this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023
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Given the harmful effects of light pollution, a pair of astronomers has coined a new term to help focus efforts to combat it. Their term, as reported in a brief paper in the preprint database arXiv and a letter to the journal Science, is "noctalgia." In general, it means "sky grief," and it captures the collective pain we are experiencing as we continue to lose access to the night sky.

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[–] NOT_RICK 61 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I saw the Milky Way for the first time when I visited Cooperstown New York 5 or so years back. My neck was sore by the time I stopped looking. It’s a shame most people don’t know what they’re missing out on.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 year ago (4 children)

When I lived out in the country I could see it almost every clear night. I could also watch satellites drift overhead, and there were so many fireflies I could walk through the woods at night without a flashlight.

Suburbs fucking suck.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

I used to live in Michigan. My family had a farm, nearest city was like 30 miles away, and it wasnt even a large city. I could see the stars and occasional nebula. I remember one winter, my family even saw the Northern Lights. It was magical.

Now I live in Tennessee, in a suburb. I'm lucky if I see a few stars at night. I hate it. I miss the night sky.

[–] NOT_RICK 6 points 1 year ago

I like living near people but the dark night sky would be a welcome change.

[–] FordBeeblebrox 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Living in a tiny town has its drawbacks and everyone knows everyone’s business, but if you get the urge to just be alone you can head off in any compass direction and find peace out in nature. Sure the takeout options are more varied in the city but constant traffic noise fucking hurts my head and I can’t see any constellations anymore

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

That’s the best part, I didn’t live in town. They could have their petty bullshit, I just wanted the stars

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The lack of fireflies aren't a rural/urban thing, I don't think. I've always lived in suburbs of a mid-size city and definitely remember fireflies swarming around as a kid, too.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I only moved about three years ago, so it’s definitely a rural/suburban thing. However, the suburbs have waaaaay less fireflies than a decade ago.

[–] XeroxCool 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Check out Cherry Spring state park. It's a dedicated star park in mid north PA classes as Bortle 2 light pollution (cities are 8+, uninhabited it 1)

Edit: don't forgot to avoid the moon