Whilst we are fortunate to live in a Dark Sky reserve, we see light pollution seeping in at the edges and with the new street lamps installed a couple of years ago—more energy efficient but on all night and can intuit the feeling above, a new coinage from the astronomy community lamenting, grieving over the loss of star-gazing. Not only are urban illuminations obscuring over view but also the proliferation of miniature satellites which while facilitating communication confound observation of deep space. Light pollution is also affecting nocturnal animals and insects, much to their detriment. On a clear, moonless night, the experience is always transfixing and is a bonus to walking the dog, meaning I have more excuses to partake of the wonder, but it should be availed to everyone. It makes me think of the far-future fable (see previously here and here) billions of years hence when the purchase and purview of any star-watching civilisation will be much diminished and the Cosmos beyond one’s local group has receded and dipped below the horizon and space seems far from infinite.
synchronoptica
one year ago: Ba-Dee-Ya, Martin Luther’s German translation of the Bible, more on the US Space Force plus a collection of manhole covers
two years ago: an advertisement for Ivermectin
three years ago: the Order of the Smile, The Hobbit (1937), the legacy of colonial goods stores, alternative chess plus wide-scale money laundering
four years ago: The Far Side returns plus more Earth, Wind and Fire
five years ago: assorted links to revisit, a sexy Handmaiden costume for Halloween plus Dial-a-Song
