Displaying items by tag: what is light pollution

The Southeast is seen at night from the International Space Station. NASA

Dark Sky parks, including some in East Tennessee, offer true views of heaven

“Look up at the sky. There is a light, a beauty up there, that no shadow can touch.”  J. R. R. Tolkien  

WARTBURG — Those who came before us read the night sky like we read maps today.  

In ancient times, pointing to the stars, they imagined creatures, mythological heroes and common every-day objects. Because of their fixed positions, the constellations became a foolproof way to navigate across vast, featureless deserts and expansive seas. The stars marked the changing seasons and the passage of time. The star patterns were memorized and taught to each new generation.