Light Pollution Erases the Night Sky, Harms Humans and Wildlife
If you live in Deschutes County, or in any other fast-growing urban area, you may have noticed brighter skies as city boundaries leak into previously undeveloped land. Humans continue to light up the night sky, and this has profound effects on the world we live in. All living creatures are encoded with a circadian rhythm based off the predictable cycle of night and day, but when that becomes disrupted, everyone's health suffers.​​
The regular cycling between light and dark governs the growth of plants, the foraging and mating habits of wildlife, the ability for prey to hide from predator, the seasonal migration of birds and our own ability to sleep.
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Artificial light is causing a decline in animal and insect populations, and increased observations of diabetes, obesity, depression, sleep disorders and certain cancers in humans.​ It erases our view of the magnificent night time sky, an important piece of heritage for many indigenous cultures, further distancing us from the notion that we are, in fact, a part of nature, tiny and helpless in this vast universe we just happen to inhabit for the blink of an eye.
Good news, though. You can help.
Brighter does not always mean safer. You can implement dark sky lighting practices to minimize the effects of light pollution without sacrificing safety. Unshielded lights shine into your eyes, while shielded lights on motion sensors only come on when you need them and direct light downwards to illuminate pathways.
USE DARK SKY LIGHTING PRACTICES
Use fully-shielded fixtures
Aim your shielded light beam downwards toward the area you need light. A dark sky does not mean dark ground.
Choose energy-efficient lightbulbs
Using energy-efficient options will save you money and help reduce the carbon footprint of your home or business.
Replace your blue & white lights with amber colored bulbs
Blue light adversely affects wildlife and contributes more to skyglow than yellow or amber light.
Install timers, dimmers and motion sensors
Use controls to ensure that light is available only when it's needed and dimmed when possible.
Turn lights off when not in use
All light should have a clear purpose. Consider how the use of light will impact an area, including wildlife and their habitats.​​​​​
Talk to friends, family & coworkers
Be informative and stay positive. Suggest alternatives to current lighting. Get more tips and printable resources here.
Contact your city and county officials
Encourage them to implement smarter lighting practices in your community. Keep the discussion focused on the positive outcomes and try to anticipate any questions officials might ask about costs and safety issues.
What are we doing to help?
Light Pollution Metering
Worthy Garden Club partners with Dark Sky Oregon to monitor light pollution around the region, including on site at the Hopservatory. We've been tracking this data as part of the Oregon Skyglow Measurement Network since 2019, which shows consistent increases in night sky brightness with continued urban development. Dive into the data with Dark Sky Oregon.
Advocacy & Awareness
The Hopservatory serves not only as a window into the cosmos, but also as a springboard to discuss the light pollution changes we're experiencing in Central Oregon. Dark sky education is a regular part of our programming, and we have dark sky light fixtures on site to show visitors how easy it is to make the switch, even in a commercial environment.
Public Accessibility
We offer low or no cost field trips for local schools and recreational groups to experience the Hopservatory and learn about protecting the night sky. And while the Hopservatory is not located in dark sky country, its accessibility in town and low barrier entry fee (just a $5 suggested donation) makes it a valuable public resource in the Central Oregon community. Visit us today!