When it comes to urban stargazing, we are at the mercy of light pollution — a side-effect of our collective dependency on artificial lighting. In centuries gone by, even heavily populated cities were considerably darker at night than today. Victorian Londoners would stand outside and admire the Milky Way from Trafalgar Square — today an almost unimaginable experience that will likely never occur again except during a catastrophic power cut.
Technology has no doubt improved urban nightlife, making outdoor spaces safer and more accessible after dark, but it's a double-edged sword. These same advances have eroded the beauty of the sky. Technology, though, exists to solve problems – even the ones it creates. So, could dedicated astronomy technology mitigate the effects of light pollution and help us reclaim the night? It turns out that off-the-shelf equipment can help you get the best out of the bright city sky. Here's what you need to know.
