Light Pollution

Light pollution is a man-made phenomenon whereby a detailed view of the night sky is obscured by excessive or poorly-designed artificial lighting, especially in or around cities and towns. This is a significant concern for amateur and professional astronomers, since the vast majority of stars and astronomical features which would otherwise be visible from the earth's surface are hidden from view, or visible at a decreased resolution, within many miles of a developed population center. Many people consider light pollution unsightly, and it can have a detrimental effect on the fauna of nearby wilderness areas, especially for nocturnal animals.