Measurements of Night Sky Brightness in the Veneto Region of Italy: Sky Quality Meter Network Results and Differential Photometry by Digital Single Lens Reflex.

Andrea Bertolo,Sergio Ortolani,Renata Binotto,Simone Sapienza

doi:10.3390/jimaging5050056

Andrea Bertolo, Sergio Ortolani + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging5050056

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Abstract

In this paper, we present the implementation of a monitoring network for artificial light at night (ALAN), based on Sky Quality Meter devices (SQM) installed in seven locations of the Veneto region. The system is coordinated by the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA-Veneto) and the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Padova, in collaboration with a local dark-sky association, Venetostellato. A new centralized database containing zenith night sky brightness (NSB) data was implemented to collect data from all SQM stations of the regional territory, not only in real time (since 2017), but in some stations since 2011. We now have a dataset to determine how light pollution is affecting astronomical observatories. A WEB portal was created to offer different downloads from these NSB data. We present the results of some elaborations for the 2018 dataset (statistics, histograms, annual and cumulative plots) for seven monitoring sites. For Ekar and Pennar sites, we also present the NSB monthly trend from 2014 until the time of the study. We purchased a reflex camera with a fish eye lens, appropriately calibrated with the software (SW) Sky Quality Camera, which allowed us to study ALAN using differential photometry. Here, we present our first results obtained by studying the night evolution of light pollution in the urban location of Padova.

Highlights

The night sky is never completely dark, even in the most isolated places there is a background glow resulting both from the natural component of terrestrial or extraterrestrial origin, and from the artificial component originating from human activities.Nowadays, most of the population in industrialized nations live under skies where the artificial light at night (ALAN) exceeds natural light by thousands of times, with this being due to the luminous flux produced by artificial lighting, directly or indirectly sent towards the sky
Most of the population in industrialized nations live under skies where the artificial light at night (ALAN) exceeds natural light by thousands of times, with this being due to the luminous flux produced by artificial lighting, directly or indirectly sent towards the sky
The main effect of ALAN is the loss of perception of the Universe around us, as the increase in the brightness of the night sky due to artificial light prevents the vision of the starry sky, and causes a strong environmental impact with negative effects on the biosphere, flora and fauna, and on human life, as well as influencing cultural aspects

Summary

Introduction

The night sky is never completely dark, even in the most isolated places there is a background glow resulting both from the natural component of terrestrial (such as auroral light) or extraterrestrial (such as zodiacal light) origin, and from the artificial component originating from human activities. Most of the population in industrialized nations live under skies where the artificial light at night (ALAN) exceeds natural light by thousands of times, with this being due to the luminous flux produced by artificial lighting, directly or indirectly sent towards the sky. The main effect of ALAN is the loss of perception of the Universe around us, as the increase in the brightness of the night sky due to artificial light prevents the vision of the starry sky, and causes a strong environmental impact with negative effects on the biosphere, flora and fauna, and on human life, as well as influencing cultural aspects.

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