The Dark Sky Meter app (iOS) is free today:
#lightpollution #poluiçãoluminosa #darkskies
https://apps.apple.com/pt/app/dark-sky-meter/id602989060?l=en
@raulclima This is fantastic! How does it compare to a sky quality meter? I think I still have a few in the basement from Unihedron used in student projects.
@lasermom To be honest, I’ve never compared the two but I want to do some comparison tests. Since I have SQMs, I use them and don’t even remember to use the app. However, from experience using the app when not carrying a SQM and from the sky appearance on those occasions, I can say that the measurements might be not too far from the “real thing”. But I guess it’s useful and cool for people get to know how to measure, look at the sky, and start caring about #lightpollution. :)
@raulclima I remember living near a city and sometimes could see the Milky Way. Now in the "country" (near a large university to be sure) I can only pick out the brightest stars. My SQM seemed to think it darker than I did, so maybe that's aged eyes? I know it takes a LONG time now for accommodation.
@lasermom I know that feeling... I remember living IN a city (Porto, Portugal), almost city centre, and could see the Milky Way... until 1984~1985. I learned a lot of the night sky observing from there (naked eye, binoculars, a handmade 6'' telescope). We are all missing this possibility, now (although we can recover that, hopefully). Nowadays my SQM reads ~17 mpsas in the same area... and also no more than the brightest stars are visible from there.