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Star Watch

Giant stars shine through city lights

By Alan M. MacRobert

 |  Globe Correspondent  

  February 04, 2012

A generation ago nobody but astronomers heard the term “light pollution.’’ Now it’s known widely. Light pollution is the artificial glow that you see filling the night sky. It’s caused mostly by “waste light’’ spilling uselessly sideways and upward from poorly designed and improperly aimed outdoor light fixtures. Energy concerns have focused new attention on this waste light, which of course is wasted electricity.

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