Riegel K W
Science. 1973 Mar 30;179(4080):1285-91. doi: 10.1126/science.179.4080.1285.
There have been major qualitative and quantitative changes in outdoor lighting technology in the last decade. The level of skylight caused by outdoor lighting systems is growing at a very high rate, about 20 percent per year nationwide. In addition, the spectral distribution of man-made light pollution may change in the next decade from one containing a few mercury lines to one containing dozens of lines and a significantly increased continuum level. Light pollution is presently damaging to some astronomical programs, and it is likely to become a major factor limiting progress in the next decade. Suitable sites in the United States for new dark sky observing facilities are very difficult to find. Some of the increase in outdoor illumination is due to the character of national growth and development. Some is due to promotional campaigns, in which questionable arguments involving public safety are presented. There are protective measures which might be adopted by the government; these would significantly aid observational astronomy, without compromising the legitimate outdoor lighting needs of society. Observatories should establish programs to routinely monitor sky brightness as a function of position, wavelength, and time. The astronomical community should establish a mechanism by which such programs can be supported and coordinated.
在过去十年中，户外照明技术发生了重大的质与量的变化。户外照明系统造成的天光水平正以很高的速度增长，在全国范围内每年约增长20%。此外，人造光污染的光谱分布在未来十年可能会从包含几条汞线的情况转变为包含几十条线且连续谱水平显著增加的情况。光污染目前正在损害一些天文项目，并且在未来十年很可能成为限制进展的一个主要因素。在美国，很难找到适合新建暗夜观测设施的地点。户外照明增加的部分原因是国家发展的特点。部分原因是宣传活动，其中提出了涉及公共安全的可疑论据。政府可以采取一些保护措施；这些措施将极大地有助于观测天文学，同时又不损害社会合理的户外照明需求。天文台应制定计划，定期监测天空亮度随位置、波长和时间的变化。天文学界应建立一种机制，通过该机制可以支持和协调此类计划。
