(Jessica Cornelison / KCUR 89.3)

Astronomers need your help! And you don’t have to be an expert, because it’s as easy as stepping outside your home and taking a good look at a constellation like Orion. For 20 years, the citizen science project Globe At Night has helped advance our understanding of light pollution — as scientists figure out how fast stars are disappearing from our sky.

This episode was written, reported, produced and mixed by Celia Llopis-Jepsen. Up From Dust's editors are Mackenzie Martin and Stephen Koranda.

Resources:

• Globe At Night website
• Related Up From Dust episode: Say No To Skyglow
• Related reading: How to pick the right fixtures and bulbs for wildlife-friendly outdoor lighting at home
• Photo: "Earthrise," taken aboard Apollo 8 in 1968