Measuring the Impact of Light Pollution with a 1-Meter Telescope

Abstract

Light pollution affects astronomical research and the visibility of the night sky. Preserving dark skies is essential for scientific discovery and public education. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), astronomical research and outreach efforts are hindered by campus light pollution, despite housing the country’s largest university-based telescope and 12 research-grade telescopes. Promoting sustainable infrastructure on campus helps address how artificial lighting both influences research capabilities and environmental impact. This project aims to investigate how much light pollution from the Student Union’s lighting directly impacts astronomical observations and to identify sustainable solutions to preserve both visibility and campus structures. For this experiment, the 1-meter telescope took images during nighttime, under cloud-free conditions, and was scheduled to avoid periods of significant moonlight to minimize background illumination. Using a 60 second exposure across multiple filters, the images were captured. The telescope focused on two separate locations, one at Zenith with the right ascension set by the local sidereal time with a fixed declination and the second location tipped 45-degree tip toward the student union to capture scattered and direct light. Each set was captured with SU lights on and off. The results will provide valuable insights into how lighting limits the telescope\u27s potential research as well as proposing better sustainable lighting practices. This research will help raise awareness about campus light pollution and promote sustainable lighting solutions for a better observational environment