A LOS CIELOS OSCUROS

Presentation
What Does it Mean to Preserve Dark Skies?
Simply, or perhaps simplistically, the preservation of dark skies
means retaining the ability to observe the sky in dark conditions
similar to those that existed before the Industrial Age and the
associated population explosion that followed. However, as the
articles in this publication will reveal such preservation has many
different aspects, which are all important individually and together,
make this goal a common issue that can and should allow for greater
interaction and scientific, cultural, educational and technological
development, both locally and globally.
Why is Preserving Dark Skies Important?
The most pressing reason to preserve dark skies could be the
ability to continue making observations of the universe from the
Earth. It may seem simple, but urban growth and associated night
lighting in the last 50 years have made it impossible to carry out
high-level astronomical research in many places in Europe and
North America. On a more individual level, this implies that large
portions of the population are very disconnected from what it
means to see the night sky and cannot appreciate our place in the
universe. However, beyond astronomy, excessive night lighting has
biological and ecological implications since it disrupts the life cycles
of fauna (including humans); of the fauna, insects, birds and turtles
have always used stars to navigate between different territories with
the changing of the seasons.
What Can and Should We Do to Preserve Dark Skies?
Limiting artificial night lighting in no way means relinquishing
its benefits if it is carried out in a rational and planned manner,
with high-level engineering and innovation. In fact, it implies
a reduction in energy consumption and significant savings for
the local and federal authorities of a country. The search for
increased efficiency acts as a catalyst for the development of new
technologies in renewable and sustainable energy, which would
have favourable effects on the economy and the welfare of the
population.