The increasing use of artificial light at night and the proliferation of satellites raises concerns among astronomers that their ability to clearly spot planets with telescopes is weakening.
According to studies published by the “Nature Astronomy” magazine, the increase in light pollution emanating from the Earth and the rotation of satellites in its orbit negatively affects the installation of observatories and their ability to monitor celestial bodies.
Scientists have also warned that light pollution will not only affect astronomers and major observatories, but also the human relationship with space, as it reduces the chances of seeing stars and celestial bodies.
Light pollution is defined as a nuisance caused by unnatural artificial lighting that can cause adverse health and environmental effects.
Scientists are likely to reduce the number of stars visible to the naked eye in certain areas from 250 stars to 100 stars within 18 years.
Distortion and distortion
Ali Al-Taani, a professor of astronomy and space sciences at Al-Balqa Applied University, said that light pollution is the glow that is produced from the earth by lighting cities and streets in countries of the world, and is transmitted to space.
Al-Taani continued, in an interview with “Al-Araby” from Amman, that the light of stars and galaxies helps scientists determine what they are, as it is a code that carries all the information that researchers are interested in, and therefore the lack of this light reaching planet Earth hinders the study of celestial bodies.
He stressed that scientists need a clear and dark sky to see and monitor the light of dull and dim objects, pointing out that artificial lights are reflected in the atmosphere and appear in the form of a red band of light in the telescope, which disperses the starlight and distorts the image for astronomers.
He also talked regarding satellites obstructing star observations, as scientists spend many hours to complete the process, while every 30 seconds a satellite passes in front of the sensitive camera, indicating that there are regarding 12,000 satellites in space.
