Insights: 'Sky Glow' is ruining the view

The lights in our town are improperly used; most of the lights are directed outward and upward. Sky Glow is a prime problem for astronomers because it reduces and drowns out many of the stars at night. People who live in the area see thousands less stars and commonly cannot see the Milky Way, the Zodiacal light or the Andromeda Galaxy.

Most of the lights also create glare. Glare is a significant reduction in sight due to bright light. The blinding affect is caused in large part by reduced contrast due to light scattering in the eye caused by bright and or badly shielded lights. The glare from these lights can cause accidents that could be avoided by proper use and shielding of their lights.

Many of these lights are also causing Light Trespass. Light Trespass simple means that someone else’s light is affecting you. A poorly aimed street light shining in your bedroom window at night. A neighbors dusk-to-dawn light shining on your property is Light Trespass. Floodlights from local businesses or a neighbor’s house directed towards your property is Light Trespass. Light Trespass is the most common source of citizen complaints and can cause sleep deprivation, upset neighbors and a clear view of the night sky.

A car dealership that has its floodlights on and Main Street needlessly running street lights all night long, wasting precious fossil fuels and contributing to all the above-named annoyances is Light Pollution. Light Pollution is any unwanted illumination of the night sky made by artificial lights, decreasing the visibility at night and energy waste.

Light Pollution contributes to Air Pollution due to burning fossil fuels which release greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Light Pollution also affects wildlife, ecosystem, and the health of humans. Various forms of cancer are linked; primarily because the melatonin gets depleted if there is too much light at night. Melatonin is what blocks cancer cells from forming such as breast and prostate cancer. Other health problems are sleep disorders, confusion, headaches, increased stress level, obesity, and depression.

As a citizen and a taxpayer of my local town I urge my local representatives to consider reevaluating the lighting practices which can be easily changed through new light ordinances.

Michael Uberty lives in Le Roy.