NEXT AVENUE SPECIAL SECTION
Why Dark Skies Matter By Amy Grisak
Lying on my back in the darkness of the Montana prairie, the stars seemingly encompassed me. With no glare from homes or towns, the line blurred between earth and the cosmos, and not to sound like a cliché motivational poster, it truly felt as if I could touch the stars. I'm spoiled living where I do because experiencing novalunosis, defined as the state of relaxation and wonderment experienced while gazing upon the stars, is a rarity for many. Fewer than 80% of United States residents ever see the Milky Way, and with a 2% increase of light pollution encroaching more every year, each generation sees less of the dark skies of our ancestors. It's the one universal factor that spans the history of humanity, no matter our origins, but we're at risk of losing it completely. "Dark skies are important for a lot of reasons. It's not just the novelty of seeing the stars and the Milky Way," explained Michael Rymer of the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). "Birds, bats and a lot of pollinators are dependent upon night skies for navigation. If we interrupt the natural order of migratory patterns, we do ourselves a disservice."
Light pollution is particularly concerning when it comes to certain bats, particularly the little brown bat, which is already a species of concern, because they avoid lighted areas, and this cuts their feeding capabilities. Looking at a night sky map produced by NASA it's easy to see why avoiding light pollution is elusive, but the map is also a guide to discover where to experience a dark sky in all its wonder. The IDA, an internationally recognized steward of the night skies, offers official designations for areas that meet their stringent guidelines. The night sky is our ancient guidance system, a touchstone to our commonality and an ancient relationship with our Mother Earth. Yet as stars fade out of sight, it's time to protect our dark skies so future generations may experience this same sense of awe.
"Dark skies are important for a lot of reasons. It's not just the novelty of seeing the stars and the Milky Way."
Artificial lights illuminating the horizon can make migrating birds think it's still daylight, causing them to fly farther than they should for the day and potentially deplete precious energy reserves.
Read more of this story on NextAvenue.org
20
APRIL 2024
NEXTAVENUE.ORG
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