Dark Skies
The starry night sky has shaped this planet and its inhabitants. But what if light pollution and satellites completely block it out?
Saving Earth’s Starry Cathedral
JoAnna Klein spoke with ecologist Caren Cooper, space environmentalist Lindsay DeMarchi, and photographer MJ Sharp about the cultural significance of the stars, the alarming effects of light pollution on planetary health and the innovative – sometimes, quite simple – ways we might preserve this natural wonder for centuries to come.
“It’s a connection that every single person could have. We each could see the Milky Way from where we live. And it’s a connection to our origins. It’s a grand sense of belonging.”
– Lindsay DeMarchi, Saving Earth’s Starry Cathedral
Future Scenario: Smart Lights, Starry Nights
Over just a few decades between 2025 and 2050, nearly every county, town or city around the world adopts local ordinances promoting smart lighting design and curfew lighting.
Appreciation of the night sky begins to grow.
The League of Earthlings for Starry Skies drafts the Night Sky Constitution, a global document establishing viewing the night sky as a natural right and outlining rules and regulations for night sky preservation. Among its regulations is a cap on annual satellite launches and a recuperation requirement, prohibiting any public body, private company or individual from launching a satellite into orbit without first retrofitting or bringing an old one back. By 2040, the constitution is ratified, with every major country signing on to become a member of The Stellar Skies Alliance.
Meanwhile, culture is transforming. People begin to embrace the night as a source of peace rather than a vessel for danger. People habitually stop what they’re doing and head outside during curfew to gaze up at the night sky. A little travel makes it easy to sample the burgeoning night culture in neighboring towns or distant cities. Each seems to have its own personality.
Cathedrals and temples begin appearing around the world, from small villages to megacities. Beneath these glass domes or columns of roofless space, people gather to reflect, share stories, discuss difficult topics, picnic or simply sit below the sky and do nothing.
As the century unfolds, the offerings of the night sky take on more importance. Each summer between June and August, when the Milky Way is most visible or the Perseids Meteor Shower arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, the Stargaze Festival brings people together around a week of special events. It begins with a huge feast and the release of the annual Dark Sky, Healthy Planet Report, published by hundreds of experts from around the world. Along with the latest astronomical discoveries, the DSHP tracks the quality of the night sky and the health of people, other animals and plants. The week of festivities culminates in a parade.
As a result of night sky preservation, Earth’s inhabitants are healthier. With less artificial light to disrupt circadian rhythms – which are important for r sleep, growth, migration, healing and more – populations are reporting lower rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. People are more considerate of their place in the universe. They waste less and do more with what they have. They’re inspired and curious, yet they feel grounded. Depression rates drop. Stress decreases because taking contemplative breaks has been normalized and accepted as a critical part of life and culture.