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When I was a child in the 80s, the night sky was filled with stars. And those stars inspired us to imagine other worlds & ask really big questions.

Decades later, the night sky looks like a much lonelier place. Light pollution is increasing & I fear we may lose the ability to be awed by looking up & recognizing our place in the universe.

I don’t know about others, but I sure miss the stars. Image: Luke Stackpoole via Unsplash

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Since my first telescope in the 90s, as the years pass I have fewer places to take my scope.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Yet another reason for backpacking in the Rockies, although Starlink may have messed that up too.

(Pro tip: Backpacking in the Rockies on August 12-13 cannot be beat.)

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

I'm so fortunate to have a rural home on the ocean where we spend the summers. For decades, you'd need a flashlight to get from your car to your front door. Hurricanes took down many trees and street lights are LED now, so some light is seen, but it's not polluting the sky. Took this 3 days ago with my cheap Android. #NovaScotia #Halifax #NecumTeuch #Stars #NightPhotography

https://mstdn.ca/@Rasta/111343615926968351

in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

most of the world still has clear skies and stars. Thankfully it is clear where I live.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Oh, give it another few decades of climate change kicking in, and I'm pretty sure my kids will have nice views of the sky again (bc. economic meltdown or the like).
Not too happy about this, though.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Where I lived in the 80s was nice and dark until the office building went in next door, with the parking lot lights on dusk-til-dawn. It's darker here, but a bit foggydrizzly at the moment.

Telescope technology has improved considerably, and while it can't see through fog, the new telescopes can get images even under extreme light pollution. This was taken at the in-laws' place in Paterson New Jersey, which has horrible light pollution:

in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

I used to help out with an event - and the thing I loved the most about our first venue was how I could walk to the top of the hill and lay on the grass and just look up and see the stars.

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