Dante Hunter presented Lights Out, Stars On: How to Reduce Light Pollution in Your Neighbourhood. He is Manager of the Bayside Astronomy programme in Lion"s Head. He is a fifth-year student in Physics and Astronomy at McMaster and is an enthusiastic champion of Dark Skies. His presentation followed the Total Solar Eclipse – a heavenly set of events.
Dante told us that the sky is getting brighter; there has been a 49% increase in emissions world wide from 1992-2022. This has created a Light Pollution Crisis. The abundance of light not only diminishes the dark sky and obliterates the wonders of the stars, it also has serious negative ejects on wildlife, birds and trees. Babies that are hatched (reptiles, amphibians, birds) usually need lunar light to navigate themselves to shelter and water. Artificial light however confuses the newborns and often leads them to roads, yards and ultimately death. This leads to declining populations of songbirds, turtles, pujins to name a few.
Dante told us that the sky is getting brighter; there has been a 49% increase in emissions world wide from 1992-2022. This has created a Light Pollution Crisis. The abundance of light not only diminishes the dark sky and obliterates the wonders of the stars, it also has serious negative ejects on wildlife, birds and trees. Babies that are hatched (reptiles, amphibians, birds) usually need lunar light to navigate themselves to shelter and water. Artificial light however confuses the newborns and often leads them to roads, yards and ultimately death. This leads to declining populations of songbirds, turtles, pujins to name a few.
The beauty of the stars and the wonders of the night sky have been celebrated throughout time in music, art and literature. Mythology is rife with reference to the constellations. And early navigation depended on the stars to set the course and sail with a sense of direction.
The loss of the dark sky is traumatic on many levels. Dante urged us to work to lessen and prevent further light pollution. Here are some ways:
Use light friendly outdoor fixtures that point DOWNWARD, are not brighter than necessary, and are in 3000K warm range (red) not the cool lights of 5000K range (blue); use MOTION SENSORS.
He encouraged us to visit the Dark Sky programme at Bayside in Lionshead (a beautiful place on the northern Bruce Peninsula).
And spread the word to REDUCE LIGHT EMISSIONS.
The loss of the dark sky is traumatic on many levels. Dante urged us to work to lessen and prevent further light pollution. Here are some ways:
Use light friendly outdoor fixtures that point DOWNWARD, are not brighter than necessary, and are in 3000K warm range (red) not the cool lights of 5000K range (blue); use MOTION SENSORS.
He encouraged us to visit the Dark Sky programme at Bayside in Lionshead (a beautiful place on the northern Bruce Peninsula).
And spread the word to REDUCE LIGHT EMISSIONS.