Abstract

Light pollution, a rapidly escalating anthropogenic phenomenon driven by the excessive and often ine cient use of arti cial lighting, has profound implications for astronomy, ecology, and human health. This study presents the rst comprehensive characterization of night sky quality in Colombia, focusing on sites of astronomical and ecological signi cance. The selected locations include the Astronomical Observatory of UTP, the Tatacoa Desert, the Bogota Botanical Garden, and Cerro Guadalupe. Utilizing the Sky Quality Camera, we collected all-sky data to measure surface brightness and correlated color temperature of the night sky. Our ndings reveal a signi cant loss of natural sky visibility in urban areas and demonstrate the detrimental e ects of arti cial lighting on critical astronomical sites such as La Tatacoa. This study provides a crucial foundation for future research and informs on the development of public policies aimed at preserving the night sky.