Starry skies

Out walking the pooches this evening, it was cold, crisp and a clear sky. Luckily, the park that I walk them round is on the edge of the town, so we can get away from the street lights - and this evening it was wonderful to look up at the sky and see the stars twinkling away. Mars was there - all red - along with all the old familiars. But even though I can see the stars, I can't see as many as when I was a child - light pollution means you can't see all the smaller stars. Why do all our town and villages have to waste all that energy illuminating the skies? Can't they just focus the light down? In the distance I can see an orange glow on the horizon - the West Midlands conurbation - it's 20 miles away!! No wonder it is usually warmer in towns and cities than in the countryside - its all those street lights!

Perhaps one day, I will move back to an area of the country where a starry night means you can actually SEE the Milky Way, not just the major constellations. But it was good to see them tonight - I like stars.