🚀 go-pugleaf

In a previous article, bcarpent@sun.cis.smu.edu (Bryan Carpenter) wrote:
>Hello
> 
>I'd like to pose a question.  Some scientists have identified a problem
>regarding the way in which humans use light.  They contend that energy is
>wasted by improper shielding.  They claim that because of improper
>shielding light is used to light the sky as opposed to the ground.  

This is clearly true.  Scads of articles in Sky and Telescope, Astronomy,
etc, document this.  Many public observatories can provide information 
on light pollution and how to reduce it.

>Additionally, astronomists have found Earth bound celestial viewing
>increasingly difficult as more of the planet is urbanized.  That means
>that astronomists are forced to make only "guesstimations" when dealing
>with astronomical matters.  

This is false.  Some large observatories have been severely impacted,
but new ones have been built in remote areas that are free of light 
pollution, so it's not a matter of guesstimates having to be made, 
but it does mean that things are more expensive and that some large 
observatories are limited as to what they can see.

>Some psychologists have also asserted that humanity as a whole is being
>impacted by the lack of stars readily viewable in the night sky.  They say
>that urban societies are unable to contemplate thier origins.  This lack
>of thought has caused society to become restless and irritable.

I suspect this is unprovable one way or the other.  It does seem a real
shame though that few people now get to enjoy the beauty of a really
dark, star-filled sky on any sort of regular basis, and a significant number
of people may NEVER have taken in such a view.

>Can anyone reasonbly verify or deny all or one of these ideas?

Don