What tangible improvement in sky quality might an observer notice after driving 30 to 60 miles away from a major urban core?
Answer
A move from a Bortle Class 8 or 9 sky to a Class 4 or 5 sky
The practical solution to immediate light pollution is physical removal from the source. Traveling a moderate distance, typically cited as 30 to 60 miles away from the dense urban center, often yields a substantial improvement in sky quality. This journey commonly corresponds to moving from inner-city or heavily suburban environments, characterized as Bortle Class 8 or 9 skies (where very few stars are visible), into rural or transitional zones categorized as Bortle Class 4 or 5. This transition signifies a large decrease in background brightness, allowing thousands of stars to become visible again.
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