Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I'm a 7th grader doing a science fair project on light pollution. I want to measure sky quality using a sky quality meter and the Bortle Scale in a variety of locations throughout my county and look for possible causes or connections between lighting and the readings. I've selected a variety of test areas by using a light pollution map and I will use the DarkSky lighting assessment. I need help with the best way to word my problem question. I thought one of the following might work.

Problem Question Possibilities

How do sources (decorative landscape lighting, home security lights, business security lights, street lights) of light pollution affect night sky quality?

How does outdoor lighting (decorative landscape lighting, home security lights, business security lights, street lights) affect levels of light pollution?

What is the correlation between sky quality readings and sources of light pollution in Jefferson Co.?

Thank you for your help.

Hi there,

I think naming light pollution is a great way to set up the wording of your problem question. The parenthesis on the first problem question is a great way to provide examples of light pollution, but you could put it after the phrase "light pollution" instead of after "sources". You can also tailor it to your county by including "Jefferson Co." at the end. Something like: How do sources of light pollution(ex. decorative landscape lighting, home security lights, business security lights, street lights)...so on.

Hope this helps.