English (UK)
Until recently, artificial light was perceived exclusively as a symbol of progress and well-being. Still, in recent years, its flip side has begun to be recognized: light pollution, a silent but increasingly worrying type of environmental pollution. Unlike other widely known pollutants, such as greenhouse gases or toxic waste, artificial light at night had escaped public scrutiny because of its apparent benefits. Now we know that its excessive and misdirected use not only seriously affects astronomical observations, but also has a direct impact on human health, alters biorhythms, and destabilizes ecosystems. Light pollution is thus emerging as one of the growing environmental challenges of the 21st century.
Taking the opportunity of the World Environment Day, held every 5th of June since 1973, the Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC), through the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, IAA-CSIC), is coordinating a scientific outreach event focused on light pollution and its environmental and social impact. Under the title 'Counting light pollution from coast to coast' the initiative will offer 21 informative talks given by professionals in 19 Spanish cities, simultaneously, with the aim of raising public awareness of this problem.
Alicia Pelegrina, PhD in environmental sciences, coordinator of the Severo Ochoa SO-IAA scientific activity support office, and head of institutional projects of the IAA-CSIC sky quality office, points out that this action seeks to convey a clear message: “Artificial light -- although we recognize that it has been one of the most useful and decisive inventions for the development of our society -- is also a polluting agent, and we must treat it as such, promoting a responsible and sustainable use”. For his part, Aureliano Ávila Jiménez, astronomical popularizer, and one of the coordinators of this initiative, born from the collaboration of the academic and scientific world with that of amateur astronomy, believes that “the sky is an intangible asset that belongs to all citizens and that is being taken away from us bit by bit”. And he adds: “Its not only about not being able to see the starry sky, but also about the problems it entails for the environment and health. That is where we must act: raising public awareness and raising our voices with this project”.
Calar Alto Observatory joins this national initiative with the informative talk “Almería, land and sky of contrasts, from the Calar Alto darkness to the Patio de Luces”, to be held next Thursday June 5th, 2025 at the old Santa Mª Magdalena Chapel of the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Realism (MuReC), at 6 pm (CEST).
This activity is focused on raising awareness and educating about light pollution and its effects on areas as diverse as biodiversity, the balance of ecosystems, the quality of the night sky and human health. Through this session, which is free and open to the general public, Calar Alto consolidates both its informative work and its commitment and involvement in the search for sustainable solutions, joining the collective effort of World Environment Day.
By bringing together research centers, associations of amateur astronomers, and other committed entities, this environmental action -- which seeks to bring the problem of light pollution closer to the public from a scientific and accessible perspective -- reinforces a collaborative network aimed at promoting realistic and sustainable solutions to this growing environmental threat.
“We are confident that this pioneering initiative is here to stay, because we are aware that the solution to this problem does not depend only on technology or scientific knowledge - which we already have - but on a change in our perception of artificial light. Only then will we be able to start demanding much more sustainable lighting systems”, concludes Alicia Pelegrina (IAA-CSIC), CSIC coordinator of the initiative.
Full program is available at:
Contar la contaminación lumínica de costa a costa | Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía - CSIC
The Calar Alto Observatory is one of the infrastructures that belong to the national map of Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (Spanish acronym: ICTS), approved on March 11th, 2022, by the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Council (CPCTI).
CONTACTS
Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC) - Alicia Pelegrina
Observatorio de Calar Alto - Gilles Bergond
COMMUNICATION – CALAR ALTO OBSERVATORY