Space exploration is increasingly privatized, from Earth's orbital space to the Moon and beyond. This has led to increasing congestion and environmental degradation of low-Earth orbits. Along with dramatic rises in ground-based light pollution, this has caused brightening night skies worldwide. The loss of dark skies and increasing space debris are already affecting astronomical observations as well as broader constituencies across humanity and the health of many ecosystems. I also share perspectives from numerous Indigenous communities and the growing impacts of these issues on their scientific-cultural practices and sky traditions. Space is an ancestral global commons, and the skies represent our shared heritage needing advocacy and protection more than ever.
Dr Aparna Venkatesan is an astronomer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of San Francisco. She works on studies of the first stars and quasars in the universe, and on numerous cultural astronomy and space policy projects. She serves as co-Chair of the American Astronomical Society's Committee to Protect Astronomy and the Space Environment (COMPASSE). Dr. Venkatesan has been recognized internationally for her research, featured widely in the media, and received numerous prizes and awards. Dr. Venkatesan is deeply committed to increasing the retention of underrepresented groups in astronomy and STEM, and is active in developing scientific partnerships with Indigenous communities worldwide.
