Towards future challenges in the measurement and modelling of night sky brightness

Abstract

In ground-based astronomy, the brightness of the night sky is the limiting factor that determines the efficacy of any particular telescope in terms of detecting faint objects. Proper measurement and monitoring of night sky brightness (NSB) is therefore key to protecting sites of astronomical observatories from light pollution and maximizing their scientific productivity. However, current data sources and modelling approaches exhibit practical shortcomings that significantly limit their utility. By considering the current situation in measuring light pollution, we identify opportunities for improvements. These include defaulting to spatially resolved sky brightness measurements; routinely incorporating spectral information and polarization; and collecting simultaneous meteorological data. Given the acute threat to astronomy posed by rapidly increasing NSB around the world, we argue that the time has come for the standardization of NSB measurement and monitoring methods and protocols.

Energy Efficiency in Public Lighting Systems Friendly to the Environment and Protected Areas

“…Light pollution concerns the parameters of lighting designs [40]. Urbanization and the increase in light points have had an impact on light pollution and the opacity of the skies from an astronomical perspective [41] but also from human health [2] and environmental care perspectives [40].…”

“…The study developed by Barentine et al [41] has provided quantitative measurements of light pollution in different sectors of the planet and its correlation with the visibility of bodies in the sky. The quality of the night sky has direct applications for observational astronomy.…”