Earth Night: Switch the lights off on 17 September 2020

As a center for astronomy education and outreach work, it is our aim to create a general awareness of the light pollution problem and the fact that there is more behind it than just preserving the sight of the night sky. Unnecessary lighting is a waste of energy, harms wildlife and probably also affects the human metabolism. This is why the House of Astronomy supports Earth Night, which will take place on 17 September 2020 with lights to be switched off at 10pm.

The German initiative Paten der Nacht, which is rooted in the amateur astronomy community, has initiated the light pollution awareness event Earth Night which is taking place today and is supported by both HdA and MPIA.

During Earth Night, non safety-relevant lights are meant to be switched off for the whole night starting at 10 pm, hand in hand with a media campaign highlighting the issue of light pollution. Actually earth Night happens every day at the MPIA campus because the  lights are switched off automatically at 10pm. Additionally, mainly insect-friendly amber-colored outdoor lights are in use earlier in the night.

We would like to encourage you to participate in this initiative as well, and actively raise awareness among family and friends for the different aspects of light pollution, i.e. reducing energy consumption (also regarding climate change mitigation), preventing harm by unnecessary illumination to animals as well as likely also humans by preserving the natural day and night cycle in addition to the unspoiled view of the night sky that is precious to astronomers.