❗️NEW LIGHT POLLUTION MAPS ARE HERE! 💡
David Lorenz has just released the latest annual update of his popular light pollution maps (https://t.co/fKRxweCwdm) — and they reveal a lot.
Take LA’s iconic Griffith Observatory, one of the world’s most popular observatories. Over the past 18 years, the night sky around it has become much brighter due to expanding city lights.
🔆 White zones = skies is more than 46× brighter than natural darkness
🩶 Light gray zones = skies are 27 to 46 times as bright as natural
⚫️ Dark gray zones = skies close to natural conditions
Like many historic observatories built near cities, Griffith now faces major light pollution challenges. Still, astronomers keep working under these ever-brighter skies.
How’s the night sky where you are? Share your light pollution story below! 👇
#LightPollution #Stargazing #Astronomy #GriffithObservatory #NightSky #StarWalk
“And when he falls asleep on my shoulder, / I thank the world for staying soft for him.”
— Allison Mei-Li
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This poem appeared in the Rust & Moth, Spring 2025. Shared here with deep gratitude.