Your First Post, that is your statement concerning your initial thoughts on this topic.

Please remember two posts are required for each discussion topic. Your Second Post, that is your response to the required readings, should be made by Sep 6.

Your response could be a discussion of how your initial thoughts have changed after reading the suggested literature concerning this topic or a discussion of how the literature you read reinforced your initial ideas. A response could also be made in a threaded discussion stating whether you agree or disagree with another's statement and why.

Feel free to access other sites and share what you learned. Don't forget to cite any additional articles or websites from which you gain additional information. Any additional references must come from professional journals, government websites, texts, research institutes, accredited colleges/universities, or articles published by reliable news agencies reporting recent professional scientific findings. Sources such as Wikipedia are not acceptable reference websites since they are not websites associated with an official scientific source.

Above all, remember that there is no right or wrong answer! These are simply open-ended discussions involving opinions. Feel free to disagree - discussions are more interesting if opinions are varied. Enjoy learning through these discussions about astronomically related current event topics that impact our everyday lives!

First Topic: Light pollution is not only a problem for astronomers; it also has been shown to have an adverse impact on human health and wildlife. Light pollution wastes energy but does little to increase safety.

For Post 1: Browse through the material posted by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) on their website, http://www.darksky.org/about-ida, and also read through the brochures posted at http://www.darksky.org/education/quick-reference-materials#Brochures.

For Post 2: Read through http://environment.about.com/od/pollution/a/light_pollution.htm or http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s968291.htm.

Check out other websites regarding the impact of light pollution on wildlife such as http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130720-night-dark-light-pollution-science-stars/or http://news.discovery.com/animals/light-pollution-a-growing-problem-for-wildlife.htm

For Both Posts: Discuss what light pollution is and whether or not this is a battle worth fighting. If you find it to be worthwhile, discuss the best way of implementing some of the ideas presented by the IDA. If not, suggest alternatives.