The stars are disappearing in the sky over the middle of the country.

Much of the light pollution can be solved by switching to better light bulbs and lighting fixtures, washing out skyscapes and brightening nights in large and metropolitan areas alike.

student town Kirksville, MissouriThe city of 18,000 people has been dubbed “Missouri’s North Star,” but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find it within city limits.

And the bright skies in metropolitan areas like Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Chicago are the main reasons these cities currently rank so high in world rankings. Top 10 most dangerous For birds trying to survive their annual spring migration.

As we approach the skies over the United States, 10% brighter per yearthe victims are not just confused birds. Pollinators and other wildlife are suffering. The same goes for our sleep and health.

But astronomer Connie Walker has good news.

The loss of the night sky is not a foregone conclusion, the scientists said. noir labthe U.S. National Center for Ground-Based Astronomy based in Tucson, Arizona. Communities can do a lot to protect their starry skies, both for the environment and for the breathtaking sights.

“We have a responsibility to maintain access to our beautiful dark skies,” Walker said. “That’s easy to fix.”

One solution is to look up at Orion in February or March and report what you see on your smartphone. globe at nighta citizen science project celebrating its 20th anniversary this month.

This simple act helps scientists track where skyglow is worsening and how quickly that change is occurring. By looking at the visible and invisible stars in and around the constellation Orion, you can determine the amount of light pollution in your area.

Walker, who helped create Globe at Night 20 years ago, explains how to join the Midwest and Great Plains environmental podcast up from dust.

She welcomes as many reports as possible and encourages people to start participating, especially in areas where the program receives less data.

The project’s online interactive map shows it includes many rural areas, including much of Nebraska, Iowa, the Dakotas, and Kansas.

“The more measurements we can get out of that, the better for everyone,” Walker said.

Recording skylight is just one step in addressing that. Some cities, parks, and university campuses are working to reduce sky glow without sacrificing people’s need to see at night. They are doing this by installing smarter fixtures and better light bulbs.

up from dust offers three podcast episodes where listeners can learn about solutions and risks.

Episode 1: Say no to skyglow

this episode Let’s talk about the basics of skylight and how to reduce it with proper lighting.

We also tell you how Missouri’s college campuses and state parks are eliminating poor lighting and introducing smarter options.

Park officials, students and faculty are trying to dismantle the idea that more light is better. Truman State University students found just the opposite when they set out to improve the lighting on their campus. They found that well-designed lighting can reduce the glow in the sky, making it not only appear softer from a distance, but can actually illuminate a space better.

“It all looks darker,” Truman State University graduate Daphne Broski Lane said of the improved lighting she helped install on campus. “But when we measured the brightness under the lights, we found that the lighting levels were brighter on the ground.”

Professor Vayujeet Gokhale of Truman State University also offers a simple primer for homeowners on choosing good light bulbs and light fixtures at hardware stores.

“If we come together and say, ‘Yes, we need lighting, let’s be responsible,’ we can solve local problems,” he says. “We can be safe, still see the stars, and pollinators can benefit too.”

Episode 2: Can we save millions of migratory birds?

this episode It tells the story of one extraordinarily determined museum worker, 40,000 dead birds, and a discovery that could save millions of people from the same fate.

It’s a decades-long journey that began in 1978 and ultimately documented the relationship between Chicago’s convention center lights and the number of birds killed in collisions.

The nation’s center is an important migratory corridor for birds, and light pollution in cities from Texas to Missouri to Minnesota is a particularly dangerous problem for these birds.

But the Chicago discovery is helping to prompt families and businesses to turn off unnecessary lights, close curtains and take other steps to help birds make their long biannual journey during migration season.

This episode provides a primer on assisting during bird migration season, whether you live in a major city that poses the greatest risk.

“The idea that the problem is only in cities is wrong,” Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology explains in a podcast. “Kitchen windows, living room windows, glass doors, whatever it is. If you walk outside and find a dead bird under the glass, you can take action on it.”

Episode 3: Stargazers, unite for science!

This episode provides step-by-step instructions on how to participate in Globe At Night.

“Looking up and measuring is how we can become stewards of the planet,” Walker said.

The project has so far collected 300,000 observations around the world. In 2023, scientists used this data to conclude that the night sky was getting brighter by about 10% per year.

Walker said no special astronomical equipment is needed to participate in the effort. People simply look at a constellation such as Orion, compare it to several star maps on Globe At Night, and choose the one that best matches what they see.

Participants must perform this activity when there is no moon in the sky, as the moon will interfere with accurate measurements. Observations should also be made at least 1.5 hours after sunset and at least 1.5 hours before sunrise to avoid interference from the afterglow of dusk or dawn.

collect public media is a collaboration of public media newsrooms across the Midwest and Great Plains. Reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.