How come I never...

[Bronn]

...see as many stars at night as I used to? This is something that has been bugging me lately...

http://www.universetoday.com/24310/how-many-stars-can-you-see/

On a clear, moonless night in a place far away from city lights, you should be able to see about 2000 stars.

...and then you see pictures like this...

...where you can see the Milky Way...

I don't recall the last time I have seen more than 7 or 8 stars in the sky at night... Is pollution that bad? Is my vision that bad?... WTF?

(PS this was inspired by Delhommey's Timescapes thread)

[The Saltman]

smog.

I know when I went to tahiti for my honeymoon I saw so many stars, but here in ATL its so different.

its really all about air quality.

[SCP]

light pollution from the ground.

go up to the blue ridge mountains and the stars will blow your mind.

[Bronn]

This is truly sad... What a disgusting species we are...

[Floppin]

It's more than likely light pollution that is blocking your view. If you live in an Urban setting you won't see many stars. Go away from the lights.

[Guest Irv]

on deployment out to see stars are beautiful and plentiful but here at home i barely even notice them.

[Panthro]

Light pollution + regular pollution funneled to us by the mountains

[Guest]

...see as many stars at night as I used to? This is something that has been bugging me lately...

http://www.universetoday.com/24310/how-many-stars-can-you-see/

...and then you see pictures like this...

...where you can see the Milky Way...

I don't recall the last time I have seen more than 7 or 8 stars in the sky at night... Is pollution that bad? Is my vision that bad?... WTF?

(PS this was inspired by Delhommey's Timescapes thread)

Cuz the stars are all really old and they are burning out. Duh!!

[Chaos]

Last night, there was this awesome ring around the moon, saw it about 9:00. Anyone else see it?

[Guest]

yep I did see the ring around the moon.

[d-run]

Like everyone else has said, it is light pollution.

Here is a dark sky finder that works like a radar for rain. The white/red is the worst, gray has almost no light pollution. The places with no light pollution will blow your mind when looking at the stars. As you can tell, you basically can't even tell it is night in Charlotte, let alone see stars. The closest place to Charlotte to get a good view is in the southwestern tip of NC. If you really want to see some awesome views go to the Monongahela National Forest on the WV/VA border.

http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/index.php?lat=36.79169061907076&lng=-82.781982421875&zoom=7&pollution=true&selected_id=1

[Darth Biscuit]

Last night there was this awesome ring around uranus... did you see it?

[Scrumtrilescent]

Wipe better.

[Mrs Pantherfan]