When we pulled into our campsite up the mountain from Cañon City, Colorado, I had no idea the treat I was in for. As night fell, something spectacular took place. Not only could I see more stars than I had seen in a lifetime, but I also saw atmospheric gases of red, green, orange, and magenta. I wondered if I needed to drive up a mountain to get closer. I pulled out my phone, opened my Night Sky app, and was instantly blinded. It was then I realized it wasn’t about proximity to the universe; it was about the absence of light.
Looking around the small campsite, I noticed the lack of street lamps or RV lights interfering with the stunning night sky. For the first time, I experienced complete darkness and learned about dark skies and light pollution.
On childhood camping trips, I must have witnessed skies full of stars and nebulas because, back then, there was little light pollution. Today, light pollution encompasses about a quarter of the planet, growing at 6% annually. In 2016, it was estimated that 8% of the world lived under a sky glow. A sky glow is a visible manifestation of light pollution caused by artificial lighting reflecting into the atmosphere and back down. Astronomers coined the term Noctalgia or “sky grief” to describe their sadness over the loss of night skies due to light pollution.
When we trekked to Arizona from Colorado to hunker down for winter, I found myself driving back to Casa Grande from an event in Oracle late one evening. As I navigated the back roads, a sky glow, visible 72 miles away, guided me, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. That’s when I truly grasped the overwhelming reality of the definition of light pollution. The glow felt eerie, almost like an alien invasion, casting an unnatural haze over the landscape as it enveloped Casa Grande, a town of just over 55,000. I couldn’t help but wonder how much more intense the sky glow would be over Phoenix, a sprawling metro area of more than 4 million, just over 100 miles away.
At the RV park, I was met by bright guardhouse lights and palm trees illuminated like a nativity scene. My eyes could barely make out the blue twinkling lights wrapped in palm trees because of the blinding blinking RV decorations, which created a dazzling but overwhelming Las-Vegas-ish spectacle lining the way to my site.
The Impact of Light Pollution on RV Camping and Dark Skies
Inside my coach, I pulled the blinds to block the streetlights and my neighbor’s overpowering porch light, reflecting on how light pollution impacts the environment. As a holistic practitioner, I know the impact light pollution has on sleep, disrupting circadian rhythms and contributing to hormonal imbalances, weight gain, diabetes, depression, coronary heart disease, and breast cancer.
The dangers of light pollution extend beyond humans. Sea turtles can become disoriented, crawling toward artificial light instead of the ocean, often succumbing to exhaustion. Light pollution and wildlife studies show its disruption of migration, hibernation, and natural life cycles. Migratory birds, for example, can become confused or exhausted, affecting entire ecosystems. Blue lights, in particular, influence wildlife behaviors and breeding patterns, with cascading consequences as seasons shift. All of this ties back to the widespread impact of light pollution.
Plants are similarly impacted by light pollution. Their photoreceptors, which sense day length, moonlight, and starlight, are essential for blooming, shedding leaves, and hibernation. Without natural darkness, they face stress and shortened lifespans. Nocturnal pollinating insects, vital to many plants, avoid night-lit areas, reducing essential pollination. Insects, plants, and the pollination they provide are all affected by light pollution, disrupting delicate ecosystems.
How Can You Help with Light Pollution When Camping?
What is also considered light pollution? Our RV lights, porch lights, and decorative campsite lighting. Simple changes can minimize camping and light pollution. Use amber-colored lights with shields to direct light downward, install light motion detectors on existing lights, or install solar-powered motion sensor lights for better theft deterrence than leaving lights on overnight. Timers can ensure decorative lights go off during the park’s quiet hours. Small adjustments in your campsite lighting can go a long way in reducing light pollution and perhaps even lead to making more friends.
Learn More About Light Pollution and Camping in Dark Sky Locations
Learn more about camping and light pollution, sky glow, and dark skies by visiting certified dark sky branches like Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge or Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge. The International DarkSky Association and Astronomy researcher Pierantonio Cinzano’s research are also excellent resources. To plan your travels, check the light pollution map or the dark skies map. Both tools help identify areas where light pollution is minimal, allowing you to enjoy pristine night skies.
Let’s go dark to protect the planet, wildlife, and ourselves.
Related reading
- Adventuring With Houseplants On The Road
- Nourishing the Nomadic Life With Fresh Fall Finds
- Essential Oils In Your RV
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Karen Langston is a full-time RV adventurer & holistic health expert, sharing her journey from day one, diving headfirst into life on the road. Join her for tales of trial and error, tips, and adventure in her
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