Starry nights are out for most due to light pollution
LIGHT pollution is ruining our enjoyment of the starry night sky after a study found only four in 10 get a clear view.
People were asked to count the number of stars they could see in the Orion constellation as part of research in February.
But results found that 61 per cent could see 10 stars or fewer, when more than 30 should have been visible.
More than 2,400 people took part in the annual scheme run by The Campaign to Protect Rural England.
CPRE said this means they live in an area which is affected by severe light pollution, with the number up from 57 per cent last year.
Spirits
The charity and the British Astronomical Association’s Commission for Dark Skies are now urging councils to act on light pollution so more people can enjoy the night sky.
CPRE chief executive Crispin Truman said: “Gazing up at the heavens can inspire and lift our spirits, especially when many of us are forced to do so from within our homes at the moment.
“It is a shame that few of us can see the starry skies in all their glory, without the intrusion of light pollution.
“We would like to see councils adopting better policies in local plans to tackle light pollution and protect and enhance our darkest skies, where people can still experience the wonder of a star-filled night sky.” Just three per cent of respondents could count more than 30 stars in the constellation of Orion, which meant they were in areas with no light pollution.
Families who were able to see plenty of stars reported how much they loved the experience.
And almost all star-counters said they believed every child should be able to enjoy a starfilled night sky, CPRE reported. A survey of more than 1,400 star counters also revealed more than four-fifths thought councils should do more to tackle light pollution.
Bob Mizon, from the Commission for Dark Skies, said: “It’s wonderful to hear about families having fun doing the star count.
“Children should be able to see the Milky Way, their own galaxy, by looking up at the sky, not looking online.”
Light pollution levels in cities around the world are measured using the Bortle Scale, consisting of nine grades that judge the observability of the stars.
The scale shows London is one of the cities worst affected by artificial light.