The problem of light pollution that astronomers face in New York City is apparent from this view of Manhattan along the promenade in Brooklyn Heights. Stephen Lucey Bright Lights A mateurs and professional astronomers face many obstacles in watching the stars in New York City, but they keep looking. A thletes love to play here. Movie stars love to film here .
Artists hope to perform here.
But for astronomers, the dream of making it to the top of their profession does not include a stop in New York City. Basically, New York City is the exact opposite of the conditions that an astronomer hopes to find at a viewing sight. The street lights, car lights, office lights, and billboards all blend together to create a golden glow that radiates into the night sky. The network of street lights throughout the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn as well as the homes on Staten Island and nearby New Jersey creep up to the edge of the Hudson River to form a backdrop for the Manhattan. The towering skyscrapers reach high into the night sky and release banks of light from the hundreds of windows.