In this day and age of all the talk of conservation and increasing effeciency the night skies are a contratiction.
In the 1950's growing up in south east Seattle, Washington I had no trouble seeing the little dipper. Now 50 years later and sixty miles away it is all I can do to see all but three or four of the brightest stars. I can't help but wonder how many millions of watts are being wasted on extra outdoor lighting. I can't figure out if people are fools or just hippocrits. Maybe someday people in urban and suburban areas will once again be able to see the beauty of the night sky.