When I look up at the sky at night I don't see stars like I did years ago. I can only see one or two tonight. I remember my brothers an I looking up and picking out the big dipper and the little dipper and the milkyway to name a few. I just can't see the stars like I did back then.Is it polluation? Can you see the stars? I miss seeing them.
2007-02-20 11:53:52 · 10 answers · asked by Pamela V 7 in Environment
I see a large field outside my window I see deer running .I live just at the edge of the city. Right across the street are many business but outside my window is a large field with deer and all kinds of wild life.I suppose the city is still close enough to block my view of the stars.
2007-02-20 12:03:24 · update #1
Light pollution is the reason you are not seeing as many stars as you used too. It is caused by all the light bulbs people in a city leave on at night. The light goes up into the sky, gets scattered around and comes back to you blocking out the light of faint stars. It not only is a major problem for stargazers and astronomers, but is a waste of energy as well since light going up in the sky is not lighting up anything on the ground.
If you want to see stars better you're going to have to get as far away from cities as possible. Go out to the country or someplace rural and the sky will be much darker.
2007-02-20 12:19:18 · answer #1 · answered by Roman Soldier 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like some of the other answers indicate, it is mostly light pollution. I live in the country (about 110 km north of Toronto) and can see them clearly. I have been to northern parts of Canada (not the far north but northern Alberta). In places like that, where there is very little pollution (light and smog) the stars are amazing. Just a few years ago I saw the northern lights, right from where I live (unusual for this far south).
The good news is, if you go camping or for a drive in the country you can see the stars again!
2007-02-20 20:07:29 · answer #2 · answered by fergy_1967 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is usually because of light pollution. If you get out into the countryside you can see many many more stars and it is just as breathtaking as it was when you were little. Recently I have been able to see the dippers very clearly as the stars have seemed brighter than usual even though I am in/near the city.
2007-02-20 19:57:48 · answer #3 · answered by sticky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To begin with, you can only see stars to a magnitude of around "5" even on a good night. This is about 5000 +/- total.
While particles and other pollutants do effect the transparency of the air they are usually not the biggest factor in that sense.
The biggest "pollutant" is actually LIGHT. We have lit up our world so much that the glow blankets much of the light from the stars.
If you go out to sea, or into a rural area that is distant from city or other broad based light sources you will see the stars again.
(Some observatories have had to abandon critical work as cities and outside lighting increased in their areas)
A 'proof' of this is to go outside during a power failure, assuming proper weather, and see how the stars have 'returned'.
2007-02-20 20:05:46 · answer #4 · answered by sternsheets 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Until very recently I lived on a small island in the Caribbean and the stars were beautiful to look at. I now live in a small city on the mainland and I can only see very few because of the light pollution. I miss living on the island.
2007-02-20 20:02:49 · answer #5 · answered by Don 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may need corrective lenses and/or a telescope. You may also need to move from the city. Streetlights can have an effect on your ability to see.
I have never counted a million, the most I have seen is 60 or 70.
I still see the Big Dipper from my balcony and Orion's Belt.
2007-02-20 19:59:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light pollution. Too much light in cities blocks out the light of the stars.
2007-02-20 20:00:32 · answer #7 · answered by Heather 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i see them.
if you have many bright lights around you will not be able to see them
or if you live in a large city with pollution you will not be able to see them either
or if it is cloudy
(sorry for the bits of info here and there but my grammar skills are not very high today)
2007-02-20 19:58:19 · answer #8 · answered by neongreensugar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is the population because we are incressing in numbers meaning we are using more light so we can not see all of the gasses in the sky that produce the stars
2007-02-20 20:00:36 · answer #9 · answered by Adryana j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mostly it's city lighting and things blocking them out. they are still there, really! get out of town and you will see them again.
2007-02-20 19:57:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋