Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Observatories Worldwide Face Increasing Light Pollution, Hindering Astronomical Research

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Astronomers are raising alarms over increasing light pollution, with a 2023 estimate indicating that human-produced light in the night sky is growing by nearly 10% annually. This escalation is particularly concerning for ground-based telescopes, which rely on natural darkness to observe faint celestial bodies. While orbiting telescopes like the Hubble and James Webb can bypass atmospheric issues, ground-based observatories—many near urban areas—are facing challenges due to urban sprawl and artificial lighting, particularly from the rise of LED technologies that emit a broad spectrum of light. For instance, the newly operational Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile is designed to map the distribution of dark matter but could struggle to gather the necessary data due to light interference. Overall, as light pollution continues to encroach upon previously dark skies, the ability to study the universe is increasingly compromised, impacting both scientific research and public access to starlight.

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