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Chapter 20: Problem 46

Go to the "Night Sky" Web page of the National Park Service (NPS; http://nature.nps.gov/night). What is a "natural lightscape"? Click on and read "Light Pollution" and "Measuring Lightscapes." Why is it becoming more rare for people to see the Milky Way? Why does the NPS consider viewing the Milky Way an important part of the experience for people visiting the park?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A natural lightscape refers to the natural and artificial light visible in night skies. Light pollution makes it rare to see the Milky Way. Viewing the Milky Way is important for connecting park visitors with nature.

Step by step solution

01

- Visit the NPS Night Sky Web Page

Open a web browser and go to the National Park Service Night Sky page at http://nature.nps.gov/night.
02

- Find the Definition of a Natural Lightscape

Look for the section of the web page that talks about natural lightscapes. A natural lightscape is defined as the light, both natural and artificial, that is visible in the night sky in natural environments.
03

- Read About Light Pollution

Locate and click on the link or section titled 'Light Pollution.' Read the information provided to understand how artificial light affects natural night environments.
04

- Read About Measuring Lightscapes

Find and click on the link or section titled 'Measuring Lightscapes.' Read through this section to understand the methods used to measure the brightness of the night sky and the levels of light pollution.
05

- Understand Why the Milky Way is Rarely Seen

From the information gathered, understand that the increasing amount of artificial light from cities and towns makes it difficult for people to see the Milky Way.
06

- Importance of Viewing the Milky Way

Read why the National Park Service considers viewing the Milky Way an important aspect of the visitor experience. It highlights the beauty and vastness of the night sky, providing a unique and awe-inspiring experience that connects people to nature.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

light pollution
Light pollution is the excessive or misdirected artificial light produced by human activity. This can come from streetlights, buildings, cars, and other sources.
Light pollution has several negative effects on natural environments and human health.
It can disrupt the nocturnal activities of wildlife, affecting their feeding, mating, and migration patterns.
For humans, it can interfere with sleep and circadian rhythms, leading to health issues.
The sky becomes brighter, making it harder to see stars and celestial events.
This is why light pollution is a significant concern for places that value dark skies, like national parks.
measuring lightscapes
Measuring lightscapes involves quantifying the brightness of the night sky to assess the extent of light pollution.
There are several methods used to measure lightscapes:
  • Sky Quality Meters (SQMs): These are handheld devices that measure the brightness of the sky in magnitudes per square arc-second.
  • All-Sky Cameras: These capture wide-angle images of the night sky to analyze light levels and sources of light pollution.
  • Remote Sensing: Satellites can observe light emissions from Earth, providing data on light pollution over large areas.
By monitoring lightscapes, we can track changes over time and implement measures to reduce light pollution and preserve natural night environments.
Milky Way visibility
The visibility of the Milky Way is becoming increasingly rare due to light pollution.
In many urban areas, the night sky is so bright that the stars and the Milky Way are no longer visible.
This is unfortunate because seeing the Milky Way can be a profound and inspiring experience.
The National Park Service (NPS) values Milky Way visibility as it enhances the visitor experience, offering a glimpse into the vastness of the universe.
It helps connect people with nature and can evoke a sense of wonder and contemplation.
Efforts to reduce light pollution in national parks aim to preserve this natural experience for future generations.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The Sun completes one trip around the center of the galaxy in approximately 230 million years. How many times has the Solar System made the circuit since its formation 4.6 billion years ago?

Go to the Hubble Space Telescope website and watch the videos about the possible collision of the Milky Way and Andromeda (http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/ galaxy/2012/20/video). Read the report under "The Full Story." A newer simulation is here: www.icrar.org/multimedia/ videos/video-pages/andromeda-and-the-milky-way- collide! Why will Andromeda "eat" the Milky Way instead of the other way around?

Evidence of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way comes from a. direct observations of stars that orbit it. b. visible light from material that is falling in. c. strong radio emission from the black hole itself. d. streams of cosmic rays from the center of the galaxy.

A globular cluster with no variable stars would have been left out of Shapley's study because a. the cluster would be too far away. b. the distance to the cluster could not be determined. c. the cluster would be too faint to see. d. the cluster would be too young to determine its evolution- ary state.

Cosmic rays are a. a form of electromagnetic radiation. b. high-energy particles. c. high-energy dark matter. d. high-energy photons.
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