A proposal for characterizing global light pollution using a LEO nanosatellite

Abstract

Solid-state lighting (LED lighting) is an energy efficient alternative to conventional sodium, mercury and fluorescent outdoor lighting. The high spectral density of blue light emitted by nominally white LEDs has in recent years become an ecological and health concern. Monitoring the global presence of LED lighting as a fraction of total light pollution has hence become a parameter of interest to government organizations dealing with health and environmental protection. This work describes a planned low-earth orbit satellite mission with a low-cost technology and algorithms to provide light pollution images and estimates of the contribution of solid-state lighting relative to conventional illumination globally.