How does light pollution stop us from seeing the stars?

Question

I need this for a science fair, so I need professional answers. Don't give me crap!!!!!:)

Answer 1

I thnk that the first answer was the best. Here's the bottom line: do you see stars during the day? There are just as many out as in the night.

Answer 2

You can't see the stars because of residual light from other sources-light pollution. Think of sitting around a camp fire, and looking out at the nearby trees. You can't see them.

But step away from the camp fire and you may be able to see the shapes of the trees, assuming some light from the moon.

You are lessening the affects of the residual light-the camp fire-by getting away from it. This makes the background objects clearer.



This is why we can see so many more stars in the countryside, rather than downtown.


William

Answer 3

Light pollution is a side effect of industry and it prevents us from seeing stars because of the light. There are several classifications of stars where some are brighter and some are dimmer. The ones that are brighter can compensate for light pollution, and the dimmer ones can't. But, if you want go to these sites and I'm confidant that they will answer your questions better than I can.

Answer 4

Components of light pollution include:

1.Light trespass - Spill light coming from another property.
2.Glare - From seeing the bright filament of an unshielded light, troublesome and dangerous.
3.Clutter - Excessive grouping of lights, causes confusion as well.
4.Energy waste - Costing us over One Billion Dollars a year in the U.S.A. alone.
5.Urban sky glow - Domes of light over cities. Blocks out faint objects such as the Milky Way, Nebula and distant galaxies. Only a few bright stars can be seen from the city.

LIGHT TRESPASS:
Light from an unshielded fixture that is suppose to be illuminating the ground is also casting light upward. This is wasted light and wasted money. Some fixtures spill light onto other properties. This can be prevented by taking care in the placement and alignment of the light.

GLARE:
Generally speaking, if you can see a lights filament or source from a reasonable distance then the light is not well shielded.
The glare from an unshieded fixture can compromise visibility and increases the chance for accidents. Bright glare can also produce high contrast shadows. These shadows actually become cooridors of darkness that can become hiding places for potential criminals.

CLUTTER:
Excessive glare can make driving difficult and light clutter can cause distraction. For safety reasons every effort should be made to establish quality lighting on and near heavily traveled roads. Billboards and outdoor signs are designed to attract our attention. Often these are lit up with bright flashing lights. These light sources add considerably to the overall light pollution.

ENERGY WASTE:
A night time aerial view of a city reveals how much energy we waste by using unshielded lights. Any direct light sources that can be seen from above are contributing to a waste of energy and the precious resources that produce that energy.
Lincoln is fortunate to have some of the lowest electrical rates in the country. Summer rates are 6.5 cents per kilowatt-hour and winter rates are 5 cents. A national average is 8 cents. By reducing the amount of upward (wasted) light we can help to extend our overall energy pool. Since Lincoln is growing rapidly, this makes good economic sense.

URBAN SKY GLOW:
This is the bane of astronomers world-wide. The combined output of all the lights in a city cause the sky to be washed out. Faint deep sky objects such as galaxies and nebula become impossible to see.

Sky glow is rapidly becoming worse. We must start now to encourage quality lighting. Reducing the upward shining light will help eliminate these light domes. Our children need to be able to see the stars. They are the ones with the eager questions and imaginations that will shape our future!

SOME EASY SOLUTIONS:

1.Use the right amount of light, not overkill.
2.Shield the light so that is goes down, not up or sideways.
3.Use light timer controls whenever possible.
4.Use LPS fixtures whenever possible because it is the most energy efficient and because its light can be filtered out with telescope filters.
5.Avoid using round globe lights unless they are properly shielded.
6.Be aware of quality lighting. Let people know when you see some good and attractive lighting arrangements.
7.Educate other people about the adverse effects of inappropriate lighting.

Source: http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/light.htm

Answer 5

As the light reflects of particles in the atomosphere, the stars are not seen kbecause the amount of light reflected is equal or more than how much the star gives off. Can i have a best answer?

Answer 6

Simply put, let's say you have glow in the dark stickers on your wall. All day, they absorb energy and put it out, but because there's so much light coming from everything else, your eye chooses to ignore it.