Study quantifies economic value of darkness at US dark-sky parks, warns light pollution erodes millions
By
Sharmila Kuthunur
Summary
A new study has quantified the economic value of darkness at US dark-sky parks, finding that light pollution — including from satellite megaconstellations — may be erasing millions of dollars in value. The research estimates that visitors are willing to pay a premium for truly dark skies, and that encroaching artificial light threatens both the visitor experience and the economic model of these protected areas. The study highlights the growing conflict between dark-sky conservation and the proliferation of satellites like Starlink, which leave bright trails across night-sky imagery.
Source
Twitter / XStudy quantifies economic value of darkness at US dark-sky parks, warns light pollution erodes millionsspace.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledEvery year, millions of people travel to remote, protected 'dark-sky parks' in search of experiences that depend on true darkness — photographing the Milky Way's heart arcing overhead, observing nocturnal wildlife in its natural rhythm, or simply standing beneath an ink-black sea of stars unblurred by artificial light.
Scientists have long warned that rising levels of artificial light — increasingly amplified by satellite megaconstellations — threaten these fragile environments.
The study puts a price on darkness, estimating that visitors are willing to pay a significant premium for unobstructed, natural night skies.
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