Hunting the stars
Men have artificially lit up everything that has come their way. As a result, today it is practically impossible for us to see the stars. We have been taken away our right of the stars, of nature. The “Milky Way” for us only exists in the fairy tales, because we cannot see it.
In addition, there are health consequences of exposure to artificial light at night some of them are increased headaches, increase in anxiety, and reduced production of hormone leading to cancer.
Space lovers have lost their stage and the astronomical observations are merely impossible.
Hunting the stars project aimed to familiarize students with the problem of the light pollution and increase awareness of the seriousness of the problem. Also, through students with light pollution will be introduced more people (parents, brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors and so on. to students)
First I asked my students:
1. Do you think that light can pollute?
2. Have previously heard of the problem of light pollution?
3. Do you have questions related to the topic of light pollution?
Then there was a discussion among students. Then, from this discussion produced many questions and ideas. Ie all students reassigned to talk about the light pollution of their closest, and after that to explain their experiences with classmates and teacher. The conclusion was that the light pollution and its adverse effects are not known at all or individuals know very little.
Students received information about the light pollution by the teacher. For this purpose we have used the website of the Globe at night (www.globeatnight.org) project.
After that, the students were given assignments to explore the local community, that is, to check whether properly set streetlights, are there many glowing beams that interfere with traffic, whether they can recognize the types of the light pollution in the local environment and so on.
Also students were trained to measure the light pollution by using the constellation Orion. Thus they learned about this serious problem and its consequences, ie the light pollution at first seem frivolous issue, but there are major environmental, economic, energy and astronomical consequences. In many countries there are already laws on the protection of the night sky.
Measurements of the light pollution made by the students were then sent online through the website of the Globe at night project. This helps fight the light pollution, because scientists use our measurements. The students concluded that to effectively combat the light pollution should all be united or we all need to act locally to take effect globally.
There are many things that can be implied in order to reduce the light pollution. For example, the lighting fixtures should be improved, meaning we should use ecological lights of better quality which should direct their light more accurately towards where it is needed. These types of lights have all the necessary characteristics for one source of lighting, they are: ecological, safe, economical...Only these types of lights can lower the light pollution. Of course, we need to mention the awareness of each human being to rationally use the light and to safe energy in any possible way.
Light pollution may look harmless at first sight, but it has deeper ecological and energetic consequences.
In this activities took a part about 40 students from I-3 and IV-3 year (from the optic profile), in the High School Orde Copela from Prilep under mentorship of Karolina Damjanoska (Physics teacher).
In addition we present some photographs of our activities in the city of Prilep, Macedonia.Light pollution is the illumination of the night sky caused by artificial light sources on the ground (streetlights, billboards, etc.). Light pollution is a side effect of industrial civilization. The amount of outdoor lighting increases as a result of the increasing population. Lights, contrast, and glare all impact the number of stars that are visible in a given location. Using lights at night can be helpful, but there are unanticipated effects. We send our results via internet to the GLOBE server and in that way we give our contribution to healthier environment.
What is light pollution? The light disappears without a trace as soon as we turn off the lights. You would probably think that it is impossible to call that pollution!? Unfortunately, the answer is opposite; light can really pollute the environment. Furthermore, light pollution can bring to a negative effect to the total plant and animal life, as well as the human.
Men have artificially lit up everything that has come their way. As a result, today it is practically impossible for us to see the stars. We have been taken away our right of the stars, of nature. The “Milky Way” for us only exists in the fairy tales, because we cannot see it.
In addition, there are health consequences of exposure to artificial light at night some of them are increased headaches, increase in anxiety, and reduced production of hormone leading to cancer.
Space lovers have lost their stage and the astronomical observations are merely impossible.
In addition, there are health consequences of exposure to artificial light at night some of them are increased headaches, increase in anxiety, and reduced production of hormone leading to cancer.
Space lovers have lost their stage and the astronomical observations are merely impossible.
Hunting the stars project aimed to familiarize students with the problem of the light pollution and increase awareness of the seriousness of the problem. Also, through students with light pollution will be introduced more people (parents, brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors and so on. to students)
First I asked my students:
1. Do you think that light can pollute?
2. Have previously heard of the problem of light pollution?
3. Do you have questions related to the topic of light pollution?
Then there was a discussion among students. Then, from this discussion produced many questions and ideas. Ie all students reassigned to talk about the light pollution of their closest, and after that to explain their experiences with classmates and teacher. The conclusion was that the light pollution and its adverse effects are not known at all or individuals know very little.
Students received information about the light pollution by the teacher. For this purpose we have used the website of the Globe at night (www.globeatnight.org) project.
After that, the students were given assignments to explore the local community, that is, to check whether properly set streetlights, are there many glowing beams that interfere with traffic, whether they can recognize the types of the light pollution in the local environment and so on.
Also students were trained to measure the light pollution by using the constellation Orion. Thus they learned about this serious problem and its consequences, ie the light pollution at first seem frivolous issue, but there are major environmental, economic, energy and astronomical consequences. In many countries there are already laws on the protection of the night sky.
Measurements of the light pollution made by the students were then sent online through the website of the Globe at night project. This helps fight the light pollution, because scientists use our measurements. The students concluded that to effectively combat the light pollution should all be united or we all need to act locally to take effect globally.
There are many things that can be implied in order to reduce the light pollution. For example, the lighting fixtures should be improved, meaning we should use ecological lights of better quality which should direct their light more accurately towards where it is needed. These types of lights have all the necessary characteristics for one source of lighting, they are: ecological, safe, economical...Only these types of lights can lower the light pollution. Of course, we need to mention the awareness of each human being to rationally use the light and to safe energy in any possible way.
Light pollution may look harmless at first sight, but it has deeper ecological and energetic consequences.
In this activities took a part about 40 students from I-3 and IV-3 year (from the optic profile), in the High School Orde Copela from Prilep under mentorship of Karolina Damjanoska (Physics teacher).
In addition we present some photographs of our activities in the city of Prilep, Macedonia.Light pollution is the illumination of the night sky caused by artificial light sources on the ground (streetlights, billboards, etc.). Light pollution is a side effect of industrial civilization. The amount of outdoor lighting increases as a result of the increasing population. Lights, contrast, and glare all impact the number of stars that are visible in a given location. Using lights at night can be helpful, but there are unanticipated effects. We send our results via internet to the GLOBE server and in that way we give our contribution to healthier environment.
What is light pollution? The light disappears without a trace as soon as we turn off the lights. You would probably think that it is impossible to call that pollution!? Unfortunately, the answer is opposite; light can really pollute the environment. Furthermore, light pollution can bring to a negative effect to the total plant and animal life, as well as the human.
Men have artificially lit up everything that has come their way. As a result, today it is practically impossible for us to see the stars. We have been taken away our right of the stars, of nature. The “Milky Way” for us only exists in the fairy tales, because we cannot see it.
In addition, there are health consequences of exposure to artificial light at night some of them are increased headaches, increase in anxiety, and reduced production of hormone leading to cancer.
Space lovers have lost their stage and the astronomical observations are merely impossible.
