Stargazing Viewing night sky in the middle of a major city

AI Thread Summary
Viewing the night sky in a major city presents significant challenges due to light pollution, making it difficult to see stars. Some individuals find that while stars are hard to observe, planets can still be visible, especially if they have a darker area of sky available. One user is attempting to study exoplanet transit light curves but faces obstacles from nearby streetlights. The discussion highlights the frustration of urban astronomy and the limitations imposed by city lights. Overall, urban environments severely limit astronomical observations, particularly for distant celestial bodies.
BadBrain
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Wouldn't do me any good. I live in the middle of a major city, and, the last time I looked at the night sky at my true local astronomical midnight, it looked like God had turned out the lights.
 
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BadBrain said:
Wouldn't do me any good. I live in the middle of a major city...
As do I. But I prefer planets to stars. And it's not too bad for planets.

I'm lucky - I live right on the lake, which is to the south, so at least half my sky is relatively dark.
 


DaveC426913 said:
As do I. But I prefer planets to stars. And it's not too bad for planets.

I'm lucky - I live right on the lake, which is to the south, so at least half my sky is relatively dark.

I'm attempting to do exoplanet transit light curves with two streetlights about 100 ft away in both directions. I can't even see M31 near zenith here. :frown:
 


Drakkith said:
I'm attempting to do exoplanet transit light curves with two streetlights about 100 ft away

You will fail. Exoplanets are very far away. Much too far to transit in front of a streetlight.

: biggrin :
 


DaveC426913 said:
You will fail. Exoplanets are very far away. Much too far to transit in front of a streetlight.

: biggrin :

Unless it's planet Mothra. :biggrin:
 

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