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The loss of dark skies is so painful, astronomers coined a new term for it (www.space.com)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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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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[–] 58 points 2 years 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.

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  • [–] 39 points 2 years 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.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 years 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.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    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

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    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.

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years 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

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