Editor, The Beacon:

International Dark Sky Week is a worldwide celebration of the dark and natural night. The 2024 celebration is April 2 through 8, April 8 also being the day of the solar eclipse!

Since 1988, the International Dark-Sky Association (now Dark Sky) has promoted win-win solutions that allow people to appreciate dark, star-filled skies while enjoying the benefits of thousands of responsible Dark Sky-approved outdoor lighting.

Currently, there are 1,500 volunteer advocates in 41 countries, with 200 International Dark Sky Places. Happily, in June 2023, Groveland in Lake County was certified as a Dark Sky Community, the first in Florida to receive this honor!

As lighting options become more inexpensive and brighter, we are illuminating the night more and more. Every eight years, light pollution around the world doubles! Today, 80% of the world’s population lives beneath light-polluted skies. Eight out of 10 children will grow up never seeing the Milky Way.

Is light considered a pollutant? Yes! Any artificial light that is not needed is a pollutant that has serious and harmful consequences.

Light pollution can:

• • disrupt wildlife
  • impact human health
  • waste money and energy
  • contribute to climate change
  • block our view of the universe.

The effects of light pollution have grave consequences beyond the loss of our human enjoyment, cultural heritage and impacts to our sleep and ability of our bodies to repair themselves. Plants and animals also depend on natural light cycles to govern life-sustaining behaviors such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep, and protection from predators. As humans, we have the ability to minimize the disruption of excessive light on them and ourselves, and with the ability, there is the responsibility.

Light pollution is overtly more recognizable in big cities. However, in one’s own neighborhood, there can be light trespass where excessively bright or constantly on outside lights shine from a neighbor’s yard into your yard or window. Consider also landscape lighting, which shines directly up into the night sky.

There are four main types of light pollution:

SKY GLOW: The brightness in the night sky caused by artificial lights over urban areas;

GLARE: Extreme brightness that can hurt your eyes, like seeing bright lights while driving;

CLUTTER: Excessively bright and disorienting groups of light sources, such as lighted buildings, shopping districts, billboards; and

LIGHT TRESPASS: Light that extends into areas where it is not needed or wanted.

Five principles for responsible outdoor lighting

If light is deemed useful and necessary, follow these guidelines to prevent, or when that’s not possible, minimize light pollution:

USEFUL – All light should have a clear purpose. Consider using reflective paints or self-luminous markers for signs, curbs, and steps to reduce the need for permanently installed outdoor lighting.

TARGETED – Light should be directed only to where needed. Use shielding and careful aiming to target the direction of the light beam so that it points downward and does not spill beyond where it is needed.

LOW LIGHT LEVELS – Light should be no brighter than necessary. Be mindful of surface conditions as some surfaces may reflect more light into the night sky than intended.

CONTROLLED – Light should be used only when it is useful. Use controls such as timers or motion detectors to ensure that light is available when it is needed, dimmed when possible, and turned off when not needed.

COLOR – Use warmer color lights where possible. Light where you need it, when you need it, in the amount needed, and no more.

This year, all seven members of the Volusia County Council declined to support a proclamation to support, protect and celebrate our local dark sky. I am not aware of the reason, as none replied to my three email requests.

Nevertheless, for all others, there are numerous “small ways” to increase awareness of the need for protection and to enjoy the magnificence of the Dark Sky, especially during Dark Sky Week! A few are below. Most importantly, Just Look Up!!

Host a night walk in your community neighborhood.

Spread the word about International Dark Sky Week on social media.

Write a letter to the editor about the importance of protecting the dark sky.

Light pollution, unlike other forms of pollution, has a cost-free solution, and everyone who cares can be a part of that solution.

Simply turn off the lights!! Then go outside, look up and be awestruck!!

Carole J. Gilbert