One should see the effect, not the light source. Glare never helps visibility, and thus can compromise safety. The use of unshielded, badly aimed, poorly designed, or otherwise misapplied light fixtures results in wasted light shining into our yards and our windows. Spill light falling over property lines can illuminate adjacent grounds or buildings in an objectionable manner, to the extent that some have taken legal action to address the problem. Be aware of how your actions will affect others.
Sky glow Many light fixtures shine a large percentage of their light above the horizontal.
This uplight is, in the truest sense of the word, wasted light. The brightening of the skies over our heads through this kind of lighting is destroying our view of the heavens. The Williams Observatory provides a window to the universe for hundreds of visitors each year, but skyglow from increased use of unshielded fixtures compromises our abilities to show off the sky. Accumulated skyglow from a small city can be seen many miles away, so this is not just a problem of direct glare. Please help preserve the majesty of the heavens for our children by using shielded lights whenever possible.