Light polluted skies are not only found around densely-populated areas. There is much light pollution throughout a good part of Maine, for example. Lights from small cities and that from surrounding rural homes is enough to spoil the horizon of an otherwise dark sky.
Regardless, there are not many observatories (if any) of professional grade on the East coast. Most observatories are situated in areas of high elevation (for instance, in this country there are a few out West) far from cities (tens to hundreds of miles). Even so, with thin air and seclusion, light pollution is still commonly found at the horizon in the direction towards the nearest town or city.
For many astronomers, however, it is not visible light pollution that is so distressful -- it's infrared. Communication satillites are great for when you want to chat on the cell phone, but not when you want to do IR astronomy.
As for tearing up roads for geologists, I don't think that would be necessary. They make our work a lot easier. Roadcuts are especially helpful.
Slashdot Mirror
Light polluted skies are not only found around densely-populated areas. There is much light pollution throughout a good part of Maine, for example. Lights from small cities and that from surrounding rural homes is enough to spoil the horizon of an otherwise dark sky. Regardless, there are not many observatories (if any) of professional grade on the East coast. Most observatories are situated in areas of high elevation (for instance, in this country there are a few out West) far from cities (tens to hundreds of miles). Even so, with thin air and seclusion, light pollution is still commonly found at the horizon in the direction towards the nearest town or city. For many astronomers, however, it is not visible light pollution that is so distressful -- it's infrared. Communication satillites are great for when you want to chat on the cell phone, but not when you want to do IR astronomy. As for tearing up roads for geologists, I don't think that would be necessary. They make our work a lot easier. Roadcuts are especially helpful.