Light Pollution

Since the 1970s, with the advent of heavy industrailization, light pollution has become a seriuos problem in major urban areas of the world. In some nations, observatories in the suburban areas are rendered effectively useless by this problem as few stars can be seen. For many astronomers, this is a severe problem which has negative effects on their observations. Light pollution causes the horizon to be over-lit and thus stars near the horizon can be fainter and harder to see. 

Sky glow due to light pollution

However, one method that is used to overcome this effect is to observe stars that are more than 45 degrees above the horizon, which would not be as affected by the effects of light pollution. The stars are at their clearest when they are overhead. This is also because the light from the stars overhead have to travel a shorter distance through the atmosphere, where the dust in the air could distort the starlight.

Another way of combating this is to have a layer of Light Pollution Filter (LPR) on the lenses of telescopes and binoculars. This layer of filter helps to prevent the effects of light pollution from obscuring the image seen in the binoculars or telescope.

An image of Orion from Singapore marred by light pollution from the bottom of the image

What you can do is to join the International Dark-Sky Association, where you can join in the fight against light pollution, or write letters to the local council, suggestions on how to minimise this problem.

Singapore Skies | Sky Conditions | Light Pollution