Become a citizen scientist and participate in the Great World Wide Star Count.

Organized by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, and funded by the National Science Foundation, the star count will collect data from observers around the world to help evaluate and raise awareness about the problem of light pollution.

What’s the big deal about a few wayward photons? Well, first of all, it’s not just a few — it’s a whole bunch.

If you were approaching Earth from the outer reaches of the solar system and settled into orbit above the daytime side of the globe, little evidence of mankind’s presence would be detectable.

But the night side of the Earth would reveal the lights of cities and towns throughout the developed regions of the world. A dazzling sight at first glance perhaps, but further reflection leads to the conclusion that we are wasting billions of dollars, as well as natural resources, to send light into space.

Light pollution has been characterized as “a soft issue” before, but let’s take a closer look at some of the real problems behind this situation.

Reducing load on the grid would help coal-fired power plants decrease production. By-products from coal-fired power generation include greenhouse gasses, and that alone is reason for anyone concerned about the potential link of human activity to global climate change to make the switch to compact florescent bulbs.

Too much light is not always a good thing. Glare and light shining into neighboring buildings are hazards to safety and welfare. Veiling the glare prevents us from seeing clearly — think oncoming high beams. A lack of darkness causes fatigue, depression and other heath concerns associated with too much light.

The night sky, and its influence throughout human history, is an essential part of our shared cultural heritage.

Thousands of years ago, those who lived under the starry sky used celestial patterns and the cycle of the seasons to manage farming, plan for spiritual practice and navigate across land and sea. The knowledge they possessed helped ensure their survival, and because of their success, we are here today.

Anyone can be part of the Great World Wide Star Count from Oct. 1-15.

You don’t need fancy equipment to be involved. Get out and look at the constellation Cygnus and check for the dimmest star you can see. Use the charts you find online to submit and compare your results with thousands of other citizen scientists worldwide.

Visit www.starcount.org to create a profile and learn more about the Great World Wide Star Count.

Peter Lipscomb is director of the Night Sky Program for the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance. Contact him at plipscomb@nmheritage.org.

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