University to switch off lights during Seeing Stars Leiden – Care to join us?
photography: Dirk van Egmond
Artist Daan Roosegaarde, together with UNESCO and Leiden University, wants to make the stars come out during Seeing Stars Leiden. The University will therefore switch off the lights in most of its buildings on Sunday 25 September from 22:00 to 23:30 and is asking the people of Leiden to follow suit.
Daan Roosegaarde, who came up with the initiative, wants to demonstrate the effect of light pollution. He also thinks that stargazing will bring people together. ‘I was looking for a way to make the world bigger, to connect us with one another. Looking together at the stars is one such way.’
Leiden University is making an important contribution to this special evening. Many of its buildings, such as the Academy Building, the Kamerlingh Onnes building and Plexus are located in the area around the Observatory where the lights will go out. The faculty buildings outside the city centre, such as the Faculties of Archaeology and Science and the LUMC are outside this area.
The more lights go out, the more stars we will be able to see. This makes it important that as many Leiden residents as possible switch off their lights, also outside the project area.
Care to join us in switching the lights off and the stars on?
NB: If it is cloudy on 25 September, Seeing Stars will be rescheduled.
Banner photo: Dirk van Egmond
Help collect data
Help can collect data on how much light pollution there is in Leiden and the region – and how much light pollution can be reduced during Seeing Stars Leiden. The more people participate, the more accurate the data on light pollution in Leiden will be. For more information see here (in Dutch).