{"id":2192,"date":"2019-04-01T11:05:17","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T11:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/host-students.com\/uncategorized\/international-dark-sky-week\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T13:10:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T13:10:24","slug":"international-dark-sky-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/host-students.com\/information\/university-students\/international-dark-sky-week\/","title":{"rendered":"International Dark Sky Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following on from Earth Hour, this week (March 31 \u2013 April 7) is International Dark Sky Week<\/a>, a week to celebrate the wonder of the night sky without the effects of light pollution.<\/p>\n

The week organised by International Dark-Sky Association. The association lead the way globally in the mission to preserve the night. Since 2003 the week has grown to become a worldwide event and a key component of Global Astronomy Month.<\/p>\n

International Dark Sky Week isn\u2019t just about seeing the stars at night. The week aims to draw attention to the widespread environmental impacts of light pollution. And promotes simple solutions to solve it.<\/p>\n

\"Tenerife<\/p>\n

What is Light Pollution? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most people are aware of air, water and land pollution, but light is just as pollutant. Light pollution is the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light, which can have a serious environmental impact for humans, wildlife and our climate.<\/p>\n

The night-time environment is a vital natural resource for all life on Earth, but the glow of uncontrolled outdoor lighting has hidden the stars, radically changing the night-time environment. Artificial light not only blocks people in urban areas from seeing the stars, but it also harms the environment and our health.<\/p>\n

The IDA lists the 5 ways in which light pollution hurts the planet:<\/p>\n

It devastates wildlife.<\/strong> \u2013 Plants and animals depend on the earth\u2019s daylight and dark cycle to sustain behaviours.<\/p>\n

It may harm your health.<\/strong> \u2013 Studies have suggested that artificial light at night can have a negative effect on human health with an increased risk of obesity, sleep disorders, depression and more.<\/p>\n

It can make you less safe.<\/strong> \u2013 The IDA says that there is no clear scientific evidence that increased outdoor lighting deters crime, more so, poor outdoor lighting can decrease personal safety by making property and possible victims more visible to criminals.<\/p>\n

It wastes energy and money.<\/strong> \u2013 IDA studies suggest that as much as 50% of outdoor lighting is wasted, which increases greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to clime change.<\/p>\n

It can rob us of our heritage.<\/strong> \u2013 Our ancestors experience a night sky that inspired science, religion, philosophy, art and literature. Today due to light pollution millions of children worldwide won\u2019t know the wonder of the Milky Way.<\/p>\n

Losing the Dark\u00a0planetarium show:<\/h3>\n