable designs and lighting codes.
  
• European Southern Observatory (ESO) - Contains technical information on the subject.
  
• International Astronomical Union Working Group on Light Pollution - Explains how the working group is helping to combat the problem at the moment and how anyone can help. Also includes various links and general information.
  
• Hawaiian Astronomical Society: Why You Can't See the Stars - Features links and information on light pollution relevant to Hawaii.
  
• Understanding, Assessing and Resolving Light-Pollution Problems on Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches - Comprehensive report by the Florida Marine Research Institute into the effects on turtles with relevant lighting specifications to be implemented near nesting sites.
  
• Utah Skies: Light Pollution - Includes information on good and bad light fixtures, hidden costs and health risks with pictures and links.
  
• University Lowbrow Astronomers: Light Pollution Issues - Information and links relevant to South-East Michigan, United States. Covers local regulation.
  
• Sky and Telescope - Saving Dark Skies - Various articles about light pollution including one on the history of the problem, one on rating the darkness of your sky, one on how astronomers can do more to help reduce light pollution and one on good lighting fixtures.
  
• Michigan Darksky Association - Explains the problem, and has pictures, news, local legislation and a message board specific to Michigan.
  
• Conference on the Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting - Comprehensive information about a conference on ecological effects which took place in February 2002 including abstracts and references on the topic.
  
• Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) - Information on how light pollution affects birds, and what steps must be taken to save the lives of birds by reducing lighting.
  
• Skyglow across the Great Lakes - Images of sky glow from both sides of Lake Michigan in the USA.
  
• Light Pollution Awareness Group (LPAG), Malta - Explains how light pollution can and is been controlled in Malta. Lots of links. LPAG is a part of The Astronomical Society Of Malta.
  
• Irish Light Pollution Awareness Campaign - Aimed at improving the quality of exterior lighting in Ireland and reducing light pollution.
  
• North Carolina IDA (NCIDA) - Includes images, information and local legislation relevant to North Carolina.
  
• Sensible and Efficient Lighting to Enhance the Night-time Environment (SELENE), New York - SELENE is working to eliminate inappropriate lighting in New York. Extensive website with facts and information about helping to fight for better lighting legislation in the city.
  
  

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