Most of the US east of the Mississippi is plagued by light pollution now. It appears that Americans are terrified of the dark. The wattage of the lights burned unnecessarily, sometimes 24 hours a day, is staggering.
Even in the rural areas like mine, people leave outdoor lights on all night. Often these are huge floodlights called "security" lights. The effect on the starscape is maddening, but of course none of them ever look up anyway. They are all indoors staring open mouthed and drooling at the television.
We won't even discuss the noise pollution, which exceeds light pollution by a factor of at least ten.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2010-08-05 02:27 pm (UTC)Even in the rural areas like mine, people leave outdoor lights on all night. Often these are huge floodlights called "security" lights. The effect on the starscape is maddening, but of course none of them ever look up anyway. They are all indoors staring open mouthed and drooling at the television.
We won't even discuss the noise pollution, which exceeds light pollution by a factor of at least ten.