What process describes how artificial skyglow obscures stars in populated areas?

Artificial lighting escapes upward, scattering off air molecules and airborne particles to form a luminous dome.

Artificial skyglow, or light pollution, occurs when unnecessary or misdirected artificial lights are cast into the atmosphere. These upward-traveling photons collide with air molecules and tiny airborne particles suspended above populated areas. This process causes the light to scatter extensively in all directions, creating a widespread, luminous dome that significantly increases the ambient brightness of the night sky. This elevated background brightness effectively drowns out the signal from fainter celestial objects, meaning the light from stars that are physically present is unable to achieve the contrast needed to be resolved by the eye above the glare.