This is a map based on data from satelite images to illustrate the extent of how light pollution has increased in North East Scotland.

North East Scotland's light pollution 1993-2000

This map was developed by Darren Moody (Aberdeen Astronomical Society) from maps created by the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The information was gathered from "operational line scanners" on US Air Force weather satellites in 1993 and 2000.

How we made the maps
We divided the land surface into small squares, or pixels, each representing a square kilometre. We gave each pixel a value, according to the accumulated brightness of the light within. The light is measured on a range from 0 to 255; 0 means the satellite is detecting no light in that pixel and 255 means the satellite's detector is saturated with light.

^{Campaign to Protect Rural England > Light pollution}

See the difference

The Plough without and with light pollution - credit: Dr Darren Baskill (CfDS)

These images were taken with identical camera set ups looking at The Plough from La Sagra, Granada, Southern Spain, and the outskirts of Leicester, Uk. 

The disappearing Stars
Unfortunately, the once commonplace sight of the beautiful disk of our galaxy stretching overhead is denied to over 90% of the UK population - just because of ill directed lighting causing light pollution. The awe and wonder of the Universe has been lost to the younger generations.

^{The Issues surrounding lighting: CfDS}