Light pollution hinders Milky Way view from one-third of humanity: Study

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: A new global atlas of light pollution reveals an ugly truth. Our Milky Way, the most favorite hotspot of skygazers and vibrant river of stars will no longer be visible to one-third of the humanity.

According a new survey that quantifies nighttime sky quality for every region in the world, National Geographic reported that due to worsening state of light pollution 80% of the Earth's total population and 99% of the population of United States and Europe will lose the direct contact with night sky very soon.

Light pollution is one form of environment alteration that hides the stars and constellation of night sky and forms luminous fog in the presence of artificial lights.

In developed nations, the 24* 7 use of artificial lights creates a permanent skyglow at night, restricting our view of the stars.

Fabio Falchi author and researcher of a new study from the Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute in Italy said that the situation is a 'cultural loss of unprecedented magnitude'.