Campaign update

Survey finds starry skies spoilt by light pollution
In late 2009 we ran a survey with the British Astronomical Association’s Campaign for Dark Skies to find out about how light pollution is affecting people’s lives. Eight out of ten people taking part in the survey found their view of the night sky was spoilt by light pollution. The causes were mainly from road lighting, domestic security lighting, street lights that are more than five years old, businesses, sports grounds and supermarkets. Half of the respondents also stated that their sleep was disrupted by unwanted light shinning through windows.

In 2005 a new act was introduced to make some lighting a statutory nuisance. However many light sources are excluded from the act, many of which our survey reveals are the worst offenders. We are campaigning to tackle the problem by encouraging better designed lighting and lobbying for better planning regulations to control lighting.
> Light pollution as a Statutory Nuisance: using the law

>  Lighting nuisance survey 2009/10: Report (PDF 312K)

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International Year of Astronomy
In 2009 the world celebrates the International Year of Astronomy to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo's use of a telescope to study the night sky.

There are events happening across the country where you can discover more about the wonder and beauty of the night sky. Visit the Year of Astronomy website to find something where you live.
> International Year of Astronomy