Globe at Night
Join the Crew in observing our Globe at Night
Contribute to measuring light pollution wherever you are by submitting your observation of the night sky brightness.
Every year thousands of citizens collect data on night sky brightness and help scientists raise awareness about the impact of light pollution. Everybody can join just going outside at night and reporting their observations of the sky. During the expedition, the Transglobal Expedition crew will contribute their measurement from anywehre they will be along their journey.
Globe at Night is an initiative of NOIRLab, the US NSF Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory.
How does it work?
No astronomical knowledge is needed, just a smartphone or computer with internet connection. On specific days, listed in the Globe at Night website (related to th eposition of the moon), people are invited to go outside on a clear, moonless night more than an hour after sunset, choose a reference constellation (depending on the location around the globe), go to the project report page (available in 28 languages), and enter the required information.
Globe at Night is an initiative of NOIRLab, the US NSF Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory.
How does it work?
No astronomical knowledge is needed, just a smartphone or computer with internet connection. On specific days, listed in the Globe at Night website (related to th eposition of the moon), people are invited to go outside on a clear, moonless night more than an hour after sunset, choose a reference constellation (depending on the location around the globe), go to the project report page (available in 28 languages), and enter the required information.
Contribute your observation!
Clear instructions, dates, and the list of constellations, are available on the Globe at Night website
What is wrong with light pollution? The Science
Light pollution is a global issue, in particular the brightening of the night sky over cities due to the electric lights of cars, streetlamps, offices, outdoor advertising, and more. This is called “sky glow” and it is slowly turning night into day!
Light pollution is a global issue, in particular the brightening of the night sky over cities due to the electric lights of cars, streetlamps, offices, outdoor advertising, and more. This is called “sky glow” and it is slowly turning night into day!
Light pollution is affecting human health, wildlife behavior, and our ability to observe stars. Effects on human health are related to a lowering of melatonin production (sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, …). But this is also impacting animal behaviors, such as migration patterns, wake-sleep habits, and habitat formation. From the energy point of view, over illumination is energy waste in terms of cost and carbon footprint. Finally, stars have been inspiring artists like Van Gogh or musical composers like Holst or writers like Shakespeare. By washing out the starry night skies we are losing touch with our cultural heritage and with what could inspire future generations.
Satellites can not measure precisely such blue (LED) light but the human eye can help! By analyzing more than 50,000 Globe at Night observations submitted by citizens over the past 12 years, using the naked human eye, researchers have found a 10% yearly increase in the sky background as a result of artificial light. This increase is much higher than estimates by satellite observations!