Beyond the Streetlights: Realizing the Truth About Light Pollution

8/25/23

I used to think I knew what the night sky looked like—just a few stars and maybe Mars if I was lucky. But then I found myself in Yosemite, standing on the side of a road, staring up at galaxies scattered across the sky. There were more stars than I could count, and streaks of light flashed by—a meteor shower in real time. The sky seemed endless, and I realized how disappointing my suburban neighborhood was in comparison. Back home, the night sky is just a blank screen. It’s not the stars or even the location; it's our light pollution.

All the extra light from streetlights, cars, and other sources does more damage than we realize. It washes out the stars and disrupts the natural rhythms of both animals and humans.

It even messes with our sleep by throwing off melatonin production. Seeing Yosemite’s star-filled sky made me think about how connected people once were to the galaxy before light pollution took that away. Out here, I feel small in the best way, like I’m part of something bigger. It’s a reminder that the sky isn’t supposed to be a dull void—it’s supposed to be alive with stars.