In 1880, was described the impact of lighthouses and lighted ships on mortality of migratory birds at night
In 1897, were highlighted the massive losses among the insects, which are food for songbirds, associated with the urban street lighting in the UK
In 1917, California ornithologist Carlos Lastreio drew attention to the impact of lighthouses on the night air route of migratory birds.
In 1922, the directors of the Jagiellonian University Astronomical Observatory, having its office practically in the center of Cracow (in the Botanical Garden at the Copernicus Street0, as a result of the increasing air pollution in Cracow, and thus, the increase in light pollution there, decided to set up an observation station at the top of Lysina in the Beskid Makowski Mountains near the Myślenice city.
In 1947, due to the increasing light pollution, was decided to transfer the Royal Greenwich Observatory to the Herstmonceux Castle, 70 miles southeast of London.
In the 50's, astronomers from the Kitt Peak National Observatory south of Tucson (USA) turned their attention to the increasing brightness of the sky. In addition, this light was difficult to filter out.
In the 70's zoologists drew attention to the problems of biological clocks and behavior of nocturnal animals related to the growth of artificial illumination. At this time the concept of "light pollution" has been introduced, which began in some circles considered equally to the other types of pollution.
In 1980, the International Commission on Illumination (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage - CIE) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) issued a joint brochure (as a technical note CIE) Guidelines for Minimazing Urban Sky Glow Near Astronomical Observatoiries. Further technical notes CIE, dedicated to this problem directly, were issued in the years: 1997 - Guidelines for Minimazing Sky Glow - and 2003 - Guide on the Limitation of the Effects of obtrusive Light from Outdoor Lighting Installations
In 1985, the Dutch ecologist FJ Verheijen introduced the concept of "photopollution".
In 1988 in the United States on the initiative of Dr. David Crawford and Dr. Tim Hunter was founded the International Dark Sky Association ( IDA ). The purpose of the IDA is to stop the impact of artificial lighting on the environment through public awareness of the problem of light pollution and seek ways to avoid it. Currently, sections of the IDA work in 25 U.S. states as well as Australia, Austria, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Canada, Malta, Slovenia, Switzerland, Hungary and Italy.
Also, in 1988, was held the 112th Meeting of the International Astronomical Union "Light Pollution, Radio Interference, and Space Debris", devoted entirely to the light- and radio pollution, and littering the space. In the section on light pollution were raised not only issues related to the astronomical light pollution, but also the related topics, as the problem the light tresspassing and the economic effects of light pollution
In 1992 in Paris, UNESCO held a congress at which was highlighted the importance of excessive light. At the same time, it was found that as many as 30% of the electricity used for lighting of cities is wasted in the form of "light pollution" - the uncontrolled emission of light upward.
In 1997, the XXIII IAU General Assembly in Kyoto announced a resolution on the Protection of the Night Sky: "Proposals have been made repeatedly to place luminous objects in orbit around the earth" and considering that "the night sky is the heritage of all humanity, which should therefore be preserved untouched" and measures should be taken "to ensure that the night sky receive no less
protection than has been given to the world heritage sites on earth. "
In 1999, a meeting in Vienna was organized by the International Astronomical Union, dedicated entirely to light pollution (in the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space - UNISPACE III). Some speeches were devoted to the technical methods of reducing light pollution and also the results of light pollution measurements in different parts of the world.
Since 2000, the annual European symposiums of the Dark Sky are organized, in which are discussed the various aspects of this problem, including environmental
In 2001 was founded the Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute in Thiene, Italy (L'Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologia dell'Inquinamento Luminoso - ISTIL), on the one hand executing the similar educational and social tasks as IDA, on the other hand conceived as a research institution, seeking new techniques to measure light pollution. The Institute was established the Laboratory of Photometry and Radiometry of Light Pollution (LPLAB), which is engaged in constructing and testing instruments for measuring light pollution.
In 2002, was held a regional conference "Light pollution and the protection of the night environment. Venice: Let's save the night", organized by ISTIL and IDA
In February 2002, a conference was held in Los Angeles by The Urban Wildlands Group and the UCLA Institute of the Environment titled "Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting" summarizes the ecological effects of light pollution. The result of this conference was the publication of a collective work Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting, which brings together current knowledge on the impact of light pollution on living organisms
At the IDA conference in Boston and Cambridge in October 2002 for the first time astronomers have found themselves in the minority. 175 experts from various fields: zoologists, electricians, politicians, physicians, nature conservationists agreed on the seriousness of the problem of light pollution. At the conference, there are also a number of companies offering lighting solutions.
In April 2007, on the Canary island of La Palma was held the Interdisciplinary World Conference in Defence of the Night Sky and the Right to Observe the Stars, which included the thematic sections, as: "the defence of the quality of the night sky" "the right to observe the stars, the heritage of starlight", "the issues of light pollution, the protection of observatory sites", "the benefits of public outreach in astronomy" and "the cultural aspects of visual astronomy"
Since 2008, at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Cracow University of Technology works the research group, led by dr. Tomasz Ściężor, systematically investigating light pollution in Cracow in all weather conditions
