Brit stargazers urge UK public to ‘count stars to see effect of pollution’
By ANIMonday, January 31, 2011
LONDON - A Brit survey proposed to measure the effect of light pollution on the night sky has found that more than 83 percent of people had their view of the night sky affected by the pollution.
As a part of the study, members of the public are urged to count stars in the sky, reports the Daily Mail.
Details of the number of stars people can see in the constellation of Orion will be used to create a star count map to show the impact of light from towns, cities and roads on dark skies.
The star count is being run by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the British Astronomical Association’s Campaign for Dark Skies (CfDS) as part of efforts to make ministers and local councils take action to tackle light pollution.
The CPRE said the phenomenon not only damaged the character of the countryside but could also disrupt wildlife and affect people’s sleeping patterns.
“Light pollution damages the character of the countryside, blurs the distinction between town and country, and denies people the experience of a dark, starry sky,” Emma Marrington, rural policy campaigner at CPRE, said.
In 2006/07 nearly 2,000 people took part in the star count week. Only 2 percent of those who were involved said they could see more than 30 stars in Orion, while more than half said they could see fewer than 10. (ANI)
