Light Pollution and the Night Sky

More than 80 percent of the world’s population, and 99 percent of Europeans, live under sky glow. Many people have never experienced the Earth’s view of the Milky Way galaxy, or witnessed a night sky filled with more stars than we can physically count.

Light pollution is erasing our heritage

The history of humanity is tied to our perception of the night sky. The dark starry sky, and the movements of the Moon along it, have inspired myths, legends, and stories of origin in cultures throughout history and across time. Even though science teaches us that we are a much smaller part of the vast galaxy and universe we inhabit, we live in an increasingly anthropocentric environment, where lights at night not only keep us focused on Earth, but also diminish our view of the stars.

The collective humility and wonder of counting stars and experiencing the change of environment that comes with darkness has been replaced by a dull orange blanket of light over the sky, and light that makes all time feel like perpetual day. Restoring the night sky to a naturally dark state through responsible and limited lighting is a step towards rebuilding our severed connection to the past, to our ancestors and their view of the night.

Dark skies bring hope for the future

The history of humanity is tied to our perception of the night sky. The dark starry sky, and the movements of the Moon along it, have inspired myths, legends, and stories of origin in cultures throughout history and across time. Even though science teaches us that we are a much smaller part of the vast galaxy and universe we inhabit, we live in an increasingly anthropocentric environment, where lights at night not only keep us focused on Earth, but also diminish our view of the stars.

The collective humility and wonder of counting stars and experiencing the change of environment that comes with darkness has been replaced by a dull orange blanket of light over the sky, and light that makes all time feel like perpetual day. Restoring the night sky to a naturally dark state through responsible and limited lighting is a step towards rebuilding our severed connection to the past, to our ancestors and their view of the night.

Site manager:

Zveza tabornikov Pomurja
Glavni trg 3A
9240 Ljutomer

This project is supported by the Interreg ADRION Programme funded under the European Regional Development Fund and IPA II fund.