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https://www.cnet.com/news/reykjavik-turns-off-street-lamps-so-citizens-can-view-the-northern-lights/
The northern lights have been blazing their beauty across Icelandic skies all last week, but it's a lot easier to watch nature's light show if the city lights themselves aren't so darn bright. So, on Wednesday night the Reykjavik city council turned off the lights in parts of the city so residents could ooh and aah at a clearer display.
The city street lights in most neighborhoods were scheduled to go dark between 10 and 11 p.m., though that time was reportedly extended when the northern lights were a little late to the party. Locals were asked to help by keeping the lights off in their homes. They were asked to drive carefully on the darker -than-normal streets, and the fire, police and power company were warned in advance, according to Iceland Monitor.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Webweasel on Monday October 03 2016, @02:51PM
I tried to watch the Perseids this year. I try and watch them every year, but the UK has been overcast in my area for the last 5 years.
It was supposed to be one of the better years, 150 or so an hour. In 3 hours I saw two.
All down to light pollution. The sky glows at night along the horizon due to the street lighting in the neighbouring towns, add in my neighbours who seem to think they need great big floodlights illuminating their garden all night long and I'm lucky if I can see a few stars at all most nights. If I can see Cassiopeia, its a good night.
I think the last time I saw the Milky Way was about 22 years ago.
Will no one think of the poor amateur astronomer?
Priyom.org Number stations, Russian Military radio. "You are a bad, bad man. Do you have any other virtues?"-Runaway1956
(Score: 5, Funny) by Kilo110 on Monday October 03 2016, @03:29PM
I've lived on the East Coast US my entire life and never cared for the sky. Maybe a dozen or so stars are visible at night.
Last year I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to Japan and climb Mt. Fuji at night. The night sky above the clouds and pollution was breath taking. I've knew academically that there are countless stars visible and I've seen pictures as well. But they do not do the reality justice.
(Score: 1) by Scruffy Beard 2 on Monday October 03 2016, @06:22PM
I suspect that was a Funny-Sad mod.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Unixnut on Monday October 03 2016, @04:01PM
I know how you feel, I had the same experience in the UK and the Perseids for the last few years.
And when I had to move back to the big city for work, the light pollution ruined everything. I am lucky to see three stars at night due to the glare.
It is so bad that since moving here 3 years ago, I have not once even bothered taking out my scope. There is not much to see, and I've taken all the pictures of the moon I can really want.
It really killed my hobby, although there are people in London that keep it alive. See here if you are interested: http://www.bakerstreetastro.org/ [bakerstreetastro.org]
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 03 2016, @04:14PM
This seems oblig. International Dark Sky Parks [darksky.org]. It looks like there's a few locations in the UK.
(Score: 2) by edIII on Monday October 03 2016, @11:11PM
Try Las Vegas for awhile. If there is cloud cover at night we have a "second day". It's interesting to try to find a place in Las Vegas in the middle of the night where you can't see anything. Pretty rare find. If there is a full moon, we can't tell the difference either. Plus the Luxor is probably objectively brighter than a full moon, and that's every single night.
I went on a trip to South America once though and can quote SpongeBob, "this isn't your everyday darkness, this is.... advanced darkness". Then they told me there were Jaguars in the jungle and I couldn't pay attention to the stars as well.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.