What is the critical visual process called that requires twenty minutes of avoiding bright light before viewing faint stars?
Answer
Dark adaptation.
Dark adaptation is the physiological process by which the human eye becomes maximally sensitive to low levels of light, which is essential for viewing faint stars. This process is not instantaneous; it requires a significant duration, specified as at least twenty minutes, during which the rods—the photoreceptor cells responsible for vision in low light—become fully activated and responsive. During this adaptation period, exposure to any source of bright light, including screens, must be completely avoided as it resets the sensitivity level, significantly reducing the number of faint stars that can be detected.
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