Stargazing - looking for the darkness of night

Time to go star hunting? Not everyone are as fortunate to see the stars as clearly as we do at Hafsrød. In fact, only a third of Norway’s population can see the Milky Way, the galaxy above us that looks like a sprinkle of sugar grains in the sky.

Light pollution from street lights, buildings and cars dazzles us and steals the brightness from these dots that are directly above us. Man-made and artificial light has received a lot of attention in recent years, and the awareness of negative consequences for both humans and animals is gradually increasing. Among other things, it has made urban planners think more about adapting to the actual need for light, and thus reducing light pollution in cities. Fortunately, you do not have to think about that here at Hafsrød – because here it is actually completely dark.

Having it dark around you turns out to have its benefits. The absence of artificial light seems affect the circadian rhythm in a positive way. Surely we have all noticed that the blue light from our mobile phone or TV makes us a little more awake? The artificial light is associated with many public health diseases such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and depression. In other words, getting a break from it can be good for us.