The majority of the population in the UK (and probably throughout the rest of the populous, western world) are unlikely to have ever seen our galaxy, which our ancestors took for granted, and this is because light pollution.

Experts from a charity that measures light pollution are calling for action in cities so that residents in urban areas to be able to see the night sky again.

Light pollution comes from street lighting, but also from poorly lit sports grounds, commercial and industrial buildings, private homes and entertainment venues.

The best-known effect of light pollution is diffuse sky brightness, which is increasing by 10% every year worldwide, according to research by the German Research Center for Geosciences in Potsdam.

This takes away the majority of the population’s access to an unobstructed view of the stars, which is an integral part of our human culture and heritage.

The charity CPRE in the UK monitors light pollution through its ‘Star Count’ programme, which every year asks volunteer participants in February to count the number of stars within the constellation Orion.

The research shows a clear differentiation between urban and rural Wales. In bright areas participants spot just three or four stars, and in dark sky areas 30 or more stars are visible.

In a series of speeches at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting in Britain, experts are calling on authorities in the UK to implement policies to mitigate the effects of too much light at night and restore views of the sky.

There is also increasing evidence that artificial night-time lighting has a harmful impact on biodiversity, especially nocturnal species, but also on human health.

Experts also point out that there are examples of good practice, such as the increasing number of protected dark sky sites, while highlighting the vital role that innovative lighting design plays in order to minimize light pollution.