spacetoday.net: Light pollution makes Milky Way invisible for a third of humanity

Light pollution makes Milky Way invisible for a third of humanity

Posted: Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 1:07 PM ET (1707 GMT)
Milky Way illustration from Jan 2009 (CfA)

A new analysis of light pollution finds that one third of humanity can no longer see the Milky Way because of bright skies. Astronomers released Friday a new global map of light pollution, showing the growing spread of artificial light that washes out dimmer stars in the night sky. The study finds that nearly four of five people worldwide, including 99 percent of the population of the US and Western Europe, experience some degree of light pollution. Scientists argue that light pollution, besides making it difficult to see the night sky, can have environmental and possibly even health impacts.