In the past, everyone was able to view a sky strewn with shimmering and dazzling stars at night. Today, it is impossible to experience the magnificence of the milky way or even see as many stars in Singapore due to light pollution. Here is a short video, by Sriram Murali, of the night skies that we are missing out on due to excessive artificial lighting!

 

What is Light Pollution?

Although there has been widespread media attention on air, water and land pollution across the globe, light pollution is less well-known among the general public.

Light pollution refers to the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light. There are 3 main types of light pollution:

1. Glare – excessive illumination that causes visual discomfort.

 

 

2. Light trespass – unwanted light that becomes intrusive by entering another individual’s property where it is not desired.

 

 

3. Skyglow – light from outdoor fixtures is directed at or reflected toward the sky and gets scattered by particles in the atmosphere, resulting in a luminous glow.