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During the twentieth century, the spread of electric illumination and rapid increase of human settlement, transportation infrastructure, and business activity has driven vast territories of the globe to come under the impact of artificial light at night.
Light pollution map of Europe
Europe is one of the most light-polluted continents on Earth. Sixty percent of Europeans live in regions where the night sky is so bright that the Milky Way is lastingly invisible. Ninety-nine percent of Europeans live in areas that are influenced by light pollution to any measurable extent.
Ninety percent of the European Union residents live under a brighter zenith night sky than they would have in the same location with a first-quarter moon at 15° elevation and zero light pollution.
Light pollution in Europe: 1992 vs. 2010
Europe at night: 1992 vs. 2010
Increase (red) and decrease (blue) in illumination in Europe between 1992 and 2010
