Many students have never seen a truly dark sky. City lights, school buildings, advertisements, cars, and apartments make the night bright enough that stars almost disappear.

Light pollution does not feel urgent because light usually means safety and activity. But too much artificial light affects sleep, wildlife, energy use, and our connection to nature. A sky without stars quietly changes how people imagine the universe.

The goal is not to make cities unsafe or dark everywhere. It is to use light more intelligently. Shielded lamps, warmer colors, motion sensors, and turning off unnecessary lights can make a difference.

Schools can also teach students to notice the night sky. Astronomy should not only happen through textbook diagrams or planetarium screens.

A darker sky is not empty. It is full of things we forgot were there. Protecting darkness can be a way of protecting wonder.