Light pollution is becoming a big challenge, 83% of humans live under light-polluted skies. Light pollution is everywhere. From our phone screens at night to city lighting in our towns and neighborhoods. Light pollution affects our circadian rhythms, which can harm our health. Light pollution harms wildlife as many species depend on the night sky to follow migration paths.

Light pollution disrupts ecosystems. According to the Dark Sky Association, "Plants and animals depend on Earth’s daily cycle of light and dark to govern life-sustaining behaviors such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep and protection from predators. Scientific evidence suggests that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures, including amphibians, birds, mammals, invertebrates, and plants."

In March of 2020, I started attending astronomy shows online. After a few shows, I grew tired of astronomers saying "Sorry you can't see that star or constellation in an urban environment", "Sorry you have to head to the open fields to see the stars."  It was a sad realization...most of us live under light-polluted skies and can't do any significant sky observation.

I started exploring this theme in my art and created a series of illustrations called "Save the Stars". What would big urban environments look like without light pollution? I took pictures from previous trips to cities like Chicago, Moscow, Athens. I then illustrated them using astronomy software Stellarium, depicting them with clear, starry, astronomical skies.

Although the light pollution problem is growing, there are simple things we can do to prevent it. The Dark Sky Organization is a great place to start. I became an advocate in May and I have already learned a ton.

It starts with awareness, it continues with education, it ends with action then you pause REPEAT as many times as you want.