Do people even care about Light Pollution?

[@NGC7000]

I’m an African amateur astrophotographer. My village is in the middle of the equatorial rainforest in Cameroon, where we do not have electricity. At the beginning I used to complain a lot because of the lack of power. I never really paid attention about the night sky until I discovered astrophotography, and stargazing through Trevor Jones ( Thank You). Than my eyes got opened and I saw it for the first time. It was amazing... Just like a new birth. For the first time my dark village has become an invaluable treasure. I never saw such a wonder in my life... So much details. My eyes can almost see a magnitude 12 object in the night sky. Yes, we have fight against light pollution, for the future generations to enjoy such a beauty.

[@PaulHummerman]

Your village has one of the greatest treasures of all - nocturnal darkness.

[@andrewsulja4128]

I’ve visited Zambia three times and being able to see the Milky Way with the naked eye is one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

Congratulations on your geographical location.

[@alessandrodimitri3852]

I live in the second world's biggest light polluted area, the Padanian Plane in Italy and I need to travel three hours just to see a faint Milky way

[@RedRiverWilds]

A friend of mine offered to take me to rural Ethiopia next time he visits his family, said the stars are beautiful and animals definitely unique so yeah I'll be taking a camera. Of course the pandemic kind of got in the way there so we delayed that.

[@3DAstroTC]

Absolutely love this! Not just the topic, but the passion you conveyed, the sense of frustration but not doom and gloom negative, i.e., not a pure irritating rant. I'll repost/share this as much as I can!

[@AstroBackyard]

Thank you!

[@PetraKann]

Photons aren’t polluting agents. Light interference perhaps but “light pollution” doesn’t make sense. The main detrimental effects of artificial light at night is to nocturnal animals. To infer that the negative effects of artificial light at night are a global and serious community issue in order to reduce light interference for your night time hobby is disingenuous to say the least. Whilst I understand your frustration (which I share) we need to be realistic and practical.

[@rockmusicvideoreviewer896]

@@PetraKann Zzzzzz Zzzzzzz....

[@עידומזרחי-ג6כ]

same here

[@emilianleahu1004]

@@PetraKann it's okay to illuminate the areas during night for security reasons, but the way we do now is wrong. We just waste a lot of energy (mostly produced with fossil fuels so more pollution) this way and with current times it's not a good thing

[@raheslop]

This really hit home with me a few weeks back when visiting North East Iceland. I have been doing astro photography for several years and visited numerous “dark sky” areas in the UK with what I thought was little or no light pollution, but when in the north east of Iceland I was stunned as to how many stars I could see with my eyes. It’s crazy to think that 200 years ago everyone had that view.

[@hikingphotog]

Same with me, I've been to Utah in some crazy true dark skies enough times to know that the measley Bortle 3.5/4 skies in the local astro park back home (90 miles away from my house) ain't got nothing on true dark. The regulars at the astro park that have never been to true dark skies try to tell me there isn't much of a difference. One of my neighbors recently asked how people were able to see all these things in the sky and identify and name them... well, see back then you could actually see them with little to no effort.

[@jgostling]

@@hikingphotog I totally get you. I used to be like your regulars until a few months ago, driving on a minor road at night with my wife, and we just pulled over. The view was nothing short of spectacular, compared to anything I had seen before that. If only there hadn't been cars driving with high headlamps.

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

My dream is to travel to a truly dark, dark night sky some day! The only worry I have is will that experinece of truly dark skies make me never be able to enjoy the night sky in my local area ever again!? It's like owning a Ferrari for the day, then handing it back over and getting into my small Ford Focus!? It's just never going to be the same again, I fear!? lol. Seriousely though, you are so fortunate to have been to a truly dark sky! I envy you my friend! Wes, Liverpool UK.

[@Astrogator1]

You don’t have to back 100 years for most of the world

[@raheslop]

@@wesleydonnelly2141 if you ever get the opportunity to visit a dark sky area do it, it really puts things into perspective first hand, and if you feel you no longer appreciate what you have afterwards just go to Las Vagas

[@riggelinlol3570]

Hey trevor, I am 13 and you inspired me to start astronomy and i feel the same way. I dont have a backyard and in my frontyard there is a bright street light. thank you for inspiring me and thank you for making this video. i hope it reaches a bigger audience.

[@13_cmi]

I bet you wish you found out about this hobby later just like I do. It's hard getting new equipment when you have no money.

[@ohhellno8759]

@@13_cmi - I’m 16, it’s pretty nice not having much financial responsibility so I can spend all my money on astronomy equipment

[@riggelinlol3570]

@@13_cmi Yes this is true.

[@zaggo3425]

Same here, I'm 14 and we have a huge streetlight in the front yard that was broken for about a year until they managed to fix it and make it even brighter. I may have a huge backyard but there is an alley right nearby and it is filled with crappy motion lights. Maybe someday people will shield them, who knows.

[@pickuppearls2214]

@@13_cmi ikr i have to wait an entire 8 months and finding ggokd scopes cheap is rlly Really hard

[@DarkSkyInternational]

Thanks for celebrating International Dark Sky Week with us!

[@GrowingAnswers]

I live under a Bortle six sky in a suburban area. The houses are not very close together and the properties are adequate. There is very little light from other houses in my backyard, yet the glow from the sky is enough to disrupt my sleep with the ambient light coming through my windows from the backyard. I had black curtains over my windows and actually added blackout blinds behind them just to make my room darker at night. And yes I did it because my sleep patterns shifted as I’ve gotten older. And I am just like you, Trevor. The more time that has gone by that I’ve been in the hobby, the more I noticed how irresponsibly artificial lighting is installed. And it does not make sense to have these brighter-than-the-sun street lights without shield on them. There needs to be a cone shield over them so the light is only lighting up the road and not blinding us with glare. On top of light pollution affecting health and wildlife it’s also sad that a lot of people don’t even know what a dark sky is. Their version of darkness is seeing one or two constellations and can count the stars. If the sky glow alone without cloud cover is bright enough that you can see your feet, then it’s not dark. In a time when energy conservation is becoming more critical, it certainly doesn’t show with all that wasted light going up in that sky. Simple solutions are to focus the area lighting which means less power is needed and also makes it EASIER to see with less intense light. On top of that, after a certain time of night all lighting can be dimmed or turned off too. Most LED’s in street lights are capable of dimming to where old school HID could not. So it’s at least a possible solution with little effort and/or cost.

[@curtfleenor72]

Spot on Trevor. This truly is a much more serious problem than the average person realizes. From the effects on human health to the disruption of day/night patterns for wildlife, the ever increasing spread of light pollution is a major global problem. 20 years ago I bought 2 acres of property in what was then a rural part of my area. I had less than 10 neighbors within a mile in either direction only 2 were visible. For me, one of the attractions of the purchase years ago was the dark sky - on a moonless night, the sky was alive! Today, there are nearly 40 homes in that same 2 miles. 5 miles to my southwest is one of the largest retail intersections in a 100-mile radius. I don't know what the Bortle zone was 20 years ago but just based on my memory of the night sky, it was at worst a Class 3. Now this is a Class 4 zone that borders on Class 5 to the south and east. When I built my backyard observatory a few years ago, I had to situate it facing north to avoid the spill of light from the southern sky. So, last year when the nearly 15-acre pasture adjoining my property when up for sale, I jumped at the opportunity to buy it! Everyone who has asked 'what will you do with it' has been a bit taken aback when I tell them 'nothing'. I do continue to lease it to a local dairy operation to maintain by growing hay and corn. My primary purpose with the purchase was to help preserve the what dark sky that still exists in this area and second to stall further encroachment into rural farmland. It isn't much in the grand scheme of things but it is what I can do here and now.

[@mitchplease8880]

That's incredible, I hope to achieve something similar when I can afford to buy land! Thanks for sharing :)

[@alexis8471]

Hi Trevor, I'm 14, and I live in Sweden. You have helped me with a lot of techniques for astronomy, I love the way you inspire people and making people feel confident about their equipment and being a part of astronomy. When I got started with astronomy in 2019, that's when I realized that light pollution was a big problem for nature, skies and for astronomy. I also don't feel so happy seeing light pollution and the way It affects animals and other things. It's very sad when I want to go to a dark sky in Sweden because there is only in the very north and that can be a very tuff. In winter, it's freezing, and your equipment doesn't work that well. But when you wait for the summer, so it could be warmer, then there is another issue (The Sun). Because the northern part of Sweden is so high up on earth that you only see the sun during the whole day and night, and that's what makes it a little hard, even in Stockholm. The thing is that in the southern part of Sweden is only light pollution almost everywhere, but that's where you can see the stars during the summer but in light pollution. Thanks, Trevor for your help to inspire people. Clear skies! ❤

[@RahilSethi]

When I first came to US 15 years ago, I saw office buildings were required to keep the lights on even after office hours. Back then in India, this was a big no as it lead to wastage of electricity. It's not only the light pollution but it also leads to unnecessary burning of fossil fuels leading to more air pollution as well.

[@bowks1o_o669]

Had similar issues. My local council and electricity provider has had a program in place to replace all street lights with LED's. One such light is 67m from my back deck where I set up my tracking mount, and now lights the area up enough that you can read a book just off that light source. I lodged a complaint with the council and asked that they either reduce the wattage of the light or shield it, but basically got told "too bad". I then pointed out that since the lighting "upgrade" we now have morning birds singing all night because they no longer know what time of day it is. The response I got was, and I quote "people want light for safety when they go walking at night, and you tell me you don't want light? You can't have both." I asked what relevance that had to between midnight and sunrise when we needed just enough light to illuminate the street directly under the street light, and basically got fobbed-off. Only 4-5 years ago we used to have reasonably dark skies where you could see quite a lot of detail in the night sky. Now the sky is a permanent milky blue colour on cloudless nights. To test this I went to a neighbouring council area that has a much greater population but has not gone through the same lighting upgrade, and the detail is significantly greater.

[@satvikvarun6386]

Light pollution is a major reason many amateurs like me give up on the hobby itself.

[@ferenc-x7p]

I served in the Guard in the 90s and been in the Mojave Desert 3x back in the day. A truly-dark sky place at the reserved military area. Military people know, but the majority of people never had their eyes ever adapted to the dark. It takes about 15-30 minutes. You can see nearly EVERYTHING. The stars and the sky is enough to have your eyes adapted to the dark, that even the faintest lights are enough to see well. I know 95% of the people do not know about this and never tried it. We are actually gonna lose this ability and won't be able to live without blasting bright day/night. This isn't just a city issue, because the light lits up the sky , especially when there are water particles and clouds in it and the light travels for 10s of miles outside the cities. We are also disrupting not just our sleep cycles, but many of the animals life cycle. Some predators cannot live in a lit night, they depend on it for their life. If you are unaware what could a continously disrupted sleep cycle/insomnia brings, ask a psychiatrist. hint: Insanity, losing your mind, possibly even Alzheimer's disease is linked to lack of sleep and abnormal sleep cycle.

[@jm5390]

I love that you made this video! I grew up in rural Texas so I always had a fairly dark night sky as a kid. As a teenager through college, I lived about 45-60 minutes outside of Fort Worth in rural Wise County and always loved going out at night to look at the stars and how beautiful they were. I've noticed since then (past 12-13 years) how much urban sprawl out that direction is slowly killing the night sky I used to take for granted. I really wish more communities would implement smarter lighting rules that direct light down to the ground instead of up, sideways, or wherever. There's something magical about the stars and it breaks my heart how many people have never seen a truly dark sky with the Milky Way dazzling overhead in all its glory.

[@boomerbear7596]

I wish people would cover this topic more. It deserves as much attention as the climate I think; the night skies are as much a part of nature as the forests or the oceans. This is the first I had even heard of International Dark-sky Week but I'm thankful I found out about it before it ended. I have experienced the exact feeling you're describing and I have observed the skies have gradually been getting less and less dark every year, and I'm in a rural area! Did you know that they aren't even using diffusing globes on the newer LED streetlights in a lot of places? I don't even photograph the night sky but I admire viewing its beauty.

[@michaelmckeag960]

Over 25,000 views at this point and 465 comments and counting. I’d say you struck a nerve. Many do care about light pollution. I’m a co-founder and board member of IDA Oregon and our experience is that a great many people do care, and are willing to pitch in and make a difference. Thanks for delivering the message so effectively and passionately, a great contribution to International Dark Sky Week. An amateur astronomer and astrophotographer myself, I am dismayed by how few engage in protecting the natural resource their avocation depends on. You have issued a compelling wake-up call. We will be sharing the link.

[@gerhardbraatz6305]

I absolutely detest light pollution. Even in my backyard there is way too much light everywhere.

[@pawesedrowski6743]

Great video! It's not only a problem with light. When I started my journey with photography - I do mostly wildlife, some landscapes, occasionally astro - and when I started truly looking around I noticed that you can't take a landscape picture without any human made objects - buildings, fences, power lines are everywhere. But the worst is trash - old bottles, beer cans and plastic bags are literally everywhere. Even if you go to a middle of a swamp to get a picture of a crane you will find either a can or a bottle. You will wonder how on Earth someone managed to get it in there but that won't change the thing that it's there. And I leave in the middle of Europe.

[@hmuphilly9129]

Humans, they suck in general.

[@rosevan5485]

Hello Trevor. One of the first subscriber from Quebec, Canada before you reached 1000 subscribers. I still am watching but I went through a medical death experience and survived… Yes indeed …. I’ve seen since the last 12 years how light pollution has become practically a global phenomenon. I know not all people are astrophotographers but still…. When you can’t practically no see the pan handle….. it’s becoming terrible. I’m a fan a love the fact that you have challenged and made your mark in astrophotography. On KZbin, the Web and etc….. You have become a great teacher…. It’s been 1 year and a half I couldn’t do anything because of my serious medical incident. I hope I can photograph the sky again throughout the blessed silence and the beauty of the stars throughout the whole night with Jack my loyal Golden Retriever dog who seems to enjoy immensely with me doing astrophotgraphy of the night sky with me by my side. Cheers to your success Trevor ! Merci beaucoup pour m’aider et m’encourager dans ce merveilleux univers…

[@JuanAMota-pu5zx]

Inmediately after testing my first pair of binoculars, I realized how bleached are our current skies because of light pollution. You can read a newspaper's headline in Santo Domingo's downtown at night, same thing in Madrid, Spain. We need to formally request our governments to do something about it: Warm lights pointed downward, ban digital outdoor advertising from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. a tax for white light bulbs and economic incentives for warmer ones (below 3000 Kelvins).

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

Lives in city. Complains about lights.

[@hmuphilly9129]

governments dont care.

[@Clickens]

I just got accepted into a PhD programme to research a regulatory framework on light pollution, so this is great and very motivational once again. Thanks for sharing!

[@lowellmccormick6991]

The most responsible lighting in our small town is the Walmart. All the parking lot lights are recessed in shielded fixtures. You cannot see a lightbulb unless you stand next to the light post and look up. And the storefront lighting is inside wall sconces and pointing down, illuminating the walkway in front of the store. It's really impressive.

[@user-jn4ih2sy7j]

Hello Trevor I am a 20 years old French guy, you inspired me to start Astrophotography, I discovered you in 2018 when my hobby for astronomy was growing. I really understand your views about light pollution. Wish you Clear skies.

[@KingLoopie1]

Keep putting the word out there! I live under heavily light polluted skies in the metro Denver area. Coming down to Denver from the mountains where I can literally lose my way among the constellations, is a huge letdown! I've lived down here for 20 years and still go out hoping for dark enough skies to at least see the constellations just to be let down... I've talked with all of my neighbors, yet they still choose to light up everything! But I will continue talking because it's worth the fight. They beauty of the skies is one of the natural wonders of the world we live in! People shouldn't have to travel to see that beauty!

[@RandomCat1345]

Trevor, Excellent video. I just completed my first year of engineering at UBC and I'm going into civil engineering. I've interned for 3 years at an electrical engineering company in my small town that is hired for many street lighting projections and large residential buildings with site lighting. I'm proud to say our work with ASHRAE standards and other uplight-reducing strategies has made me much more aware of how to minimize light pollution. And, as a dedicated amateur astronomer myself, I'm as concerned as you are. This video has reminded me that my future career opportunities could have a large impact on local light pollution levels, and I want to thank you for inspiring me to start thinking now of the relevant decisions I'll have to make, whether it's minimizing reflection off of streets by using certain materials/coatings, or encouraging stricter standards on projects in the future. - A long time viewer, first time commenter

[@AllRedLFC]

100% behind you!

[@calvn8or543]

Its such a different feeling to be in complete darkness. It just feels right. I absolutely support you and love what you are doing.

[@DrBilly619]

Anytime I’ve been around others on a clear dark sky, they lose their mind at what it looks like. If there is ever a city wide power outage, encourage people to go outside and look at the sky.

[@Lank871]

I'm glad you touched on the issues surrounding the general ecosystem and flora. This is often overlooked when people think about light pollution. I've noticed that the birds in my neighbourhood start chirping in the morning well before it starts to get bright, solely because of local light pollution.

[@gregwing6409]

Thanks Trevor…I just shared your video with some town leaders here in Clifton Park, NY. I have discussed Light Pollution before with them and they are willing listeners. Cheers-Greg

[@martenyar8775]

Good video Trevor. Where I move to 4 years ago it was dark, I'm just out of a small town by 2k's. Small street no lights. But now a bunch of businesses across the tracks from me. Everybody has installed 150 watt floods everywhere. At first it was just one a-hole with 8 of them pointed sideways so I went to the town to see if they can get them turned down or off at night(after 11 like the horse track does) as I can walk around the street and inside my house at midnight lite by them alone. The town responded and one was turned down and by a miracle now there are ~20 now. The glow is horrendous now. They claim needed for security. BS it's brighter at night than day now. I joined the IDA and looking to see what can be done. It's to bad that only ones that will see this video is us.

[@Malibyte56]

Trevor, thanks very much for this video. Very much appreciated -not just as an amateur astrophotographer, but also as someone who cares about the animals we share the planet with. Keep up the good work!

[@brandonporter4227]

Our club just recently assisted one of our national parks (Cape Lookout National Seashore) with achieving IDA certification. We held a two-day event celebrating International Dark Sky Week last week. I personally gave a guided tour of the night sky to about 300 people and we had another 350 who came to just check out the 25+ telescopes and learn about the IDA. I know we definitely got some people interested and thinking about preservation of the night sky as some of them wanted us to come and speak at their HOA meetings later this year. Education is key on this issue as most people are unaware that it even is an issue.

[@Uberkit]

I don't have a telescope, yet (my first scope is actually arriving tomorrow!) but I live in a light polluted town with good views out my window of the surrounding area. Even though it's not a super built up area, the glow up into the sky dims out most stars and it's bugged me for years not even from an astronomy perspective, it's a waste of energy and completely unnatural. It's refreshing to see there's people like Trevor with a big audience that cares enough to try and make more people aware of this easily fixable problem

[@petequintanilla4237]

Where I live, here in the city of Maricopa, AZ, there is a municipal code intended to maintain dark skies at night. Neighborhood streets aren't lined with streetlights - only the intersections and all city light fixtures are down facing. When I talk to my neighbors about it, everyone so far appreciates the brilliant stars at night and barely notice the darker streets. All houses keep porch lights going but it doesn't affect the sky.

[@alineradventureswithsimons79]

I live in Bortle 6 but next to my neighbor is Bortle 7. Drives me nuts! Especially when I've driven to a campground and all the blinged out campers leave their lights on all night long. Thanks for talking about the cause. I pray that one day The world comes to their sense.

[@IcedReaver]

The message of responsibility hits me quite personally. Over the past year my local town council replaced all street lamps with LEDs, of which one is shining directly into my back garden and telescope field of view. When I requested that the council place a shield or similar to prevent light glow into my garden, they responded that there are no suitable shields which fit that style of lamp. It's really frustrating that they introduced new lamp posts and lights which can't be shielded!

[@sseng9787]

I had a dark sky site like 20 km from my town. The first time I went there i could see THOUSANDS of stars with naked eye. After 2-3 years i could see half the number of stars.

[@lawrencevanin4410]

I have watched your videos extensively. I have watched them all. I learned I started and I have achieved. I have along way to go but you have inspired my new hobby which I started have in 2019. I had the opportunity to travel with northern Ontario. Real north. 100km north of Cochrane Ontario to a very secluded lake. A Bortle 1 sky. It was absolutely stunning. Heading back again this summer with my new Redcat71. Thanks for all the knowledge Trevor and we really do need to address light pollution. A tall order we all know.

[@TyroTim2000]

Thank you Trevor. I've been fighting light pollution and our region of Nova Scotia for about 8 years now. Education does go a long way and is key in starting the process of protecting this precious natural resource. We've finally made it to the next level by putting in place regulations regarding outdoor lighting for homes and businesses (with more regulations to come). It's wonderful to see it's not just me loosing sleep over these issues. Great job and thank you.

[@jasonvictor9542]

I 100 percent agree with your video, i'am also an amateur astronomer and it frustrates me. Some of the biggest perpetuaters are big shopping centers and downtown hi rises that are totally empty buildings with maybe one or two security guards. We need to bring attention to these businesses. Some social shaming videos calling these bad ecological practices out by name, such wasteful energy and wild life damaging. There should be laws that after say 10:00 o'clock the lights should go off automatically!!!

[@Tony-Elliott]

Hi Trevor I used to live in Nottingham UK under a bortle 8 sky but five years ago we moved to France, I now live in Raul France under bortle 3 or 4 sky but things for me have just got even better, the local government have implemented a policy that all streets light are turned off between 11pm and 6am and all monuments and churches are no longer able to use up-lighting the city's are still able to keep the light on but only within a mile of the centre, ,the main reason they are doing this is help the wildlife and to stop light pollution , between 11pm and 6am my sky is now about bortle 2 ,the nights sky now looks amazing, if France can do the rest of the world should be able to

[@LeonardoVizeu]

i'm so sad looking at the dark sky, i miss so much when i was a kid and saw so many stars that i never been able to see again, i might have saw the sagitary's arm and i can't see it again, sadly the dark sky makes me feel depressed as i can't even look at the universe anymore, i love how you make a good reasonable point, i wish people stop beign so cityish, so robotic, they don't appreciate things anymore, they're only conserned about themselfs, about their jobs, people are frustrating to live with.

[@deep_space_dave]

YOU ARE RIGHT! I actually had to turn down the brightness of my screen so I wouldn't get a migraine because of all the lights LOL. Before I even got into astronomy, I was already planning to one day move to a low Bortle level area because I am so sensitive to light. I was blessed with having super sensitive eyes so I can practically see in complete darkness. Now I am cursed by living in a urban area blinded so much I have to have tint have tint put onto my glasses so I can see at night! Thank you for this video, I hope this makes people more aware that we are also damaging mother earth and our natural rhythms by having way too much light!

[@xItzSpruce]

I get migraine if something is too bright. I hate light pollution i live on bortle 8 :(

[@tomreinert4850]

Thank you, Trevor, for this powerful video about light pollution. Amateur astronomers have been in the forefront of the fight against light pollution. But for too many amateur astronomers, light pollution is just a technical problem that you address through filters and processing. We need to change that complacency in our community or we will all lose the night sky.

[@Isurus312]

I live forty miles SE of Washington D.C. and I can't remember the last time I could see the Milky Way. While I was out in Arizona, I drove out into the desert to try some astrophotography under a true dark sky. When my eyes adjusted I noticed my shadow on the ground and was amazed that the light source was the Milky Way.. When I got home, I changed all my outdoor lights to downward facing motion control lights and encouraged my neighbors to do the same. Some did some didn't. But I guess every little bit helps.

[@stephanehoueix4587]

Hi Trevor, I’ve moved last year from a class 8-9 near Paris, France to a class 4 in the west of France. Streets lights in my town are turned off at 10pm except for a few: in front of schools and crossroads., so the light pollution is minimal. It must be normal to see stars at night ! Thanks for this video.

[@ronaldwest2264]

Thank you Trevor, for bringing attention to this very annoying problem. Even way up north in Northern Ontario, 150 km north of North Bay, it is still nearly impossible to find completely jet black sky. Even when it is completely dark, there is always some transient lite coming over the hill from some nearby city or town. Most annoying. There are few places on earth that are completely dark. Keep up your great work.

[@almagonzalez4853]

I have a big backyard and a good view to the sky but then to all my sides my neighbors have lights, I have neighbors on the right that have 3 spotlights for their dogs at night, and their dogs move a lot and it’s a motion detected light so the lights are always on and it really ruins it, and then there is street lights right behind me, for me to actually get a good picture of a nebula I would have to drive a good 45 mins to and hour and then it still won’t even be close to your pictures, I hope people see the effect that artificial light has on the earth, also that’s why it’s good to keep the gems that aren’t polluted, unpolluted, but i’m just gonna keep trying because I see what pictures you have taken in your backyard and it inspires me to actually get into astronomy and astrophotography more, I hope to be an astronomer when I grow up and astronomers sometimes work from their backyards and they have to deal with the pollution so it’s whole thing but whatever we can find a way some day, but until then clear skies👋🏼

[@aaronhutt274]

As much as we want to protect out night sky from light pollution, I don't think anything will be done about it on a significant level. To many people in the world are selfish and only car about what they want and wont think how it affects others. Global companies and local businesses wont bother to change lighting or signage as they only want to draw more attention to themselves. In my opinion, the only way light pollution will either stop getting worse (or by some miracle, get better) is if action is taken on a government or local council level. Its a real shame to see how bad it has gotten in the last few years, and if we don't do anything, its only going to get worse. Great video as always Trevor.

[@deborahritchphotography]

As someone who's just trying my hand at astrophotography it's frustrating. Not to mention the havoc it causes on migrating birds. Different subject, I know, but light pollution causes all kinds of issues.

[@darkwoodastro9056]

When I moved to where I am now, this was a Bortle 2.5 or 3... Now, 20 years later, it's Bortle 4, and getting worse. I wish cities and towns were more proactive when it comes to light pollution. Excellent video.

[@lizards821]

Amazing video Trevor, I feel like you really nailed the facts while keeping it interesting. I appreciate what you do for this community and I feel using your outlets to spread awareness and information on light pollution is selfless and will go a long way.

[@isaacroberts5860]

im 14 i live next to a refinery and dont get me wrong they are great to the community and eco friendly but they have to have lights to see what there doing but i fell on love with astronomy last year but this light pollution has really affected my hobby so thank you for spreading awareness

[@mrkutube]

Trevor you have presented the problem perfectly. I think you spoke for many of us. Thank you.

[@Rey_Cardo]

Amazing message. Here in Mexico we are trying to obtain an urban park certification under the IDA requirements. It is a hard battle against the lack of knowledge about this kind of contamination.

[@RelaxingDisney]

I'll be honest, I know your channel is based around astrophotography, but this video really is true and needs to be said. I feel just as passionate about this topic of light pollution as you do. I personally hate it. I remember growing up and even being able to look out the window of my parents moving car and find a satellite moving across the stars because the light pollution there was next to nothing. Now I can barely find any satellites while standing still outside! I think you need to address this at least every other month or more. It's up to you, but I fully 100% agree.

[@TehDipiinDots]

Amazing topic to think/talk about Trevor, I'm very glad you made this video.

[@joshuadtaft]

One of the reasons why I moved to the desert. Plenty of dark skies out here!

[@devindrasingh913]

Last year I took my family to a dark sky’s and we saw the milky for the first time, it was incredible. My one year old daughter still to this day looks up trying to see the stars when it’s dark out. They were a sense of peace and happiness when we were there. I believe if we where able to see the stars we as the human race might be alot happier.

[@JohnS916]

I've heard of astronomers discovering the star-filled night sky for the first time while on a camping trip. That night changed their lives and they became today's scientists. I saw the Milky Way for the first time as well while on a camping trip in the mountains when I was a kid. It was so impressive and awe-inspiring that I decided to sleep outdoors instead of in our tent. I didn't grow up to be an astronomer, I became a cop, but I never lost my admiration for the cosmos.

[@irodfraga]

Hello, I'm not professional, not yet astrophotographer but I really support you. I'm from Mexico in the state of Yucatan and we still have dark places for observation, is funny that the government actually legislated the kind of light we have to use for public lighting and residential, the public service is this "red warm" and helps a lot, but people in their houses just don't care, my neighbors use this white light industrial kind for their backyard but also mine in a 90%!! is so annoying... I spent lot of money to replace my lighting system, lightbulbs etc, to be social responsible and eco friendly also to enjoy night sky in my backyard and now is entirely /&%$ because of them, so yes they need awareness and be responsible. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheOrbitalAlliance]

Incredible job! I strongly stand with you on this topic and think you have very clearly and effectively conveyed the need for reducing light pollution in this video. I particularly love the specific b-roll examples you included of the light fixtures/problems you're talking about. As you said, most people have no idea and don't even consider it a possibility. This should give folks an idea of what to look out for. I'll definitely share this on my Twitter! Hope your video does really well and reaches the right people to make a difference! Cheers! - Nick

[@matthewrosenberger9193]

I agree something needs to be done. I live in Tennessee,near a park called Fall Creek Falls. Chattanooga is building up and same with us little small towns. I went to a star party there a few years back,I was told the guy in charge had been all over the world and that was one of the darkest place he's been. Last thing I want is it gone being so close. Hopefully something can be done before it's all gone.

[@alphamet3258]

Thank you Trevor for this video! I don’t normally comment on KZbin videos but this one hit a nerve lol. In my city no one seems to care about light pollution.. My neighbor has lights that shine up to illuminate his trees. And they shine all damn night, it makes astrophotography a challenge. But also visually.. The only DSOs I can even barely make out are M42 and M31. The rest are just lost causes. More people need to care about light pollution and I 100% agree with you on everything you said. And I also think you didn’t rant hard enough lol, so don’t apologize for addressing an issue a lot of us feel so strongly about.

[@NPJohn100]

Hi Trevor, these are very interesting points you are making. I live in a place called Glenshee, a highland glen in Scotland. We have dark skies here as we are about 25kms from nearby towns. People get a bit freaked out by the darkness we have, and I agree with you, folks seem to live in perpetual brightness nowadays. Isn’t it strange that humanity is meant to be in a continuous form of evolution when in actual fact nearly everything we do is destroying what we have. God save us from ourselves!

[@alexlaletin724]

Would you recommend Glenshee for someone who wants a good view of nights sky (stargazing) ? .

[@NPJohn100]

@@alexlaletin724 hi there - the answer is yes, but there is a problem which is a good old UK problem - the weather. Because of our geographical position we often get a cloud covering so it’s hit and miss. Several years ago we looked at whether Glenshee could be noted as a designated dark sky area, from memory I think the cloud was a hindrance. I do know there are a couple of areas in Scotland designated dark sky areas, one I think is Galloway forest.

[@alexlaletin724]

@@NPJohn100 hi John , I've been wandering where I could go in the UK to get a good view of the nights sky , thank you for your recommendations galloway forest seems like the perfect spot I'll be going soon hope it isn't too cloudy or ill have to visit in the summer when all the midges are out :/ .

[@nordiclightphototours153]

Excellent work Trevor. We all need to unite and start a movement making sure that politicians understand how light pollution effects our lives / nature. As a professional Night Scape and Landscape photographer, I spend 6 months a years under the Northern Lights in Northern Norway. Even there we are effected by heavy light pollution. We are working and here to reduce the light pollution so we can enjoy the Night Sky! The other 6 months I am spending an about 51° Lat (Europe) to capture the Milky Way and Deep Sky. It is very hard at this latitude to find any dark skies. Milky Way is nearly impossible. We need more attention and awareness that Light Pollution kills us. We need to emphasise that observing the night sky is better than watching TV. The more we unite the more power we get to create awareness and the ability to facilitate change. We must continue to spread the word! Cheers...hendrik

[@josefhrdlicka2251]

Thnaks for speaking up, I've been irritated by light pollution since my teens. Sometimes I can't get much sleep because of it and yes it has gotten worse around me with the passing years. There are already smart solutions out there, but with the outburst of LED lights, the polution is much more intense. If there is a cloud in the sky, you can see it from miles away. Once I'm out of college, I'll deffinitley try to be light-consceous.

[@tsulasbigadventures]

Trevor: Thank you so much for making this important video. I was actually thinking about you when I learned that it was International Dark Sky Week last week. I remembered in one of your videos saying that you couldn't see the Little Dipper and it made me so sad. Then you built that cute little observatory but you still cannot see the Little Dipper and I wondered if you cared about the vanishing dark skies. So I am so happy to hear that you do care. I see so many astrophotographers show up to dark sky sites, set up their equipment, and get in their cars for the rest of the evening; they never even look at our beautiful starry starry sky, not even in a dark sky site. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am happy to know that you care and that you made this video that will reach such a large audience. I only hope that it will make a difference and people will start turning off those unnecessary and offensive lights.

[@corinlewis3073]

Hi Travor, I watched your video on light pollution, I feel your passion about it. I was in Barbados last December after not seeing my mom who is 86 years old and my family, I did some Astrophotography, imaging the Orian nebula, but the North of my mom's home her Neighbor LED flood lights lighting up her whole backyard, I was so mad I told my sister, she asked the neighbor turn off the lights as her brother doing some Astrophotography, when I explained what I was doing, he gladly turn the lights off at while I was there. I hope one day to able to see the Milky way from Barbados or the U.K. Travor, keep up the fight, I'll do the same from my end. Clear skies 🌠

[@astrosertao]

My neighbor was robbed and his sollution was to put a LED monster lamp and cut a tree in front of his house, poor tree.. He even paid a worker from the eletricity company to change the sodium lamps to LED lamps he bought in our street. Now this light is invading my backyard and my bedroom, so annoying and frustrating!

[@thomasp8763]

Very important message! Not only the suffering of us astronomers but also that of the whole earth.

[@TheDeathGhxst.]

I sympathize with you because it makes me angry even though I’m luckier than average but the big cities around where I live are starting to take away from me the unparalleled view of the night sky. I wish all the lights were off for just an hour. Thank you so much for this video too.

[@ASTROCAM_SPACE]

It's totally right that light pollution frustrated Astrophotographers But you're an inspiring Astrophotographer to me and many people by listening you're videos there will be a big difference came in the light pollution. At last I say clear skies...

[@davidaylsworth8964]

Very good video. My experience leads me to believe that most people aren’t even aware of this type of pollution. There is no consciousness among municipal administrators of the financial impact of bad lighting. I’ve personally given up trying to educate people on light pollution. My experience trying to bring awareness is that most people are blissfully ignorant of the factors and are locked into a selfish cycle of entitlement. As an amateur astrophotographer I’ve resorted to expensive filters and a host of software. It’s easier going down that path than looking into the vapid expressions that result from explaining light pollution impacts. Most people and civil organisations are willfully ignorant on the topic and stubbornly resistant to change.

[@onomonopedia]

AMEN David, you said it! Absolutely true.

[@davidaylsworth8964]

@@onomonopedia sadly so. It’s not stopping me from photographing the sky, I adjust my expectations and enjoy the hobby the best I can.

[@blade93bud]

You are right,most people don't even know what a truly dark sky looks like and if you took them to a trurly dark sky they would be awestruck by the beauty of the sky, we do need to start putting strict regulations on those lights that just needlessly shines up towards the sky and broadcast nationwide to help make aware of this problem. I live in a bortle 5 town but I can drive 20 minutes to a bortle 3 to do my astrophotoghraphy. Looking forward to more of your videos.

[@s2one]

Hey Trevor, I absolutely agree with you! Light pollution has DESTROYED our night skies. I live in southern part of India and the light pollution is so severe that one can barely see a few stars on a clear night sky. Unfortunately, there's nothing much that can be done here to reverse it. It's my dream to view the milky way galaxy in all it's might. Hopefully, someday I can visit a place where that's possible. I really appreciate the effort you've put in making this video and creating an awareness. I really hope this video reaches millions of people and a considerable change to happen.

[@peterraymond3653]

I'm with you 100% on this. I'm from UK and the pollution is appalling. I visited big bends in Texas which is a bortle1 area. I've seen the night sky as its meant to be seen. The other thing I get annoyed at us we are supposed to be reducing energy consumption. Most light pollution is a total waste of energy that's ruining this fragile planet. Fantastic awareness videa and I feel your passion on this subject because I feel exactly the same

[@parasnathsingh_smokenstien]

I truly appreciate your sincere effort in making this beautiful awareness video on this topic. It's VERY MUCH REQUIRED. I have shared it on my page as well. Need to spread this awareness. Thanks a lot for making this happen. Keep up the good work 👍

[@TheFlungpoo23]

I’m always paying attention to light pollution. I think it’s crazy that so much light, money, and electricity is waisted simply because the lights aren’t covered focusing the light down and keeping waisted light traveling up, and it ruins the night sky. Luckily, I know where some Bortle 2 dark skies are that aren’t to long of a drive and a place 7hrs away that’s a Bortle 1 magnitude 22 gold certified dark skies that also has an elevation of 7,500 ft with flat lands for miles and miles in any direction and all those miles with no electricity. Never seen a place where the stars are like they are here, not even close and I’ve been to places in the middle of nowhere in Africa and other amazing dark skies and nothing touches this place for the views. Last time I went the conditions were clear, 46 degrees with 3mph winds and 0% light pollution. Mind blowing. Was so amazing I didn’t barely used my telescope (AD8 at Trevor’s recommendation) because I was so blown away just by the visuals with my eyes and not many know the place so it has complete privacy if wanted. I play on visiting as many Bortle 1 and 2 places as possible. Trevor and AstroBackyard is my go to for info and inspiration. Thank you, you’re the man Trevor!!! Maybe one day I can take you to this special Dark Skies so you can be blown away as well because it’s like nowhere you’ve seen, I promise that!

[@rcuevasvidea]

I feel the same Trevor, my childrens had never seeing the milky way. Today I live in Panama City and I miss the dark nights in my little town where I grew up in the north of Nicaragua. 👌 video

[@Jackcr33]

Sadly as you say far to many people don't care , I am 71 and I remember when we could see millions of stars and the milkyway where I grew up in the 50's and early 60's , I lived in what is now North york , it also saddens me to see we are losing our night sky all over the place

[@Mobius3c273]

I find it strange in this day and age where we hear so much about global warming carbon foot prints, energy costs and energy supplies.. yet be waste so much power in burning lights continousley. Rant on m8. I shared it. Thanks clear dark skies :-)

[@theodoreroberts3407]

I love seeing the section of the Milky Way that you see in the country, but I'm a city dweller and I find I like seeing where shadows would lurk at night.

[@jPaulofe]

Absolutely agree with your view Trevor ! This is insane at the moment! We should try to influence local town halls in order to change this

[@FontanaTX]

Go, Trevor! I am up at 4am most days to walk before work. The number of homes I pass that have exterior lights, decorative bulbs/strings, landscape lighting, AND interior lights on has been growing since 2019 when I started. The first mistake I made was weighing in on a neighborhood group on social media. Someone brought up the string light situation asking if they needed HOA approval. All I did was make the suggestion to have them on a timer or turn them off at night. I was completely attacked by people. So I asked them, what are you afraid of? Didn't you learn in grade school that your eyes can adjust to lower levels of darkness? You don't need all of these lights on all night long. No, I doubt there are that many people up and moving at 4am in our suburban neighborhood. Yes, My reasons are selfish. Like wanting to see stars. Or, as Texas continues to grow in population, and we become internationally known for not having enough electricity, 🙄, I guess I'm a hippie for wanting to avoid rolling blackouts. But thank you for your message. I concur!

[@ztodgrom]

Trevor, thank you for posting this! I’m hoping this will reach more people to join IDA and help fight light pollution. My goal by the end of 2022 is to have my own proclamation written for my valley to have a dark sky week and tackle new constructions near me and teach them on dark sky friendly lights.

[@DLMVegas]

Great video and I agree fully with what you said. Tired of having to drive 2 hours to get to a site. Especially at the cost of gas now days. The pollution is screwing up our sleep habits as well.

[@simmias9397]

I think if we could get governments to make outside lights a very specific sectra I think it would be a good step forward.

[@Mission7Nitelife]

Keeping people informed about light pollution! I understand the rant and fully agree on it Trevor. My only problem is that our dark sky parks are now under attack by satellite pollution as there are no international laws against them yet.

[@M4st3rDuck]

An annoyance Ive had with night lights way before I got into astro was the amount of lights we use for seemingly no purpose. The big spotlights on houses and trees is definitely annoying, but the lights that illuminate basically for no reason other than "we want light here" is up there with sprinkler systems active during a rain storm or spraying half their load onto pavement. Its frustratingly wasteful energy and resources.

[@ResQuetzal]

Here in Montreal, the city has slowly but surely been replacing many of its old street light fixtures with new ones that direct the light down. Now to get our condo association on board to change those old globe lights that point light everywhere but down. Great channel, Trevor. You have inspired me to do astrophotography.

[@Madarauchiha-pt3od]

I really love your videos. They give me this one chill and safe vibe. Big love from germany my guy

[@robvandenwijngaart1970]

Hi. I'm 200% with you. The light pollution is horrible. Now living in a very rural place in Spain I'm lucky to have a dark sky. We have a streetlight on our house, but I put a switch on it, don't need it al the time. I remember from the Netherlands that there are buidings that turn of lighting at midnight. But thats mostly churces and governement buildings. The rest leave there screaming lights on. There is a video on youtube in wich a police officer explanes that they are NOT happy wtih all the bright lights. Clear and dark skies for everybody who needs them... for whatever reason.

[@rodrigosouto9502]

I agree with you. Thank you for your video.

[@spex357]

I lived on a farm once on a strip of land that was only reachable via a small toll bridge. The lights ended at the toll masters house and complete darkness descended as you crossed the bridge. Sadly at the time I certainly noticed all the stars but it was 1976 and the summer in the UK was hot, and on the farm there had been a bug explosion. I bought my first camera within days along with a set of bellows and a lens reverser, and that has been my main interest for over 40 years. Last night for a first time in my life I shot a long exposure time-lapse of the night sky, and I am no longer at the Farm. I have black out curtains on the front of the house, such is the light pollution but my neighbour has lights all around his rear garden and i have Sodium lights nearby. The orange glow goes on all night.

[@Sirius_CanisMajor]

Its doubtlessly true-every word you have spoken- however, not enough people care enough to help. Sometimes i cant help but think that the reason people long ago were happier in general was due to less all around pollution, henceforth i wish i was alive back then than at the present time.

[@astronomynightsky]

thanks for this video trevor! i live in a city so its quite light polluted

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

City. Lights. City. Lights. Chooses to live in a city. Complains about lights.

[@onomonopedia]

Thanks for the rant ... seriously. I am one of the few (1 in 1000, or maybe one in 10,000?) who really feels isolated by the vast majority of people who just don't give a care about the natural beauty they are obliterating for themselves, their neighbors and all their posterity. It makes me sick at heart. There just aren't enough people who care or even remember what the night sky looked like just 30, 40 or 50 years ago. Cheap LED lighting and inconsiderate lighting choices just make it worse every year. The only solution I can think of is to build planetariums in every school natiion wide to educate the next generation about what they are missing and the simple steps they can take as future homeowners and community leaders to turn this around. It will take many decades to reverse the damage.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

Why don't you move? You don't like the people around you, and you don't like lights at night... seems the obvious solution.

[@astronomynightsky]

i love your videos! your such an inspirational astronomer!! 🔭

[@welshskies]

Well said Trevor! I'm lucky enough to live under a Bortle 3/4 sky, here in Wales the public awareness of light pollution and the benefits from saving our dark skies is increasing.

[@connarcomstock161]

I donno if you've heard of the channel, but technology connections has done a few videos about this.