International Meteor Organization's Limiting Magnitude Charts -- The best way to quantatively measure the amount of light pollution is by the determination of the limiting magnitude for stars visible from your area. It is known that, with ideal conditions, the average person should see stars as faint as 6.0 to 6.5 magnitude with the naked-eye. Modeling Light Pollution From Population Data and Implications for National Park Service Lands - There are many factors that affect night-time sky brightness, both natural and man-made. It is useful to think of what the main light sources are and how this light is scattered. The natural sources come from stars, the Milky Way, airglow, and sometimes moonlight. Manmade sources include streetlights and other outdoor lights, concentrated largely in towns and cities. Light is scattered by air molecules, natural and anthropogenic particulates, and haze (an enlargement of these particulates related to atmospheric moisture). The result of all these factors is what we see at night in terms of the sky brightness. The First World Atlas of the Artificial Night Sky Brightness - by Cinzano, Falchi, and Elvidge. (pdf)   Also: The night sky in the World Version 2 DMSP-OLS Nighttime Lights Time Series - The files are cloud-free composites made using all the available archived DMSP-OLS smooth resolution data for calendar years. In cases where two satellites were collecting data - two composites were produced. The products are 30 arc second grids, spanning -180 to 180 degrees longitude and -65 to 65 degrees latitude. A number of constraints are used to select the highest quality data for entry into the composites. Hubbell Skycap Program - Are you looking to improve the night time sky? Tired of having that streetlight glare into your second story window. The City of Ames Electric Services can help by making available to those that request it, the Hubbell Skycap. International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) -- goals are to be effective in stopping the adverse environmental impact on dark skies by building awareness of the problem of light pollution and of the solutions, and to educate everyone about the value and effectiveness of quality nighttime lighting. IDA believes in a united approach that is very supportive of the many local and individual efforts. Lighting Up the Ecosphere Light Pollution Light Pollution Images     © Copyright 2007 - Samuel J. Wormley   by swormley1@mchsi.com