Apr
15
1:00am
Light Pollution: A Major Impact on Our World
By Everett Public Library
Light pollution has not had the level of attention of other types of harmful human impacts on our environment, but is proving to have widespread consequences, and is accelerating instead of coming under control. We are just beginning to understand that the true impacts on wildlife survival and human health are much greater than previously known. The most recent generation is the first in which more than 99% are unable to see the natural night sky without traveling, and they have lost access to the awe and impact it has had throughout all previous cultures.
Our increasing urban population spread into wildlands is saturating the night with light in nearly all areas so that it is never truly dark. Due partly to the common human fear of the dark, we often overreact when responding with light in ways that are harmful and wasteful; and counterintuitively end up making us less safe.
Join Mark Folkerts, president of the Everett Astronomical Society, to explore these questions:
- What is light pollution and why does it matter?
- How bad is it, and where does it impact us?
- What are some of the biological impacts of unneeded light at night?
- What areas are most impacted by light pollution?
- What is bad lighting and good lighting, and how can we make lighting better?
- What steps can we take to keep it from overwhelming us and our world?
This program is aimed toward adults and teens with an interest in the night sky; wildlife and environment; local glare impacts; nighttime safety, health, or crime; or interest in working to protect our natural world.
The Everett Astronomical Society is a non-profit organization with goal of improving awareness, understanding, and enjoyment of observing the night sky, astronomical objects, and the universe in our local Everett area community.
hosted by
EL
Everett Public Library
share