Colloquium: Goodbye darkness, my old friend

© Tobias keller

The night-time environment has changed drastically in less than a century, a result of artificial light at night (ALAN). Urban dwellers can no longer observe the night sky as their ancestors once did, and the behaviours of non-human lifeforms have been disrupted in myriad ways. Meanwhile, rising numbers of Low-Earth orbit satellites are generating light and noise pollution from above, creating severe repercussions on astronomical observations. This talk will shed light on the impacts of ALAN on humans and other living things, as well as the wider social, cultural, and environmental implications of the loss of a naturally dark night sky. I will discuss the challenges around both monitoring light pollution and advocating for lighting policies and legislation, while highlighting the work of organisations like DarkSky International (formally known as the IDA), and the IAUs Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference.