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Richard Huziak loves looking at the stars so much he rarely does it anymore. Instead, he has devoted his time to preserving our view of the cosmos.

“We’re losing the skies, I have to do something about it,” Huziak says.

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Putting down his telescope was no easy decision. Huziak has gazed upwards for decades, since the Apollo missions inspired him as a child. He has contributed greatly to astronomical science, to the point where the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid — 4143 Huziak — in his honour.

As the years went on, Huziak started to recognize a threat to his passion. Light pollution, the unnecessary spilling of light upwards, has become an increasing problem, he says. It’s not always easy to tell to the naked eye, but stray light can severely hamper the ability to see distant celestial bodies.

“If you want to preserve the sky, and have something to look at, you’ve got to keep it dark somehow,” Huziak says.