Surely, the most wonderful spectacle in all of nature is the night sky, blazing forth in all its glory. Yet most of the world seems unaware that we are losing this resource.
~ dr. michael d. inglis
STARRY NIGHTS
HOW WE CAN RECLAIM THE DARK NIGHT SKY
Who among us doesn’ t love the idea of gazing up at a dark sky, mesmerized by light from stars millions of miles away that was generated long before we were born? As children, many of us looked at the Milky Way, and with a sense of wonder imagined life in distant galaxies. The velvet blackness of the night sky sprinkled with stars has a unique beauty.
For centuries the stars have helped travelers navigate. The rhythm of night and day has always regulated the natural cycle of rest and productivity for most living things. Humans, animals, and plants need periods of complete darkness for healthy functioning.
The Rapid Rise of Light Pollution
In rural areas, such as Montgomery County’ s Ag Reserve, we expect to have a darker night sky than in the heart of the city. Yet light pollution makes it increasingly harder to see the stars, planets, comets and meteors that our ancestors appreciated, or that even Ag Reserve residents saw 30 years ago. As more businesses in the nearby suburbs or along highways blast upward light in parking lots at night, unfocused light bleaches out the dark sky. More residential housing designers put trendy lighting fashion before function even in rural areas, casting stray light upward.
by melane kinney hoffmann plenty I spring sowing 2025 11