Noctalgia (sky grief): Our Brightening Night Skies and Loss of Environment for Astronomy and Sky Traditions

Abstract

Fifty years after the first mention of light pollution in Science, the journal recently elevated this topic to the cover of its 16 June 2023 issue, highlighting the large impact on human and ecological health, circadian rhythms, migratory patterns, and more. We offer here the term noctalgia to express "sky grief" for the accelerating loss of the home environment of our shared skies - representing loss of science, heritage, millennia-old sky traditions, place-based language, and more - and summarize next steps to address the protection of our nighttime and daytime skies.

2 pages; published as a Science e-Letter in response to the Introduction of the Special Section on light pollution in the June 16, 2023 issue of Science. E-letter available only online (hyperlink in PDF)