Loss of the night 2.4.7

Contribute to a world-wide citizen science project by joining the Loss of the Night app. This innovative tool allows you to transform your eyes into a light meter, empowering you to actively participate as a citizen scientist by reporting the brightness of the night sky in your locality.

Light pollution is a pressing issue in many regions globally, with poorly designed street lamps causing an overflow of artificial light that masks the beauty of starry skies. This phenomenon, known as skyglow, not only obscures celestial bodies but also disrupts the natural nocturnal environment. Scientists are increasingly alarmed about the potential impacts of light pollution on nocturnal ecosystems; however, the scarcity of data on global sky brightness and skyglow trends poses a challenge.

Rise to the occasion by monitoring skyglow using the intuitively designed Loss of the Night app, which leverages Google's Sky Map technology. This user-friendly tool employs your eyes as a reliable light meter, allowing you to observe specific stars in the sky and report your visibility observations. Engaging with the Loss of the Night app is not only informative and enjoyable but also contributes crucial scientific data that could influence environmental protection measures in the future.

The data collected through your measurements will be transmitted anonymously to the GLOBE at Night project. You can view your contributions on a map, evaluate your measurement accuracy, track changes over time, and compare your findings with observations from across the globe at www.myskyatnight.com.

Engage in star counting as a rewarding family activity that doubles as a valuable learning experience. Whether you are identifying stars and constellations or conducting student-led scientific investigations, this app offers a platform for individuals to be part of a global citizen science network. While urban areas with high artificial lighting present significant data points, locations where the Milky Way remains visible are equally welcome for participation and comparison.

By assessing skyglow in relation to ground brightness, this initiative seeks to enlighten communities about effective street lighting practices. The hope is that cities can achieve energy efficiencies and cost savings while maintaining adequately lit streets, preserving dark nighttime environments, and restoring starlit skies.

For more detailed insights, including preliminary results, visit the project blog at lossofthenight.blogspot.com, and explore additional resources on light pollution through Seeing Stars Leiden campaign website at seeingstarsleiden.pocket.science.

Connect with the dedicated team of light pollution researchers from Verlust der Nacht who developed this beneficial app and delve into their related projects at www.verlustdernacht.de. Delve into essential information about the history, significance, and repercussions of artificial nocturnal light provided within the app.

This impactful project received sponsorship from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany), underscoring its significance in contributing to scientific understanding and environmental conservation efforts.