Under Siege: The Impact of Light Pollution on Astronomy

As soon as I began doing astrophotography I noticed a problem. My shots were affected by too much light coming from the streetlamps and on closer inspection, I also noticed how it affected my deep-sky astrophotography. In the first months, my photographs were limited to very short exposures because when I took shots longer than 15 or 20 seconds the light pollution in the sky was noticeable.

Light pollution is a huge problem for us astrophotographers! But what can we do about it?

Light pollution is the excessive use of artificial light, which has adverse effects on both natural and human environments. Astrophotographers and astronomers use light pollution filters when viewing and photographing the night sky depending on the amount of light present.

This phenomenon is caused by poorly designed lighting fixtures, which emit too much light. This light is often scattered in the atmosphere, making it difficult to see the stars in the night sky.

The negative effects of light pollution are not limited to wildlife either; it also impacts humans’ sleep schedules and increases their risk for obesity, diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular disease.

Astrophotography is best carried out in dark skies with less light pollution, however, many of us who live in cities can only dream of a truly dark sky. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the negative effects of this excess light both during and after taking photographs of the night sky. Click on this for my 5 tips for improving your astrophotography – this is really going to help keep you focused.

What is Light Pollution?

Light pollution is caused by the use of artificial light. It is a growing problem in many parts of the world, especially in urban areas.

The term “light pollution” was coined by Dr. Paul Bogard in his book The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light. He defines it as “the introduction by humans, directly or indirectly, of artificial light into the natural environment.”

Light pollution can have adverse effects on both humans and wildlife. For example, it can affect human health and disrupt ecosystems such as migratory birds and sea turtles that rely on natural light to navigate at night.

What are the Causes of Light Pollution?

Light pollution is the excessive use of artificial light in a way that disrupts the natural day-night cycle. It is a growing environmental problem that has been affecting both humans and wildlife.

The most common sources of light pollution are streetlights, car headlights, security lights, and commercial lighting. But there are also many other sources such as advertising billboards, outdoor lights from malls or buildings, and even some decorative lighting.

How Does Light Pollution Affect Astronomy?

Light pollution is a form of environmental pollution, and it is the reason why we can no longer see the stars at night. Light pollution, caused by artificial light, prevents us from seeing the stars.

In the photo above we can clearly see how light pollution affects the whole picture and removes the details.

There are different types of light pollution, including skyglow, glare, and light trespass. Skyglow occurs when there are too many lights in an area that don’t have any kind of shielding or dimming features. Glare happens when there are too many lights in an area that cause a reflection on the surface below it. Light trespass happens when there are too many lights in an area that shine into people’s homes or yards and disrupts their normal sleeping patterns.

The effects of light pollution on astronomy vary depending on what kind of astronomical research you’re doing. Astronomers who study planets may be less affected but those who photograph deep-sky objects as I do will need to find ways to escape or reduce light pollution.

The Problems I’ve Experienced with Light Pollution in Astrophotography

I’d like to show you some examples of the struggle I’ve had coping with light pollution in my astrophotography. Despite the skies, I regularly image under Bortle 5, a rural sky, it still has an effect, especially on longer exposures.

Here is an image composed of stacked photos. Notice how much light pollution washes out the nebula.

The above image was composed of stacked photographs taken in a Bortle 5 sky! The light pollution almost totally obscures the image of the North American Nebula.

By the way, the measurement of how dark a sky is by referencing the Bortle scale where Bortle 10 is the worst and Bortle 1 is the best and darkest sky. Most cities are Bortle 8 or more and there you’ll only see a few stars. In my location at Bortle 5 I can see hundreds of stars and when I travel to a better location, Bortle 4, I can then see thousands of stars!

My view of the Northern sky is much darker than the West or South. It is very common that in certain parts of the sky you have there may be variations where the actual level of light pollution is more or less than the average.

What are the Solutions to Reduce Light Pollution?

The solutions to reducing light pollution are mainly the responsibility of the government. The government regulates the use of lights and policies on how they are used. There are also solutions that can be done by the individuals themselves. One solution is to use motion sensor lights, which turn off when there is no motion detected. Another way is to install a shield on your windows so that it blocks out light from outside sources.

In astrophotography, we can use filters such as light pollution filters or images in narrowband such as Hydrogen Alpha. Recently I began imaging using a clip-in HA filter to block out light pollution, especially from the full moon. The moon is a regular source of excessive light that makes it difficult to photograph nebulae or galaxies at certain points in the Moon Cycle.

As my skills have improved I am able to lessen the effects of light pollution in the post-processing of my images in Photoshop. In some cases, it can almost completely be removed, but a dark sky is always best for the highest-quality images. Also, when imaging there are ways to use software to check exposure level and the level of light pollution you have in your images. The use of a laptop in astrophotography is something I cover in detail here – be sure to check out my advice.

The Importance of Reducing Light Pollution for a Brighter Future

Light pollution is a growing global problem, and it has adverse effects on both humans and wildlife. We should reduce light pollution to make the world a brighter place for future generations and to avoid negative effects on both humans and wildlife.

An important step would be to take action by reducing the amount of light that we use at night. This can be done by using LED lights or turning off lights when they are not needed.

Light pollution can also increase the risk of breast cancer in women who work night shifts or are exposed to high levels of artificial light at night during their leisure time.