We bought our house 30 some years ago, just us and two neighbors surrounded by woods and hay fields. Years later the farmer died and heirs split the fields to sell off. It took a few years, but one by one big, bigger, and biggest houses went up. I was really into astrophotography at the time and it was a bummer as each new homeowner would fight back the rural darkness with bright outside lights. But an interesting thing happened, after a few months theyβd turn them off. Darkness returned.
Not so last night as I walked down an otherwise dark road, the houses lit as if welcoming out of town guests or creating an alien landing strip. Still, aurora were bright enough and phone advanced enough to "stack" exposures, boost dim colors, and let the stars shine.
#auroras