The reduction in the visibility of celestial objects due to excessive artificial light is a growing environmental concern. This phenomenon, often described poetically, refers to the way light pollution diminishes the brilliance and number of stars observable from the Earth’s surface.
The consequences of this light encroachment are multifaceted. Ecologically, it disrupts the natural behaviors of nocturnal animals. Scientifically, it hinders astronomical research and observations. Culturally, it disconnects humanity from a shared experience of the cosmos that has inspired art, mythology, and scientific inquiry for millennia.