Globe at Night (NSF NOIRLab)
Globe at Night invites anyone to measure how dark their night sky is. People have sent 331,065 observations to track light pollution (program figures).
Image: NASA (iss074e0149572, city lights trace river valleys in Romania).
Last reviewed: 1 source cited
Explain Like I'm 10
- At night, city lights can hide the stars.
- Globe at Night asks people to go outside, find a group of stars and say how many they can see.
- All those answers show where the sky is too bright, so we can fix it.
Explain Like I'm 10
- At night, city lights can hide the stars.
- Globe at Night asks people to go outside, find a group of stars and say how many they can see.
- All those answers show where the sky is too bright, so we can fix it.
The Five W's of Globe at Night (NSF NOIRLab)
Who
Globe at Night, a program of the U.S. National Science Foundation's NOIRLab.
Source: Globe at Night
What
An international citizen science campaign: people compare the night sky with star charts and report how bright it is.
Source: Globe at Night
When
During monthly campaign dates, more than an hour after sunset with no Moon up; 331,065 observations so far.
Source: Globe at Night
Why
Light pollution affects energy use, wildlife and health, and data shows where it is getting worse.
Source: Globe at Night
Impact Statement
Government program · active
Globe at Night reports 331,065 total observations, and its About page says people in 180 countries have taken part (program figures).
Source: Globe at Night
For Further Information: Globe at Night
Anyone with a phone and a dark-adapted pair of eyes can help measure light pollution for Globe at Night.
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Too much light at night wastes energy and can affect health, so data helps communities choose better lighting.
Source: Globe at Night
For Nature
Darker skies help night animals such as birds, insects and sea turtles that need natural darkness.
Source: Globe at Night
Support Globe at Night (NSF NOIRLab)
Want to go deeper? Globe at Night has the full story and the latest updates.
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