Capítulo 7 de 10/4 min de lectura
Darkness and light pollution
Letting your eyes adapt to the dark and choosing the right place and night.
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Your eyes take 20–30 minutes to fully adapt to the dark. A moment of white light (your phone screen) is enough to lose much of that adaptation.
- Use a red torch, or a red filter on your screen: it disturbs night vision much less.
- For faint objects try averted vision: look slightly to the side, the edge of the retina is more sensitive.
- Dress warmly: even in summer, standing still at night gets cold.
Choosing the place
From a city centre you see a few dozen stars; from a truly dark site, thousands. Even getting 20–30 km away from the main lights makes a big difference. Look for an open horizon and a safe place, ideally with company.
Choosing the night
Check the weather and the Moon phase: the best nights are clear, dry and moonless. GAIA's calendar shows the new Moon nights.