Abstract

Contributed Talk - Splinter Sustainability

Friday, 17 September 2021, 09:35   (virtual Sustain)

Light pollution as a threat to optical astronomy

Andreas Hänel
Fachgruppe Dark Sky und Kommission Lichtverschmutzung

Terrestrial light pollution and satellite megaconstellations are increasingly threatening astronomical observations from Earth for professional and amateur astronomers. Especially due to the high efficacy of solid state lighting like LEDs the amount of artificial light at night (ALAN) increases. Reducing light levels and adaptive lighting may support sustainability od ALAN. Actions of the IAU and the UN wil be discussed in the preparation of the Dark&Quite Skies Conference in October.