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| Source: NASA |
In a huge dark tapestry of Universe at night, millions of sparkling stars and milky way seem like billions of light-years away from us. Our Solar system is 26,000 light-years away from the core. It is a huge matter of dust and gas flaunting their curves from millions of years ago. The astronomer Vera Rubin stated that a glue named “Dark matter” has fixed all the space objects together. The International Dark-Sky Association has stated light pollution as “the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light.” The light pollution from outer Space occurred due to the usage of artificial objects in outer space. The Researcher Christopher Kyba stated that the Sky Quality Meter indicates more light pollution in Earth than a satellite assessment. It was started by the first satellite launched into Earth orbit in 1962. Gradually it increased with the intention of curiosity. In that period, the concept of light pollution as a serious issue was not known to the Astronomers. It has made initial footsteps in the 1970s where Astronomers started observing the lights of Earth from outer space to open up various mysteries in the context of development, politics, globalisation, climate change, forecasting the weather, economy and weaponization. In the 1990s, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) made the light observation findings public. The remote sensing facility has helped modern Atlas in understanding the amount of light pollution. Many pieces of research have been done based on the light pollution index through satellite assessment so far. The developing countries are the worst sufferers of light pollution as development is a continuous process there. The Astronomers are also the worst sufferers as they suffer from getting accurate data for their research because of light pollution. The observations get hamper by fake data or low quality of data because of light haze which makes it is a much challenging task. Previously, the haze of lights or wrong data was interpreted as an instrumental error which is not the actual fact. The observation procedure from Satellite for various purposes has become difficult to do because of light pollution. It makes it arduous to fetch the details. The reflection of sunlight from the huge number of satellites constellation shall be a huge issue. The Astronomical Society is questioning the adverse effect of the satellite constellation which shall be observed after they are put up in the Earth orbit. Still, they are in dubiety. The reflections may be troublesome for various objects on Earth. It may also harm many living organisms.
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| Source: NESDIS |
The increase of artificial satellites in a huge number like Elon Musk's planned Starlink which can be seen as a huge number of satellites around the Earth. This may put a restraint to see the clear sky at night and will increase light pollution abnormally. Light pollution from man-made objects in outer space is stealing the dark nighttimes through the increase of radio signals and harming the natural process of livelihood of certain organisms who survive or germinate in dark hours. It may lead to the extinction of some kind of species. Through Suomi NPP Satellite, it is found that 2.2 % brightness has increased between 2012 to 2016. As per Franz Holker, many ecosystems who are working in a natural environment of nighttime darkness by organising the variations of light and are unable to adapt will suffer from the artificial light.
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| Source: Google Earth |
“60% of vertebrates and invertebrates are nocturnal” which may make them suffer in their natural process of life and stress them to regenerate. It may hamper in plant leaf loss, regeneration of new plants, health effects in the human body in the process of producing natural melatonin and hormone and in the pollination process at night. As per studies of the Suomi NPP Satellite, 80% of North American people are unable to see the band of the Milky Way and one-third of the world’s population. The light pollution shall become a towering issue in the future not only for the civilisation but also for the scientific society. The scientists are in constant effort to bring technological sustainability. The word "sustainability" has made its place in the global platform in the past recent years. We must focus on the policies which ensure the sustainability of the living. In the 1990s, Canada made the bird-friendly lighting under construction laws, Toronto, Washington D. C. and New York have actively taken part in lights out campaigns. Various sustainable innovations and policies must be taken into account when relating to new technologies. The invention of new technologies must not mean the extinction of age-old livelihoods. These issues must be addressed in global platforms. The preventive measures must include the reduction of light pollution as well as the sustainable usage in technology for outer space. These measures must be implemented through governmental plans and regimes and should be executed to governmental organisations as well as to private organisations.
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