Light pollution – ironically it’s visible to all, but we tend to be blind to this form of pollution.
The Australasian Dark Sky Alliance (ADSA) will be running a Guinness World record attempt this Sunday 1pm AEST 21 June for Most users to take an online environmental sustainability lesson in 24 hours (and all are welcome to join – both southern and northern hemisphere – and it’s free!). As part of this activity you will become a citizen scientist and complete a 30 minute lesson, but you will also take a light pollution measurement with the globe at night app after dark (all you need is a computer, tablet or smartphone).
There are two parts to the event:
- The lesson includes a test – it is not to show how much you know but to demonstrate to those who are making decisions that there are large numbers of people who care!
- The globe at night web app is used for science and has very very few measurements from the southern hemisphere. Ecologists want to know if what is happening on the ground up, is what satellites are showing down. i.e. Is light pollution worse on the ground? Ecologists are particularly keen on knowing this, as whilst we have shielded lights, it isn’t stopping the surge of on the ground lighting that is impacting pollination etc.
It’s a free event and anyone can participate – Simply register here. My whole family has signed up and we’ll be out on the back garden deck – rain, hail or cloud. Let me know if you decide to join to.