Credit: BLACKWELL SCIENCE

Astronomers at last week's general assembly of the International Astronomical Union in Manchester expressed concerns about rampant light pollution. High-resolution satellite images reveal the extent of the problem (Cinzano, P. et al. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., in the press). This map of Europe shows the ratios between artificial and natural sky brightness (red is the worst at more than 9:1).