Mexico City: Why the Stars Are Missing

Generated Title: Mexico City's Lost Stars: A Disaster or Just Bad Data?

The Fading Glow of the Night Sky

Mexico City, once a place where the Milky Way stretched across the heavens, is now a void. A recent article highlighted astronomer Omar López-Cruz's lament that light pollution has rendered the stars invisible to capital dwellers. The claim is stark: an entire generation is growing up without ever seeing the night sky in its full glory. But is this purely an ecological disaster, or is there more to the story?

López-Cruz attributes the problem to "the enormous amount of lights" in Mexico City, leading to light pollution. He draws an analogy to the sun, explaining that just as the sun's intensity makes stars invisible during the day, excessive artificial light does the same at night. The article also mentions a 2022 initiative to reform the Environmental Law, citing concerns like compromised bird migration and disrupted circadian cycles.

But let's dig a little deeper. The article states that up to 50% of lighting is used in "unwanted or unnecessary areas." That's a significant figure, but what does it actually mean? What methodology was used to arrive at this number? Was it a comprehensive audit of every light fixture in the city, or an estimate based on a smaller sample? Details on the study that produced this figure are absent from the report.

Data Gaps and Anecdotal Evidence

This lack of specificity raises questions. If half the city's lighting is truly unnecessary, why isn't there a more aggressive push to reduce it? Is it a matter of political will, or are there underlying economic factors at play? (Perhaps businesses benefit from the increased visibility, even if it's environmentally detrimental.)

The article also presents the issue as a political one, noting that the Mexico City Congress approved an initiative to address light pollution. But it also admits that no recent updates have been made to this reform. What's the holdup? Is the initiative facing bureaucratic hurdles, or is there resistance from powerful stakeholders?

And this is the part of the report that I find genuinely puzzling. The article paints a dire picture of ecological damage and wasted energy, yet the political response seems muted. There's a discrepancy between the severity of the problem as described and the urgency of the action being taken. A rational actor would expect a more decisive response to a crisis of this magnitude.

Methodological Critique: It's worth pausing here to consider how light pollution is actually measured. Is it based on satellite imagery, ground-based sensors, or a combination of both? What are the limitations of these methods? Satellite data, for example, might be skewed by cloud cover or atmospheric conditions. Ground-based measurements, on the other hand, might not capture the full extent of the problem across the entire city.

The article also mentions that some uninhabited areas in northern Mexico have become dark sky sanctuaries. This suggests that the problem is not insurmountable. But it also raises the question of whether it's even feasible to restore truly dark skies to a megacity like Mexico City. The economic and social costs of such an undertaking could be substantial.

From Mission to Mission: A Different Kind of Light

In other news from Mexico, Elder H. Ross Workman and his wife, Kaye, have been called to lead the México México City West Mission. Elder Workman's life story is one of unexpected turns, from initially refusing a mission call to becoming a prominent patent attorney and ultimately presiding over the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. His experience highlights the importance of adaptability and service. The details of this appointment were covered by the Church News. Learn about the new México México City West Mission leaders

The article emphasizes the Workmans' commitment to following the counsel of Church leaders and their willingness to embrace new challenges. It also touches on the financial sacrifices they made early in their marriage to prioritize family and education. This narrative of faith and perseverance stands in stark contrast to the story of Mexico City's lost stars.

Data Doesn't Equal Disaster

While the ecological concerns are valid, the narrative of irreversible damage may be overstated. The lack of specific data on the effectiveness of mitigation efforts makes it difficult to assess the true extent of the problem. It's possible that targeted interventions, such as replacing inefficient streetlights and regulating billboard illumination, could make a significant difference. Until those interventions are put into action, the disappearance of Mexico City’s stars is more of a data problem than an ecological one.

A Case of Diminishing Returns