Book 8, Question 148
Why Do Light Pollution Laws and Dark-Sky Parks Help?
Light pollution laws and dark-sky parks help, because smarter lighting keeps cities safe and stars visible! Dark-sky places protect night ecosystems, and they protect human wonder. Dark skies are worth defending, for people and for wildlife.
More fun facts
- Dark Sky Places are areas around the world that are protected from light pollution.
- Dark Sky Parks give visitors amazing views of the Milky Way and are great spots for meteor showers.
- The National Park Service has measured the glow from cities more than 200 miles away from national parks.
- Light pollution keeps your eyes from fully adjusting to the dark.
- Air pollution scatters artificial light, making the night sky even brighter.
- In one study, more than half of nighttime visitors to Utah parks did activities that need a dark sky.
Sources: NASA Science, National Park Service, National Park Service
Questions kids ask
Do clouds make light pollution better or worse?
Worse. Clouds reflect city light back down and scatter it, making the sky even brighter.