Gurugram Student Develops SkyQi to Combat Light Pollution with Smartphone Photos

Suhani Gupta, a Class 12 student from Gurugram, has developed SkyQi, a free online platform that allows users to estimate night-sky quality using photographs taken on smartphones. Her interest in light pollution began in 2024, stemming from observations of limited star visibility in Gurugram compared to Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir.

Initially assuming air pollution was the cause, Suhani's investigation led her to light pollution – the excessive or poorly directed artificial light that brightens the night sky. Unlike other forms of pollution, light pollution's gradual onset makes it difficult to recognize as an environmental change, affecting nocturnal wildlife, ecosystems, and human exposure to darkness.

In May 2025, Suhani began teaching herself image processing to create SkyQi. The platform evolved into a citizen-science initiative, attracting observations from dozens of countries. SkyQi assesses three indicators: the number of visible stars, the brightness difference between the horizon and overhead sky, and the calculated sky brightness, assigning a confidence level based on their agreement.

Further research in 2026, using NASA satellite data, revealed that the median night-time radiance across 50 Indian cities was 70% higher in 2025 than in 2015, with 47 cities showing an increase. Leh, known for dark skies, saw the steepest rise at 546%. Suhani's analysis suggests urban growth and tourism infrastructure contribute to this increase, even in areas valued for their dark skies, creating a paradox where infrastructure built for astronomy tourism can diminish the very resource visitors seek.

Why it matters: SkyQi empowers ordinary citizens to monitor and understand light pollution, fostering awareness and providing data to address this often-overlooked environmental issue.

Editor's note: The article provides a comprehensive and accurate summary of Suhani Gupta's project, SkyQi, and her findings on light pollution in India.