Light pollution: what is it and why is it important to know ? [abstract from Dark Skies Awareness]

Light pollution is excessive and inappropriate artificial light. The four components of light pollution are often combined and may overlap:

  • Urban Sky Glow—the brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas.
  • Light Trespass—light falling where it is not intended, wanted, or needed.
  • Glare—excessive brightness which causes visual discomfort. High levels of glare can decrease visibility.
  • Clutter—bright, confusing, and excessive groupings of light sources, commonly found in over-lit urban areas. The proliferation of clutter contributes to urban sky glow, trespass, and glare.

For most of Earth’s history, our spectacular universe of stars and galaxies has been visible in the darkness of the night sky. From our earliest beginnings, the vast spectacle arrayed across the dark sky has inspired questions about our universe and our relation to it. The history of scientific discovery, art, literature, astronomy, navigation, exploration, philosophy, and even human curiosity itself would be diminished without our view of the stars. But today, the increasing number of people living on earth and the corresponding increase in inappropriate and unshielded outdoor lighting has resulted in light pollution—a brightening night sky that has obliterated the stars for much of the world’s population. Most people must travel far from home, away from the glow of artificial lighting, to experience the awe-inspiring expanse of the Milky Way as our ancestors once knew it.

The negative effects of the loss of this inspirational natural resource might seem intangible. But a growing body of evidence links the brightening night sky directly to measurable negative impacts on human health and immune function, on adverse behavioral changes in insect and animal populations, and on a decrease of both ambient quality and safety in our nighttime environment. Astronomers were among the first to record the negative impacts of wasted lighting on scientific research, but for all of us, the adverse economic and environmental impacts of wasted energy are apparent in everything from the monthly electric bill to global warming.

In refreshing contrast to some of today’s complex and lingering environmental problems, many existing solutions to light pollution are simple, cost-effective, and instantaneous. Recognizing when outdoor lighting no longer serves its function and becomes a pollutant is the first step toward choosing appropriate solutions.

Increased urban sky glow is responsible for the disappearance of the Milky Way from our night skies. For professional astronomers, the increasing distance to prime observing sites, well away from sources of air pollution and urban sky glow, becomes more problematic as economic and environmental energy costs continue to rise. Amateur astronomers, meanwhile, find prime observing spots eradicated by commercial and residential development and must travel farther from home for a clear view of the skies. Increasingly, the most important equipment needed to enjoy the wonders of the night sky is an automobile with a full tank of gas and a map.

I decided to continuously monitor the sky brightness in Poggio Corese - Scandriglia(RI)

FROM NightSkyPix  I suggest to read their article:

If you are into deep sky astrophotography, you know the struggle of having to juggle with your free time, the absence of a large, bright Moon in the sky, and a clear sky is real.

And now, on top of that, you have to consider man-made light pollution as well.

But how bright is your sky, and what can you do about it? The Bortle scale offers a simple answer that is easy to understand.

What Is The Bortle Scale? Light Pollution Classes Explained

Thanks to Andrea Minoia who wrote the article and to Carlo Piscioneri who introduced me to their site.


For quick reference, sky readings of 16 or less are poor; 17 is good; 20 is very good; 21 - superior; 22 is max. 
NELM = Naked Eye Limiting Magnitude

 
The Sky Quality Meter is an Unihedron product Meter is operational during Astronomical Twilight hours (EST).

 

Lo Sky Quality Meter (SQM) è uno strumento che con un sensore CCD rivolto verso l’alto misura la luminosità del cielo in magnitudine x arco secondo-quadrato.

La magnitudine è usata in astronomia per misurare la luminosità delle stelle (e degli altri oggetti celesti). Alcuni punti di riferimento sono:

  • magnitudine –26,8 = Sole
  • magnitudine –12,6 = Luna piena
  • magnitudine -1,5 = stella Sirio
  • magnitudine +6,0 = le stelle meno luminose visibili ad occhio nudo
L’arco secondo quadrato è il quadratino di cielo di lato pari ad un arco secondo di grado, cioè la 3.600-ma parte di un grado. (La luna ha un diametro di mezzo grado, quindi 1.800 secondi d’arco).

Quindi, quando SQM rileva – ad esempio – 20 mgn/arcsec2, il cielo è abbastanza scuro, quando rileva 10 mgn/arcsec2, il cielo è molto più chiaro. I rilevamenti vengono fatti ovviamente, di notte, e ci permettono di misurare l’effetto dell’illuminazione artificiale provocata dall’uomo, verso il cielo. La situazione metereologica incide su queste misure: con il cielo nuvoloso la luminosità è maggiore, perchè le nuvole riflettono la luce artificiale. Per questo motivo l’SQM può essere usato in meteorologia per rilevare la nuvolosità del cielo. I dati live possono essere un prezioso ausilio all’astrofilo per determinare la migliore serata per la fotografia astronomica. Più altò è il valore della magnitudine è più il cielo è buio. Un cielo con assenza di inquinamento luminoso da un valore medio di 22  di magnitudine, al contrario, in presenza di un forte inquinamento come si può avere in una città, il valore è intorno a  magnitudine 17. Valore che indica una luminoso del cielo 40 volte superiore. ( Fonte ARPAV)

The Scandriglia SQM partecipates to the following networks

SQM Network

Knightware SQM map