Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, "If the Stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore. But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile."

Unfortunately, not even Emerson could predict how fallible starlight could be during modern times of overwhelming light pollution. Earlier today, in Australia's capital of Sydney, residents received their first glimpse of a dark city skyline. For some, it was one of the few times they could pick out certain constellations.

Sydney dimmed or turned off lights to highlight the pressing issue of climate change and bring awareness to energy consumption. The city of 4 million people had one hour in which to marvel as such landmarks as the harbor bridge, Syden Opera House, and chunks of the skyline went dark. The move was supported by environmentalists, Sydney City Officials, New South Whales state government and thousands of businesses and organizations. Restaurants even held candlelight-only specials and families gathered in parks to celebrate.

I applaud Sydney for this move. Not only did they appear moderately successful in their efforts to kick the lights, but they also did it for an extended period of time. Cities like Paris, Rome and Athens made similar strides earlier in February, but those lasted only about 5 minutes. Efforts, while small, are underway in many parts of the world to curb light pollution, while still maintaining safe and well-lit areas. It's well-known that excessive light wastes energy, obscures the night sky, disrupts ecosystems, and even harm human health. Energy towards lighting accounts for one fourth of world-wide consumption. Those Target signs or parking lots you see illuminated all night are part of the problem. It's time to recognize what's useful and what's wasteful.

It's with sad amusement that I watch my friends from urban areas look up at the stars in wonder when they come to visit my country setting. While the second part of Emerson's quote may not be necessarily true anymore, the first is surprisingly real. When was the last time you saw a perfect dark sky?

Hit the jump for more information on Sydney's successful dark hour.