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Czech astronomers are hoping for clear skies on June 1 when the world's first national light pollution law comes into effect. People who pollute the night skies with street lighting or other sources face fines of up to ?3,000.

The law was passed after lobbying by environmentalists and astronomers who had noted a decline in the quality of star-gazing due to development, street advertising and sports facilities, all brightly lit. Authorities now have a duty to control the upward spread of light with shades and housings.

Jenik Hollan, an astronomer at the Nicholas Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium in Brno, said: "Because of light pollution, stronger equipment is needed to observe the stars, which are vanishing in an ever brighter sky."

David L. Crawford, executive director of the International Dark-Sky Association, said: "Fully shielded light fixtures not only preserve the beauty of the starry sky, but illuminate more efficiently and allow people to see better at night."

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