Light Polllution-What can you see at night?

Re:Light Polllution-What can you see at night? (kland01s)

Fri, 22 May 2009 13:11:01 GMT

At home we can see the brightest stars and constellations but we have a street light at the end of our drive and 2 miles to the west is a congested area of strip malls that pollute the night sky. I do have some good memories of a clear sky.

In the 1960's I went to Scout camp in Northern Wisconsin, you could always see every star. I remember seeing the northern lights frequently and if we walked out on the dock at night, the stars dipped right in to the dark still lake.

More recently, last fall, we stayed at a B&B outside of Galena Illinois which is in a very rural setting. I'm not sure why I woke in the night but I opened my eyes and could see Orion right out our window. I woke my partner and we went out on the balcony to see more stars shinning so brightly than we could remember in ages.

Re:Light Polllution-What can you see at night? (SeamusD)

Fri, 22 May 2009 11:13:56 GMT

I can't really see much of anything... I live on a hill overlooking a city, too much light pollution.

I went to central PA to bury my grandmother not too long ago, and as I walked into the house one night, I noticed a bright light up on the mountain, so I stopped to see what the heck it was. It was either Mars or Venus just cresting the ridge, it looked like a floodlight. I walked into the side yard away from the porch lights, and couldn't remember the last time I'd seen the stars so bright.

It's sad, most people in the US don't get to see that, all crammed together in brightly lit cities.

Re:Light Polllution-What can you see at night? (Mosca)

Fri, 22 May 2009 09:58:38 GMT

Here in NEPA, the sky is usually pretty well lit. Sometimes, on a night right after a cold front has come through, I can see the Milky Way. But usually, no.

The most amazing night sky I've ever seen was on the Big Island in Hawaii. Middle of the Pacific Ocean, Honolulu a couple hundred miles away the only real city. Amazing. "Sky like diamonds" doesn't even begin to say it.

Re:Light Polllution-What can you see at night? (WarToad)

Fri, 22 May 2009 09:02:10 GMT

Up in the vast wastelan... wheat fields of northern North Dakota, the night sky is awash in clouds of stars on moonless nights. No light pollution up here.

Re:Light Polllution-What can you see at night? (felix4067)

Fri, 22 May 2009 07:04:40 GMT

I used to be able to see what seemed like millions of stars from my back yard, but the city grew around us and now all I can see is reflection of lights on the clouds. It's worse if there's a ball game as the park is less than a half-mile from my house. I'm in Comstock Park, MI (which used to NOT be part of Grand Rapids).

At my sister's cabin way up north (Irons, MI), you can see stars, but unless you have a light source or the moon is full you cannot see your hand in front of your face. That feels fabulous.

Re:Light Polllution-What can you see at night? (brittneal)

Fri, 22 May 2009 06:32:22 GMT

I remember my first camping trip in the scouts. We were in the mountains outside of Denver. There wasnt a man made light source in a 20 mile radius and back then there was no pollution. On top of it all we were at about 12,00 feet so the thin air helped them shine thru.. It was scary. There was no moon that night, just millions of stars. They were so bright it hurt your eyes to look at them! That really affected me. Ill never forget that sky!

Light Polllution-What can you see at night? (Fieldthistle)

Fri, 22 May 2009 05:07:17 GMT

Hello All,
Tonight, my daughter and I had a bonfire and
spent some time identifying constellations and
just enjoying the night sky as we just talked.
In my mind, it was a holy and joyful time.
And later I wondered, what do other people
see and experience when they go out at night
and look into the sky?
So I ask, where do you live? I live in Hinton, Va..
And what do you see in your night sky, and
how do you feel when you look up into the heavens?
I'm just curious.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle