Each and every year in April, a meteor shower known as the April Lyrids  happens from the 16th to the 25th of the month, providing a beautiful show in the sky for those lucky enough to be able to see it. But with each passing year, light pollution makes it harder for even rural residents to see the shower, normally visible to the naked eye without need of binoculars, and almost impossible for urban residents to see any of the dust shed by the Comet Thatcher.

A basic rundown on what light pollution is: When humans use artificial light excessively or obtrusively, disrupting the natural environment with the sky. “I just think it sucks to not even know what we are missing out on” says Sophie Ljung ’19 about not being able to see certain celestial events. Light pollution not only causes us to miss out on cool happenings in the sky, but has been known to consume a major portion of electrical energy usage, affect human health negatively, disrupt ecosystems, and interrupt astronomical studies.

This Earth Day, the Lyrids are one of many, many things to be worried about concerning the environment. Additionally, the 2018 theme for Earth Day is to end plastic pollution, so keep in mind to #SayNoToPlastic whether you are getting utensils for your takeout order, shopping at the grocery store, or getting a drink with a straw at a restaurant. “Typically, I’m not happy to be on dirt, but on Earth Day, I’ll make and exception” jokes Patrick Timlin ’18, reminding us that it’s not just Earth Day where we need to be eco-conscious, but everyday!