99% of People in the U.S. Can’t See the Milky Way in the Night Sky
How light pollution harms
Have you ever seen the starry night sky?
I mean, really seen it — in all its glory with constellations, shooting stars, and even the Milky Way?
I’m going to take an educated guess here — many of you will say no. I’m not pulling this out of a hat. NPR reported that “more than 99 percent of the people living in the U.S. and Europe look up and see light-polluted skies.”
But some of you have seen it and might relive the experience right now.
You can recall the moment you witnessed the unfolding of the Milky Way. It was probably on a trip to a national park. Or maybe you were camping in the wilderness. You went to bed early, tired from a long day of hiking. Then, your bladder had a midnight call to action. You stepped outside your tent to pee. Looked up. And let me guess what you said:
“Holy <bleep>!”
Or maybe you just sat there, mouth agape, wordlessly awestruck. Possibly drooling. Perhaps even getting a massive neck cramp because you just couldn’t stop looking up.
Far Out, Man
To put it another way — the pure night sky is a showstopper. Pictures don’t do it justice, but I’ll toss one in for fun.
If the night sky has never made you speechless, then I suggest you put it on your bucket list. But I’ll try my best to explain it now.
It’s like you’re tripping on a hallucinogenic drug… “Far out, man.” Of course, you wouldn’t know because you’ve never tried one. (But you’re pretty sure this is what it would feel like if you had said yes to those shrooms back in college.)
It’s as if, suddenly, you learn that everything you’d ever seen before in the night sky — every full moon, every glimpse of the Big Dipper, and every random shooting star — was not the main meal you’d previously thought. It was a mere appetizer: a tiny fraction of what is available to absorb as you gaze upward.
This sobering realization magnifies the mind-blowing experience of looking up at an unfettered view into the universe.
Any experience of the moon and stars is incredible. However, nothing compares to what the night sky contains — away from industrialized human civilization.
You Can Blame Light Pollution
So why aren’t we seeing this trippy experience every night of our lives? Well, the modern world that most Americans live in removes us from these darker rhythms of nature.
The good news is: we have electricity and lights.
The bad news is: we have electricity and lights.
Our electrified world serves our modern human lives but hinders the ancient contemplation of the Milky Way.
Modernized society is more advanced because of technology, but that comes at a price. Many people are waking up to this price as more information emerges around climate change and plastic pollution.
But we hardly ever talk about the price of electric light: the way that lights pollute the night. And, like all other environmental issues, this has been a problem for years.
Take this excerpt from a NASA website as an example — it was published 20 years ago:
“The Milky Way is dimming, not because the end of the Universe is near, but rather as a result of light pollution: the inadvertent illumination of the atmosphere from street lights, outdoor advertising, homes, schools, airports and other sources. Every night billions of bulbs send their energy skyward where microscopic bits of matter — air molecules, airborne dust, and water vapor droplets — reflect much of the wasted light back to Earth.”
This hasn’t been important for the past 20 years. It’s not at the top of the survival list, so why should it matter? Big deal, right?
I guess we can’t naturally trip out on the massive expanse of the cosmos. Oh well.
What does it matter anyway?
It’s interesting to note that this does matter. Our excessive use of electricity at night removes us from the dark. That puts a strain on our bodies and our minds.
Bright Lights at Night Harm Our Bodies
“We’ve evolved in bright days and dark nights, just like all life on Earth, and we need both for optimal health.” — Paul Bogard, author of the book The End of Night.
Many of us don’t think twice about how many lights are kept on at night throughout the cities and towns that we live in. Why would we? We don’t control it anyway. I’m talking about “street lamps, sports fields, billboards and parking lots — even prison lights” which NASA’s 2001 report stated are light pollution’s “biggest offenders.”
It makes sense, from a safety standpoint, that we don’t want things to change. We view the dark as a place where marauders roam free and are always right around the corner.
Why else would we have the well-known fears of the dark alleyway?
That is the main reason streetlights and parking lot lights came to exist. No one wants to get caught in a dangerous dark street or alley. So people found a solution: light up the night. It’s safer and we can continue working and enjoying our lives even after the sun goes down.
Win-win, right?
Wrong. There are ramifications to those safety decisions. The most obvious one for humans is the disruption of our circadian rhythm. This rhythm is our body’s 24-hour understanding of day and night. It impacts our brain waves and manages many of our body’s needs including cell function and hormone production. And, most importantly, this cycle is heavily influenced by light.
Disruption of our circadian rhythms can lead to myriad health issues: “metabolic syndrome and obesity, premature aging, diabetes, cardiac arrhythmias, immune deficiencies, hypertension, and abnormal sleep cycles.”
This means we have gained one thing — our physical safety at night. But in the process, we cost ourselves something else — our health and overall wellbeing.
Not to mention the deficit created in our psyches as we’re robbed of the deep existential awareness that comes from being naked eyewitnesses to our home in the universe: aka, the Milky Way.
But I’ll save that for another article.
What Can You Do?
So hopefully you’re now wondering, what can be done? Great question. Here are some excellent resources to get you started:
- If you have control over your exterior lighting, you can choose lights that are dark sky approved! This means they minimize the glare and wasted light that shines upwards, so you contribute less to light pollution — while still staying safely lit.
- Motion-sensor or timers on lights are another great option to keep your surroundings lit, but also save on your electricity bill and light pollution!
- “Turn off unnecessary indoor lighting — particularly in empty office buildings at night.”
- Visit the International Dark-Sky Association’s website and soak up all they have to say (yes, there is an organization dedicated to preserving a night sky… this is how perverse our human civilization has gotten).
- Save the Date! April 5–12 is International Dark Sky Week 2021. Learn more from those around the globe who have a mission to save the night.
Experience It For Yourself
Lastly, do yourself a favor. Get out there and experience the Milky Way. I know this may not be accessible for everyone. However, if this interests you and you have the means, then I highly suggest it. And ask a friend (in your COVID bubble, of course) to share the experience.
The IDSA has vetted communities, parks, reserves, sanctuaries, and places so you can choose one and be guaranteed a rich, fulfilling night sky experience. Just remember, weather and time of year play a big part in your ability to view the night sky. Check out these nifty calendars to be sure you’re planning your trip at the right time.
These options may be great for a pandemic vacation since they’re usually outdoors. (As always, stay COVID-safe.) There could be a spot closer to you than you think. So get out there to revel in the magnificence of the night sky!
Thank you for reading! Do you have a story about viewing the Milky Way? Share it in the comments. And here’s another story that may interest you:
