on the phone while watching . When I visit friends in Leesburg , we can ’ t see the stars nearly as well .” Residents in Loudoun County can greatly improve their night sky by working within the county , but only in cooperation with neighbors across state lines will the East Coast regain the pristine night skies that are more common west of the Mississippi .
Anyone who has enjoyed a peaceful nighttime drive on Loudoun County ’ s rural roads , only to be blinded by oncoming high beams , knows what glare feels like and how dangerous it can be . Whether from excessively bright , blue headlights or poorly shielded streetlights , glare makes it difficult to see hazards like pedestrians crossing the road .
Those who can ’ t sleep due to the next door security light shining through the window at night , or who noticed the frogs on their farm stop singing because of the giant floodlight on a neighbor ’ s barn , have experienced light trespass . A well-written lighting ordinance can protect property rights by defining unacceptable light trespass and spelling out residents ’ recourse .
“ Most residents understand and appreciate that dark skies facilitate viewing of the stars and planets ,” says Joyce Harris , an advocate for dark skies in Loudoun County . “ But residents may not understand that numerous ecosystems found on our farms and conservation easements also rely on dark skies for their survival . Light pollution degrades our natural environment and may negatively impact agricultural properties and businesses , particularly greenhouses where many plants need darkness to set buds .” Researchers have found that soybeans exposed to stray road lighting have developmental delays of up to seven weeks .
Like moths , birds are attracted to the light . They migrate mostly at night , navigating by the stars . Birds face a double threat from light pollution : the stars are hidden by skyglow , and brightly lit data centers and glass-walled office buildings beckon to them all night long . The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center estimates that up to one billion birds die from collisions with buildings in the United States each year . Residents and businesses that want to take action to protect birds can treat the outsides of windows with special patterns or inexpensive “ Zen Wind Curtains ,” and turn out the lights at night — saving energy too !
Animals threatened by artificial light include toads , fireflies , and even humans . People naturally use the hormone melatonin to regulate our biological clocks . When people are exposed to light at night — especially blue light — melatonin is suppressed , interfering with sleep and increasing the risk of many health threats including cancer . “ I notice a big difference when I go visit a city like New York where there is so much light pollution ,” says Melody . “ It ’ s so hard to sleep if you don ’ t have an eye mask .”
Light pollution is a terrible waste . Worldwide , about a third of lighting shines up into the sky , wasting billions of dollars each year and adding millions of tons of carbon dioxide to the warming atmosphere .
The IDA shares five simple principles for responsible outdoor lighting . Whether for a home ’ s security light , a business ’ s decorative lighting , athletic field lighting , or even a plan for new streetlights , the same common-sense principles should be used in urban and rural settings to save energy , preserve the night sky , and create a safer and healthier environment .
First , is the light even necessary ? Second , it should be shielded
Stargazers gather for a night of astronomy outreach at Franklin Park .
PhotO 20 : wander Alan Goldberg I spring • summer 2023